International Human Rights Law in Aotearoa New Zealand
| Author | Philippa Moran |
| Position | LLB(Hons)/BA. Solicitor at Buddle Findlay |
| Pages | 171-175 |
Book Review 171
BOOK REVIEW
INTER NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS L AW IN AOTEAROA
NEW ZEALAND
B M B, K G I MI
() T R,
P M *
International Human Rights Law in Aotearoa New Zealand1 is the work of
some 15 authors, a mix of academics and pract itioners, edited by Margaret
Bedggood, Kri s Gledhill and Ian McIntosh. All of the authors and editors are
highly esteemed and have signicant expertise in their areas of contribution.
is treatise of international human rights law and its application in
Aotearoa New Zealand is the rst comprehensive study in this area that
specically explores the New Zealand perspective. e size a nd format of
the text indicate that it will be useful to both universities and practitioners
working in this ever-developing area of the law. e text covers a broad array
of concepts falling within the umbrella of human rights law and draws upon
a wealth of international and New Zea land jurisprudence.
e authors explain that the text is divided into four broadly thematic
parts: chapters 1 to 3 establish t he context of both international human
rights law and human rights law in Aotearoa New Zealand; chapters 4 to
7 introduce the international human rights lega l framework; chapters 8 to
16 examine particula r rights and New Zealand’s adherence to international
norms; and chapters 17 to 20 outline some novel areas where the intersection
of international human rights law is continuing to emerge.
e introductory chapters begin with Andrew Geddis’ overview of
the theoretical and relatively recently adva nced historical framework of
international human rights law. While the United Nations and its predecessor
the League of Nations are widely known to have been born as a direct
response to World Wars I and II, Geddis traces the origins of international
human rights law even fur ther with a synopsis of transnationa l movements
in response to slavery, and in support of women’s, workers’ and migrants’
rights which drove state actors to develop international legal mecha nisms
in this area. To frame the New Zealand context, Paul Rishworth explains
the development of the common law legal system and the nation’s unique
constitutional context, with particular focus on the New Zea land Bill of
Rights Act 1990 (NZBORA) a nd the Treaty of Waitangi. He convincingly
argues that seemingly unrelated legal procedures, such a s judicial review and
1 M Bedggood, K G ledhill and I McIntosh (eds) Interna tional Human Rights Law in Aotearoa
New Zealand (omson Reuters, Welli ngton, 2017).
* LLB(Hons)/BA. Solic itor at Buddle Findlay.
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