Travel and Learning Award for Luke Fitzmaurice

Luke’s plan

Luke’s travel and research award will be used in two parts. The first half of the project involves travel to Luke’s tūrangawaewae in the far north to learn more about his own whakapapa and about the tikanga of Te Hiku, especially as it relates to tamariki and whānau. The second half of the project (travel restrictions permitting) involves travel to Canada to learn more about indigenous legal education. Aotearoa New Zealand’s law schools are about to start incorporating teaching tikanga Māori in all core courses for the very first time, as part of a broader shift towards decolonising legal education. Luke says that many of Canada’s law schools are way ahead of us in that regard, having taught indigenous law for decades, including (in some universities) offering a joint indigenous/non-indigenous law degree. Luke says he would love to learn more about those approaches to legal education, to discover what we could do better here in Aotearoa New Zealand. “The two parts of my project, however, recognise that although we may have a lot to learn from Canada, many of the answers are to be found here in Aotearoa. My project is designed to incorporate the best of both approaches.”

About Luke

Luke is a lecturer in Law at Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington and a final-stage PhD candidate in Law at the University of Otago. His PhD focuses on decolonisation and kaupapa Māori approaches to child protection and children’s rights.  Luke is passionate about the rights of children and families, especially tamariki and whānau Māori. His research interests include family law, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and kaupapa Māori legal issues generally. Luke’s whakapapa is to Te Aupōuri. He grew up in Taupō, but Te Whanganui a Tara has been his home for many years now. Luke is the proud partner of Kelsey and proud dad of Oscar.

Grant Amount

$9,630 in 2022 to support travel