Carwyn Jones

Guest writer

Carwyn Jones (Ngāti Kahungunu) is Kaihautū of Te Whare Whakatupu Mātauranga at Te Wānanga o Raukawa and teaches into the Māori Laws and Philosophy programme there. He is also an Honorary Adjunct Professor at Te Kawa a Māui (School of Māori Studies) at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington. He is one of the authors of Treaty Law: The Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi in Law and Practice.

Design: The Spinoff

Treaty principles are clear. Why are politicians creating uncertainty?

Despite decades of legal clarity around the Treaty of Waitangi, some politicians continue to argue that its principles remain undefined and unclear.

By Carwyn Jones | 1st November, 2024

A fair legal system honours tikanga and reo Māori (Image: Tina Tiller)

Tikanga is the first law of Aotearoa

Teaching Māori law in law schools is hardly new. For students, a grounding in tikanga is only becoming more valuable.

By Carwyn Jones | 9th May, 2024

Karen Chhour (Photo: Getty Images; additional design The Spinoff)

Why the Waitangi Tribunal has summonsed a minister – and why the Crown is fighting it

Crown lawyers will try to convince a judge today that Karen Chhour shouldn't have to answer the tribunal's questions.

By Carwyn Jones | 22nd April, 2024

The insert appeared in the New Zealand Herald last Friday, and in The Post on Wednesday

According to Apirana Ngata, Māori ceded sovereignty by signing Te Tiriti. Is he right?

Last week, a newspaper ad paid for by a rightwing thinktank reprinted the great statesman's explanation of the Treaty. Here's some context.

By Carwyn Jones | 5th February, 2024

Image: Tina Tiller

The changing scope of the Waitangi Tribunal

The Waitangi Tribunal has a broad remit, but it's not new.

By Carwyn Jones | 1st February, 2024

Mt Eden Prison in Auckland. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Restoration, not punishment, is key to criminal justice reform for Māori

A new report from the justice advisory group Te Uepū Hāpai i te Ora challenges the government to find solutions in te ao Māori that restore relationships and mana instead of continuing to feed Māori into the criminal justice system.

By Carwyn Jones | 12th June, 2019

Why the UN wants New Zealand to strengthen Māori rights

Last week, a UN committee noted concerns about the lack of constitutional protection in New Zealand for some types of human rights, including those of Māori. Carwyn Jones recommends the government revisit some relevant documents.

By Carwyn Jones | 12th April, 2018