BA/LLB (Hons) (Wellington), LLM (Otago)
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
Office 7C22
Email mihiata.pirini@otago.ac.nz
Teaching
I am teaching in the case analysis section of LAWS 101 The Legal System.
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
Carter, L.-A., Drake, K., & Pirini, M. (2022, March-April). Culturally appropriate service design and delivery [Invited]. Panel discussion at the International Access to Justice and Legal Services Forum, [Online].
Pirini, M. (2022, June). Pluralising legalities: Justin Richland's book "Cooperation without submission" [Invited discussant]. Seminar hosted by Te Puna Rangahau o te Wai Ariki | NZ Centre for Indigenous Peoples and the Law and the Centre for Legal Theory, in conjunction with the University of Otago Centre for Law & Society, [Online]. [Public Seminar].
Pirini, M. (2022). Interview with the Honourable Justice Sir Joe Williams, the New Zealand Supreme Court. In W. C. Wallace, M. M. Berlin & D. K. Das (Eds.), Trends in the judiciary: Interviews with judges across the globe (Vol. 4). (pp. 193-206). New York, NY: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9780429260513-15
Pirini, M., & High, A. (2022). Dignity and mana in Aotearoa New Zealand legislation. Policy Quarterly, 18(1), 52-58. doi: 10.26686/pq.v18i1.7503
Pirini, M., & High, A. (2021). Dignity and mana in Aotearoa law. The Spinoff, (21 September). Retrieved from https://thespinoff.co.nz/atea/21-09-2021/dignity-and-mana-in-aotearoa-law
Pirini, M. (2022). Interview with the Honourable Justice Sir Joe Williams, the New Zealand Supreme Court. In W. C. Wallace, M. M. Berlin & D. K. Das (Eds.), Trends in the judiciary: Interviews with judges across the globe (Vol. 4). (pp. 193-206). New York, NY: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9780429260513-15
Chapter in Book - Research
Angelo, T., & Pirini, M. (2019). Getting lost in translation: Four terms of interest in the civil code of Seychelles. In A. H. Angelo & J. Corrin (Eds.), Small states: A collection of essays. (pp. 213-226). Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand Association of Comparative Law.
Chapter in Book - Research
Pirini, M., & Yarwood, L. (2017). Taylor v Attorney-General. In E. McDonald, R. Powell, M. Stephens & R. Hunter (Eds.), Feminist judgments of Aotearoa New Zealand: Te Rino: A two-stranded rope. (pp. 62-71). Oxford, UK: Hart Publishing.
Chapter in Book - Research
Pirini, M., & High, A. (2022). Dignity and mana in Aotearoa New Zealand legislation. Policy Quarterly, 18(1), 52-58. doi: 10.26686/pq.v18i1.7503
Journal - Research Article
Hook, M., Warnock, C., Allan, B., & Pirini, M. (2021). Tort to the environment: A stretch too far or a simple step forward? Smith v Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd and Others [2020] NZHC 419. Journal of Environmental Law, 33, 195-210. doi: 10.1093/jel/eqaa032
Journal - Research Article
Pirini, M., & High, A. (2021). Dignity and mana in the "third law" of Aotearoa New Zealand. New Zealand Universities Law Review, 29, 623-647.
Journal - Research Article
Pirini, M., & Morar, R. (2021). Climate change and the claiming of tino rangatiratanga. New Zealand Women's Law Journal, 5, 86-148.
Journal - Research Article
Pirini, M. (2010). The citizen and administrative justice: Reforming complaint management in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Public & International Law, 8, 239-265.
Journal - Research Article
Pirini, M., & Peacey, A. (2014). Pecuniary penalties. New Zealand Law Journal, 11, 438-440.
Journal - Research Other
Pirini, M., & High, A. (2021). Dignity and mana in Aotearoa law. The Spinoff, (21 September). Retrieved from https://thespinoff.co.nz/atea/21-09-2021/dignity-and-mana-in-aotearoa-law
Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles
Pirini, M., Turei, M., Charters, C., & Te Aho, L. (2021). "Mā te ture anō te ture e aki: Only the law can be set against the law": A conversation about indigenising Aotearoa New Zealand's LLB [Roundtable]. Proceedings of the Law & Society Association of Australia & New Zealand (LSAANZ) Annual Conference: What is the Good of Law? Retrieved from https://www.lsaanz.org
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Carter, L.-A., Drake, K., & Pirini, M. (2022, March-April). Culturally appropriate service design and delivery [Invited]. Panel discussion at the International Access to Justice and Legal Services Forum, [Online].
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Pirini, M. (2021, February). Te Tiriti/Māori issues. Invited presentation at the Government Law Year in Review, Wellington, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Pirini, M. (2020, November). Law, design, and the Māori Land Court. Verbal presentation at the Biennial International Indigenous Research Conference (IIRC): A Gathering of Indigenous Minds, [Online].
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Binnie, I., Taylor, N., Gollop, M., & Pirini, M. (2021). Entitlements to deceased people's property in Aotearoa New Zealand: Public attitudes and values: A general population survey. Commissioned by Te Aka Matua o te Ture: Law Commission, supported by the Borrin Foundation. Dunedin, New Zealand: University of Otago. 72p.
Commissioned Report for External Body
Ruru, J., Geddis, A., Pirini, M., & Kohu-Morris, J. (2021). Further democratising Māori decision: Making to give effect to Te Mana o te Wai [Discussion document: Te Mana o te Wai: Mana Whakahaere: Kāhui Wai Māori Report to Hon Minister David Parker August 2021]. Commissioned by Kāhui Wai Māori. 24p. Retrieved from https://environment.govt.nz/publications/te-mana-o-te-wai-the-health-of-our-wai-the-health-of-our-nation-kahui-wai-maori-report-to-hon-minister-david-parker/
Commissioned Report for External Body
Ruru, J., Turei, M., Jones, C., Te Aho, L., Charters, C., Quince, K., … Pirini, M., … Gollop, M. (2021). Inspiring national indigenous legal education for Aotearoa New Zealand’s Bachelor of Laws degree: Phase two: Consultation 2021: Part 1: Survey report. Ngā Pae O Te Māramatanga. 92p. Retrieved from https://www.borrinfoundation.nz/indigenising-llb-phase2-survey-report
Commissioned Report for External Body
Toy-Cronin, B., Pirini, M., Turner, D., & Duncan, D. (2020). An evaluation of legal information chatbots: Useability, utility, and accuracy. Commissioned by Citizen AI, Community Law Wellington & Community Law Centres O Aotearoa. 58p.
Commissioned Report for External Body
Pirini, M. (2022, June). Pluralising legalities: Justin Richland's book "Cooperation without submission" [Invited discussant]. Seminar hosted by Te Puna Rangahau o te Wai Ariki | NZ Centre for Indigenous Peoples and the Law and the Centre for Legal Theory, in conjunction with the University of Otago Centre for Law & Society, [Online]. [Public Seminar].
Other Research Output
Pirini, M. R. (2020). The Māori land court: Exploring the space between law, design, and Kaupapa Māori (LLM). University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10523/10253
Awarded Masters Degree
