2024 Early Career Research Excellence Award for the Humanities: Decolonising the child protection system

It’s well-known that Māori children are overrepresented in our child protection system. Luke’s research has examined this issue through the lens of decolonisation, arguing that while the impacts of colonisation on the child protection system are now largely accepted, the issue of decolonising the child protection system remains understated. In his paper ‘Te Rito o Te Harakeke: Decolonising Child Protection Law in Aotearoa New Zealand’, he argues that reform efforts that do not prioritise decolonisation are likely to continue to fail.

The paper presents a roadmap to legislative reform through kaupapa Māori legal theory – with changes based on six tikanga Māori principles.

The paper was the first academic publication from Luke’s doctoral thesis. It has been recognised by Te Hunga Roia Māori o Aotearoa (the Māori Law Society), the New Zealand Law Society, and the Law and Society Association of Australia and New Zealand.

Luke completed his PhD at the University of Otago in 2022, and became a Lecturer at Te Herenga Waka —Victoria University of Wellington soon after.

The selection committee noted that Luke’s mahi demonstrates a deep care for justice and fairness – not only in relation to the child protection system, but also democracy, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and New Zealand’s constitution.

They see Luke’s work as already having an impact in shifting thinking, which signals a promising trajectory.

Luke says he is humbled to accept the award and is thankful to the Society for the recognition.

“My research began at a time when it was becoming clear that the state child protection system was failing tamariki and whānau Māori, and the extent of that failure has only become clearer in the last twelve months.

“I also want to acknowledge all those people who have spent years fighting and advocating for the tamariki and whānau Māori my research discusses. Often those people have faced relentless opposition in their advocacy for Māori over the years, but it is through your efforts that a different world remains possible. Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou. Toitū te Tiriti.”

“I want to thank my supervisors, Professor Nicola Taylor, Associate Professor Nicola Atwool and Professor Jacinta Ruru, for all of their guidance. I especially want to thank my wife Kelsey, and the rest of my family. I couldn’t have done this without you, and I hope this makes you proud.”

Early Career Research Excellence Award for Humanities:
For an early-career researcher for excellence in the humanities.

Citation:
To Luke Fitzmaurice-Brown, for his work on decolonising the Aotearoa New Zealand child protection system.