Te Ao Māori and Tikanga Māori
On Friday 7 May 2021, the New Zealand Council of Legal Education met for its biannual meeting to consider, amongst other matters, the inclusion of Te Ao Māori into the New Zealand legal education curriculum at universities.
The Council resolved that Te Ao Māori concepts, particularly tikanga Māori, would be taught in each of the core law subjects within the Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Laws with Honours degree at a New Zealand university as established by the Professional Examinations in Law Regulations 2008 ("Regulations").
The Council agreed that it would take appropriate steps to amend the Regulations to give effect to that resolution, including the First Schedule which sets out the prescription of the core law subjects.
In July 2021, the Council consulted a range of stakeholders on the proposed amendment, including the judiciary, law schools, professional associations and student associations.
After carefully considering the submissions that were received, the Council has resolved that from 1 January 2025:
- Each of the NZCLE core law subjects and Legal Ethics will include content on the general principles and practices of Māori law/Tikanga Māori; and
- Tikanga Māori / Māori Law will be taught in its own right as a new compulsory subject for the LLB degree.
The Council expects that the specification for the content of the new course, and the integration of content into the other NZCLE core subjects, will be developed by moderators appointed by the Council and will have regard to the ongoing work of the Borrin Foundation.
The Council has invited further comments from stakeholders on the changes to the Regulations that would be required to give effect to these decisions.
Any recommendations to amend the Regulations are subject to the approval of the Minister of Justice.
Work of the Council
The Council is an independent statutory body. The general activities of the Council concern public interest and regulatory matters and centre on the Council's responsibilities for the quality and provision of education and practical legal training that is required to be undertaken by any person either within New Zealand or from overseas wishing to be admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand.
These general activities include:
- Defining and prescribing courses of study for the examination and practical legal training of persons wishing to be admitted as barristers and solicitors in New Zealand
- Arranging for the provision of those courses of study
- Arranging for the moderation and assessment of those courses of study
- Delivery of practical legal training
- Assessment of qualifications particularly those of overseas law graduates and legal practitioners wishing to practise in New Zealand
- Arranging for the provision of research as necessary, and tendering advice on legal education
- Administering and conducting certain examinations required to be taken by some overseas and other applicants.
Completion certificates
Processing time
Please allow for 6 to 8 weeks (up to 40 working days) processing time from the date your application is received by the Council. All applications received will be processed as soon as possible, but we cannot guarantee the date of receipt of your certificate. Please do not contact the council to enquire about the status of your application as this causes further delays.
Courier
If you would like to send your application in as a physical copy, please be aware that we can ONLY receive physical applications via our P.O. Box 5671 Wellington. If you use a courier for this please ensure the courier you make use of is able to deliver to a PO Box.
Please ensure that you address your application to the Completion Certificate Division.
NZ Law Graduates only
Email application process - NZ Law Graduates Only
In the event you require a fast-tracked completion certificate application, please email completioncertificatesnz@nzcle.org.nz. When sending applications to this email, please note that you will not receive a reply to any queries sent with your application. All queries should be directed to operations@nzcle.org.nz.
Fast-track fee - NZ Law Graduates Only
In the event you require a fast-tracked completion certificate application, please email completioncertificatesnz@nzcle.org.nz. Your certificate should be dispatched within 8 working days from the date we receive the application, granted that payment and all correct documentation is received. The fast-track fee is $200 (including GST) and is in addition to the standard fee of $189.75 (including GST). Note the fast-track timeframe of 8 working days is not a guarantee as we rely on external organisations and institutions to verify your supporting documentation.
NZLP Examination
Auckland and Hamilton NZLPE candidates - November 2021 sitting
Note you have automatically been deferred to the next available sitting being 19 and 20 July 2022. Please contact the Examination Administrator Breid Keating at NZLPexam@nzcle.org.nz
if you have any questions or concerns.
New Zealand sitting
The next two sitting for the NZLP examination will take place on:
- 19 and 20 July 2022
- 22 and 23 November 2022
The New Zealand examination will be sat at the University law faculties.
For enrolments and administrative enquiries please contact the Examination Administrator Breid Keating at NZLPexam@nzcle.org.nz. For academic inquiries please contact the Academic Co-ordinator Professor Catherine Iorns Magallanes at Catherine.Iorns@vuw.ac.nz. For all other enquiries please contact operations@nzcle.org.nz.
Enrolment closes on:
- For the July 2022 sitting on 1 July 2022
- For the November 2022 sitting on 4 November 2022
Covid-19 protection framework
