Klappentext

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 M ori and non-M ori 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.