University of Waikato Professorial Lecture

'Indigenous Rights - Challenges' - by Professor Valmaine Toki

Professor Valmaine Toki will walk through specific challenges facing Indigenous peoples from the central question of who is Indigenous through to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The Declaration is considered the most significant international instrument for Indigenous peoples where their fundamental human rights are recognised and contextualised within one document. However, the changing perspectives of State members together with the legal effect of the Declaration contribute to these challenges.

Staying within the international arena, selected case studies from two fora, the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, illustrate the tensions that exist between State members and Indigenous Peoples.

Despite the raft of challenges, Indigenous peoples remain resilient.

About Professor Valmaine Toki:
Professor Valmaine Toki is of Ngati Rehua, Ngatiwai, Ngapuhi descent. Valmaine holds a BA LLB (Hons) MBA, LLM and a PhD and has a current practicing certificate as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court. As a He Ture Pumau scholar Valmaine worked at Te Ohu Kaimoana where she completed her MBA. Valmaine joined Te Piringa after five years lecturing at the Auckland Law School. She is the first New Zealander appointed to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues where she served two 3 year terms and more recently the first New Zealander appointed by the President of the Human Rights Council to the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Unsurprising Valmaine's area of research, writing and teaching lies within the area of Indigenous rights. She has given public lectures and seminars globally including at Harvard Law School on this topic.

This 35-minute Professorial Lecture will be held at the Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts at the University of Waikato in Hamilton, starting at 5.45pm. The Opus Bar will be open from 5.15pm to enjoy a refreshment prior to the lecture starting.

Free parking is available on campus via Gate 2B, Knighton Road, Hamilton.

Please register your attendance by clicking on the University of Waikato website url link and bring your e-ticket and face mask with you on the evening.