Tikanga Māori in Legal Education: A closer look at the Regulations Review Committee's Findings
The New Zealand Parliament's Regulations Review Committee has questioned part of a 2024 regulation requiring Tikanga Māori to be taught across all law subjects. There are no changes yet but here is what law students and future practitioners should know.
4/18/20251 min read
On 4 April 2025, the Regulations Review Committee released its final report on a complaint made about the 2024 amendment requiring tikanga Māori to be taught as part of every compulsory law subject in New Zealand.
The amendment, introduced by the New Zealand Council of Legal Education (NZCLE), meant that tikanga would not only be a standalone subject but also woven into all other core law subjects where relevant.
The Committee didn’t take issue with the inclusion of tikanga as a core subject in itself. In fact, it explicitly supported that. But it did find that the additional requirement, embedding Tikanga across all compulsory subjects was an “unusual or unexpected use of powers.”
According to the majority of the Committee, no other law subject operates this way, both as a standalone and as a mandatory component of others. Because of this precedent-setting structure, the Committee resolved (by majority) to partially uphold the complaint under Standing Order 327(2)(c).
While this doesn’t result in immediate change, it does open the door to further parliamentary consideration. The House may choose to amend or even disallow this aspect of the regulations, and Appendix B of the Committee’s report outlines how that process could unfold.
The NZCLE has acknowledged the report and confirmed it won’t be commenting further for now. However, it will continue to monitor any developments and update its website as needed.
How does this impact law students
For law students, especially international candidates preparing for the New Zealand Bar, this decision is worth watching. It is a reminder that legal education continues to evolve in response to broader cultural and political conversations.
Whether you’re already studying or planning your pathway into the profession, staying informed on regulatory updates like this helps you prepare for what’s ahead.
Need help navigating changes in legal education or preparing for the NZ Bar as an international student? Reach out to us. We are here to help.
Read the official statement by the New Zealand Council of Legal Education here
