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NWM Law Lecture

In 2017 Norris Ward McKinnon took on the prestigious honour of guardian of the Law Lecture series - an event designed to bring law into the wider community and legal profession. Partnering with Te Piringa, University of Waikato, our organisations have had the pleasure of cohosting technically and culturally important messages delivered by our most distinguished colleagues. The first lecture was held in 1992 and since then it has become an anticipated event for the legal profession.

The NWM Lecture is a significant opportunity for our emerging and practicing profession to gather and learn from accomplished practitioners. Te Piringa translates as the coming together of people. It was given to the Law Faculty by the late Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, the Maori Queen, when the Faculty buildings were opened by Tainui in 1990.

Held on campus at the University of Waikato, guests have enjoyed world class facilities, including the culturally rich and spectacular event space, The Pā.

Lecture topics are wide-ranging and address issues relating to the development of New Zealand jurisprudence.

Details of the upcoming lecture are below.

A full list of previous lecture topics can be found here.

2025 - Sentencing Principles for Canadian Indigenous Accused:
Do they Really Work? Should They be Used in the Forensic Mental Health System?

The Honourable Michelle O’Bonsawin was appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada on September 1, 2022. She served as a justice of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Ottawa from 2017 to 2022.

Justice O’Bonsawin will explore the impact of residential schools on Indigenous peoples and the issue of the over-representation of Indigenous persons in the Canadian criminal justice system. She will review the response by the Canadian government that led to the creation of individualized sentencing principles for Indigenous accused.

Lastly, Justice O’Bonsawin will discuss the possibility of applying these sentencing principles to Indigenous accused who have been found to be either not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder or unfit to stand trial (the forensic mental health system).

Register here to attend in person

Thursday 23 October 2025
Drinks and canapes from 5.30pm
Lecture starts at 6.00pm

The Pā, University of Waikato
Hillcrest Road
Hamilton

2024 The Common Law of Tikanga - nga tohu o te ture
Presented by Justice Whata

In this lecture Justice Whata will re-examine the leading authorities on tikanga from across the benches to address the claim that tikanga recognition is destabilising the law. He will respond to claims of tikanga's uncertainty and irreconcilability with common law fundamentals.

In doing so, he will also consider the issues of what when and how tikanga claims should be litigated. He will describe the common law’s tohu or signposts for engagement with tikanga that provide both the markers for stability and ultimately for safe and effective tikanga advocacy in the Courts.

2023 How Emerging Technology will Impact on the Profession - Discussing the digital transformation of the Court system and considering issues arising.
Presented by Michael Heron KC

Michael Heron KC is a leading KC in commercial and regulatory litigation. He was formerly New Zealand's Solicitor General, CEO of the Crown Law Office and responsible for advice to all arms of government.

His focus is on matters involving all arms of Government and its regulators; conducting independent inquiries, reviews and investigations (and providing advice on them); and sporting matters.

Michael is also the National Commissioner for New Zealand Cricket, a judicial officer for New Zealand Rugby and SANZAAR, and a mediation panel member for Immediation's Sport NZ.