Author talk
AUTHOR TALK: Sovereignty by Claire Charters
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- Date
- Thursday, 12 November 2026
- Time
- 7.00pm (NZT)
- About this event
What if the foundations of New Zealand's sovereignty are not as legally secure as we've been led to believe? Unity Books Wellington and Bridget Williams Books invite readers to an evening of thought-provoking discussion with leading legal scholar Claire Charters, who will be joined in conversation by fellow legal academic and author Carwyn Jones. In her new book, Sovereignty: The Case for Constitutional Transformation, Charters (Ngāti Whakaue, Tūwharetoa, Ngāpuhi and Tainui) challenges some of the most deeply held assumptions about the legitimacy of the New Zealand state and its authority over Māori. Drawing on years of legal scholarship, international research and her extensive work advocating for Indigenous rights, Charters examines the Crown's historical claim to sovereignty through the lenses of tikanga Māori, British law and international law. She argues that the legal foundations of this claim remain deeply questionable and explores how the judiciary's longstanding reluctance to confront these issues has shaped Aotearoa's constitutional landscape. Published by Bridget Williams Books as part of its influential BWB Texts series, Sovereignty goes beyond questioning the past. Charters considers what meaningful constitutional transformation might look like, exploring ways to strengthen the recognition of tikanga Māori, uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi and better protect the rights of all New Zealanders. Her research also draws on international examples of Indigenous self-determination and constitutional reform. About the speakers Claire Charters is a Professor of Law at the University of Auckland and co-director of the Aotearoa New Zealand Centre for Indigenous Peoples and the Law. Internationally recognised for her expertise in Indigenous peoples' rights, constitutional law and international law, she has contributed to significant United Nations initiatives and is a Royal Society Rutherford Discovery Fellow researching constitutional transformation in Aotearoa. Joining her is Carwyn Jones, a respected legal academic and author of Mātangi Rau: The Enduring Potential of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, which explores the Treaty’s continuing significance and its potential to shape a more equitable constitutional future. Together, they will explore the relationship between law, sovereignty, justice and Indigenous rights, inviting audiences to consider fundamental questions about how Aotearoa is governed and what its constitutional future could become. An engaging evening for anyone interested in New Zealand history, politics, law, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the ongoing conversations shaping the country's future. RSVP: is not required, although registering interest is appreciated to help organisers manage numbers.
- Cost
- Free
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Added 9/11/2026 · Last checked 9/11/2026
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