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BA/LLB (Hons) (Wellington), LLM (Otago)

Mihiata Pirini 2020 image

Ko Tongariro te maunga, Ko Taupō te moana, Ko Ngāti Tūwharetoa te iwi,
Ko Mākeo te maunga, Ko Waiaua te awa, Ko Whakatōhea te iwi.

Contact

Email mihiata.pirini@otago.ac.nz

Teaching

Research interests

My research interests are in public and administrative law, and specifically in the Treaty of Waitangi's influence on public decision-making and the relationship between tikanga and state law. I'm also focused on the emerging field of legal design.

My LLM thesis, completed in 2020, examines the accessibility of the Māori Land Court through a legal design and Kaupapa Māori research and theoretical framework. I have a Level 6 Diploma in te reo Māori from Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.

Background

I joined the Faculty of Law in July 2020.

From 2011 to 2019 I was in legal research and advice roles in the public sector, first at the Law Commission and then in Crown Law's Treaty of Waitangi team. In my new academic role I strive to maintain strong links with the public sector. I was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the New Zealand High Court in 2010.

Publications

Pirini, M. (2025). Regarding the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill. Submission to the Justice Select Committee, New Zealand. [Government Submission]. Other Research Output

Pirini, M. (2025). The Māori response to Covid: Lessons for democracy? Proceedings of Indigenous Futures International Conference: Indigenous Futures Unbound: Reimagining Indigenous Futures Through Knowledge and Praxis. Retrieved from https://indigenous-futures.org/news-events/ifc-conference-2025 Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Stanton-Turei, M., Pirini, M., & Olsen, Y. (2025, July). The politicisation of tikanga teaching. Verbal presentation at the Australasian Legal Academics Association (ALAA) Conference, Brisbane, Australia. Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Pirini, M. (2024, September). Indigenising the law degree in Aotearoa New Zealand: Opportunities, challenges, and connections to the broader decolonising of tertiary education. Guest serminar hosted by the Centre for Innovation and Research in Legal Education, School of Law, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK. [Research Presentation]. Other Research Output

Pirini, M. (2024). Māori legal issues in the Supreme Court, 2013-2023. In M. Littlewood & J. McLean (Eds.), The New Zealand Supreme Court: The second ten years. (pp. 155-175). Wellington, New Zealand: Lexis Nexis. Chapter in Book - Research

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