Law and Culture 2013: Compatibility or Conflict? Conference Programme
| Session Title | Speakers |
| DAY ONE | |
| Plenary Session: Regional Governance in the Pacific |
Vergil Narokobi & Phillipa Webb, Victoria University of Wellington Political and Legal Challenge of a Pacific Parliament Rajnesh Singh, Victoria University of Wellington A Supernational Court for the South Pacific; compatibility with the rule of law or conflict with the domestic cultural norms |
| Panel 1: Custom and the State (1) |
Nelly Willy, Oxfam Vanuatu Customary and state governance in contemporary Vanuatu Wesley Morgan, Oxfam Vanuatu Overlapping authorities: Governance, leadership and accountability in contemporary Vanuatu Mele Tupou, University of the South Pacific 2010 Political Reform – Controversial aspects of the relationship between the Executive and the Legislature in Tonga |
| Panel 2: Custom and the Environment (1) |
Lena Wong, University of Auckland The Cook Islands Marine Park: The domestic implementation of an international effort to protect the marine environment Victoria Skelton, University of Auckland Uncovering the doctrine of Mana Moana to better articulate Maori rights to water |
| Panel 3: Custom and Human Rights |
Patricia Finau, University of Auckland Freedom of Expression in New Zealand and Tonga: A comparative approach to proportionality Yasmin Naidu-Slatter, Victoria University of Wellington The convergence of human rights and culture: finding a happy medium in Fiji |
| Panel 4: Custom, Land and Water (1) |
Akatu John, University of Auckland Relcaiming Identity: The Satapuala Land Dispute Don Paterson, University of the South Pacific Australian Native Title and South Pacific Customary Lands: A Comparison |
| Panel 5: Custom and Development (1) |
Claire Charters, University of Auckland Impact of International Law Monique Cormier and Anna Hood, University of Melbourne Growing Presence of International law in the Pacific - industry of international consultancies |
| Panel 6: Custom and Commerce (1) |
Sean Gomes, Queensland University of Technology Legal Culture on Transplantation of Corporate Governance Laws: Australia & Singapore Lona-Marie Mikha, University of Auckland The (in)compatibility of New Zealand’s best practice models of corporate governance with Fa’asamoa |
| Moot 1 | University of the South Pacific (Laucala) v University of Auckland |
| DAY TWO | |
| Plenary Session: Law, Custom and Women in Vanuatu - A Panel Discussion |
Chair: Viran Molisa, TBA Dorosday Kenneth, TBA Blondine Boulekone, TBA Roslyn Tor, TBA |
| Panel 7: Custom and Gender (1) |
Gemma Pinyol Puig, Reserve Bank of Vanuatu International Law, Local Institutions, Custom and Gender in Vanuatu: A Bumpy Road Towards Gender Equality Sereana Perry, Victoria University of Wellington Competing duties: the place of women in Papua New Guinea custom and law |
| Panel 8: Custom and the State (2) |
Hagen Neumegen, Victoria University of Wellington The Samoan Village Fono Act 1990: Conflict or Compatibility in the Samoan Law Reform Commission Recommendations
Tim Fesili, University of Auckland The Village Fono and the Offence of Undue Influence: Curbing Electoral Corrupt Practices within the Heart of the Pacific |
| Panel 9: Custom, Land and Water (2) |
Tanya Asa, University of Auckland The Effect of Recent Changes to Samoa’s Land Legislation Elynn Tupou 'Atiola, University of Auckland Mortgagee sales in Tonga; how the legal implications affect ‘nofo ‘a kainga’ |
| Panel 10: Custom and the State (3) |
Sarah Kernot, AusAID Custom and the State in Samoa and Vanuatu Julie Reynolds, University of the South Pacific Squaring the Circle of Birthright Citizenship for American Samoans |
| Panel 11: Custom and Commerce (2) |
Murray Green, University of Technology - Sydney Television Content Piracy in the Pacific: commercial opportunism or the practice of custom Aaron Levine, Asian Development Bank Reform of Companies regime in Solomon Islands |
| Panel 12: Custom and the State (4) |
Pita Bulamainaivalu, University of the South Pacific Using Customary Law in Sentencing under the Sentencing & Penalties Decree 42/2009 Leana Williams, University of the South Pacific TBA |
| Moot 2 | University of the South Pacific (Emalus) v Victoria University of Wellington |
| DAY THREE | |
| Plenary Session: The Interplay of Law and Culture: Some Insights from Recent Events in Tokelau |
Tony Angelo, Victoria University of Wellington Danica McGovern, Victoria University of Wellington |
| Panel 13: Custom and the State (5) |
Aroha Fletcher, University of Auckland The pursuit of Self Determination for Indigenous Peoples: A Conflict in Interpretation Jennifer-Lee Pritchard, University of Auckland Youth and Democratic Rights in Samoa Sofia Shah, University of the South Pacific United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) - Challenges for Vanuatu |
| Panel 14: Custom and Development (2) |
Natalie Baird, University of Canterbury NGOs & the Universal Periodic Review Priscilla Ah Kuoi, University of Auckland Health Care Law In Samoa: What Is The Legal Status Of Traditional Medicine And Practice In Western Samoa? |
| Panel 15: Custom and the Environment (2) |
Kalisiana Bulivakarua, University of Auckland Pacific Environmental Governance Kya Lal, University of Auckland Sink or Swim: A Legal Framework for Climate Change Refugees in the Pacific |
| Panel 16: Custom and Development (3) |
Ema Hao’uli, University of Auckland Colouring the Law: A Multi-Jurisdictional Analysis of Affirmative Action Carolyn Penfold, University of New South Wales Custom and Teaching |
| Panel 17: Custom and Gender (2) |
Tiana Ritchie, University of Canterbury Women’s land rights in Tonga: Would implementation of the Land Commission’s recommendations enable ratification of CEDAW? Don Paterson, University of the South Pacific The Influence of Culture in relation to Women’s Access to Land in Tonga |