Magna Carta and New Zealand ― History, Politics and Law in Aotearoa

This volume is the first to explore the vibrant history of Magna Carta in Aotearoa New Zealand’s legal, political and popular culture. Readers will benefit from in-depth analyses of the Charter’s reception along with explorations of its roles in regard to larger constitutional themes.

The common thread that binds the collection together is its exploration of what the adoption of a medieval charter as part of New Zealand’s constitutional arrangements has meant – and might mean – for a Pacific nation whose identity remains in flux. The contributions to this volume are grouped around three topics: remembrance and memorialization of Magna Carta; the reception of the Charter by both Maori and non-Maori between 1840 and 2015; and reflection on the roles that the Charter may yet play in future constitutional debate. This collection provides evidence of the enduring attraction of Magna Carta, and its importance as a platform of constitutional aspiration.

Stephen Winter is Senior Lecturer in Political Theory at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. In 2015, he served as Deputy Chair of New Zealand’s Magna Carta 800 Commemorative Committee.

Chris Jones, is Senior Lecturer in Medieval History at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand. His research explores the history of political thought in the later Middle Ages. He has also published on the legacy of medieval and Early Modern Europe in New Zealand.