Magna Carta in NZ News

TV3 feature on 1531 copy of Magna Carta on display in Christchurch

In December 3 News online also released a piece on how the exhibition ‘The Mana of the Magna Carta: The New Zealand Experience of a Medieval Legacy’ in Christchurch was hosting the oldest copy of Magan Carta in New Zealand. To view the video report, click here.

CTV piece on copy of Magna Carta on display in Christchurch

On 2 December Canterbury’s CTV News included a piece about the Magna Carta exhibition at the University of Canterbury, which can be viewed here.

Magna Carta owned by Henry VIII’s lawyer makes debut public appearance

On 2 December NZ Lawyer Magazine’s Samantha Woodhill also released a piece on how the exhibition ‘The Mana of the Magna Carta: The New Zealand Experience of a Medieval Legacy’ in Christchurch was hosting the oldest copy of Magan Carta in New Zealand. To view the article, click here.

New Zealand’s oldest Magna Carta on display

On December 1st Radio New Zealand’s Sally Murphy released a piece on how the exhibition ‘The Mana of the Magna Carta: The New Zealand Experience of a Medieval Legacy’ in Christchurch was hosting the oldest copy of Magan Carta in New Zealand. To view the article, click here.

Hamilton lawyer reflects on career ‘swimming against the current’

In this piece from the August 9th copy of the Waikato Times prominent Hamilton barrister Roger Laybourn said the Magna Carta, produced 800 years ago, remains the cornerstone of democratic societies. Laybourn said the core principles of Magna Carta remained a key part of New Zealand law and sent a clear message that the privileged and the powerful were not above the law. Magna Carta also underpinned modern human rights and established that every citizen was equal before the law. To view the article, click here.

Prisoner Portrait Exhibition Launches

Teina Pora and Louise Nicholas are household names in New Zealand, and they have become faces of innocence and advocacy. Now portraits of them, as well as past and present prisoners, are part of a new exhibition, aiming to show the faces of New Zealanders whose identities are intertwined with the justice system. The exhibition commemorates the 800th anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta, a document that established that the law should apply to everyone. To view the video, click here.

Review of Magna Carta mock trail

On 4 August 2015 the New Zealand Law Society released an article about the mock trial in Westminster Hall in London’s Palace of Westminster against representatives of the Magna Carta barons. To view the article, click here.

Teina Pora to feature in art exhibition

Teina Pora, Louise Nicholas and four prisoners will feature in a photographic exhibition marking the 800th anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta.The exhibition “No Free Man: To No One Deny Justice” opens at the University of Auckland’s Gus Fisher Gallery next Friday and features images taken by photographer Nigel Swinn. To view the article, click here.

Interview with Dr Erin Griffey, curator of the exhibition titled No Free Man: To No One Deny Justice

On 28 July 2015 Jesse Mulligan of radio New Zealand interviewed Dr Erin Griffrey, Head of Art History from the University of Auckland, about a new photographic exhibition opening on 7 August to mark the 800th anniversary of the signing of Magna Carta. It’s a series of portraits aimed at promoting public discourse around the criminal justice system in New Zealand. It features portraits of Teina Pora, Lousie Nicholas and four prisoners who are currently incarcerated. It’s called No Free Man: To No One Deny Justice, and the images are taken by Nigel Swinn. To listen, click here.

Top judge to preside over Magna Carta trial

On 20 July the New Zealand Herald released an article about how New Zealand’s top judge will preside over a mock trial marking the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta in London later in July. To view the article, click here.

Radio New Zealand Interview with law commentator Dean Knight

On 8 July Radio New Zealand interviewed law commentator Dean Knight, Victoria University Senior Law Lecturer and Associate Director, New Zealand Centre for Public Law about the history and importance of Magna Carta. Click here to listen.

Dominion Post piece on  why Magna Carta still a powerful piece of law

On 3 July the Dominion Post released an article by Dr Carwyn Jones of Te Kura Tātai Ture – Faculty of Law, Victoria University of Wellington looking at why Magna Carta is still relevant to law making in New Zealand today. To view the piece, click here.

Radio New Zealand interview with Dr Jennifer-Lees-Marshment and Dr Stephen Winter

On 4 July Radio New Zealand broadcast an interview with Dr Jennifer Lees-Marshment and Dr Stephen Winter regarding the history and current relevance of Magna Carta from Radio New Zealand’s Morning Report. They also talk about the Magna Carta lecture series that will be talking place over the next week at the University of Auckland. Click here to listen.

Oamaru celebrates Magna Carta anniversary

On 24 June the Timaru Herald released an article about a group of Oamaru locals who celebrated the 800 anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta with a re-enactment from the week before. Click here to view the article.

Treaty links to Magna Carta explored

On 22 June Dr Carwyn Jones from Ngati Kahungunu and Te Aitanga-a-Mahaki, a senior law lecturer at Victoria University, talked to Radio Waatea about the importance of the Magna Carta and Treaty of Waitangi. Click here to listen.

Piece suggesting the Rule of Law is alive and well in NZ

On June 18 voxy.co.nz released a piece highlighting the argument made by the convenor of the Law Society’s Rule of Law Committee, Austin Forbes QC, that Magna Carta remains as a powerful symbol of equal justice, liberty and individual freedom. To view the article, click here.

Magna Carta lives on, as does Treaty of Waitangi

On 18 June the Gisborne Herald released a letter by Wayne Elmsly suggesting that, like the Treaty of Waitangi, everyone knows it is very important but most people don’t know what it says. Click here to view the letter.

Magna Carta and the Treaty of Waitangi acknowledged

On 18 June  The Department Of Internal Affairs sent out a press release highlighting a lecture commemorating the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta and the 175th anniversary of the Treaty of Waitangi will be hosted later in the month by the National Library and Victoria University of Wellington. Presented by Dr Carwyn Jones, the lecture is entitled Magna Carta, Human Rights, and the Treaty of Waitangi in 21st Century New Zealand.

NZ Lawyer Magazine piece asking if it is time for a new Magna Carta

On 17 June a piece by Hannah Norton was released on nzlawyermagazine.co.nz that looks at the if the Magna Carta needs updating for contemporary society. Click here to view.

Eveningreport.nz piece on Magna Carta anniversary

On 15 June Eveningreport.nz released a piece on the anniversary of Magna Carta. The piece includes details of events celebrating the occasion around the occasions in New Zealand and through the British High Commission. Click here to view.

Radio New Zealand interview with Dr Chris Jones

On 15 June Dr Chris Jones from Canterbury University spoke on the 800th anniversary of the signing of Magan Carta on Radio New Zealand’s Checkpoint. Click here to listen.

Stephen Winter: 800-year-old Great Charter still has value today

On 12 June the organiser of the Magna Carta lecture series at the University of Auckland, Dr Stephen Winter, wrote an article for the New Zealand Herald about why the Magna Carta still has value today. Click here to view the article online.

Radio NZ Programme on the Taupo Medieval Faire

On the Sunday 26 April Radio New Zealand’s edition of Spectrum, Jack Perkins explored Taupo’s Medieval Faire. He covers the celebrations of the Magna Carta’s anniversary that were held there as well as many other aspects of the event. You can listen to it and check out some photos here.

Magna Carta essay competition launched

Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson launched the Magna Carta 800 Essay Competition for New Zealand students on the 16th of March to recognise the 800th anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta. The competition has both a High School and University category and is open to all current New Zealand secondary and tertiary students. Essays must be submitted by Friday 1 May 2015. You can get further details and the entry form here.

Justice minister attended international law conference

Justice Minister Amy Adams attended the Global Law Summit in the UK from the 23rd until the 25th of February to commemorate the sealing of the Magna Carta and spoke on a panel that discussed the principles of the Magna Carta. Her speech centred on New Zealand’s experience in creating a more efficient justice system by modernising courts including speeding up justice by making better use of technology. You can read the Government’s official press release here and see Minister Adams talk about the summit on youtube.

Treason trail marks Magna Carta

A group of barons and bishops are set to stand trial on treason charges 800 years after their alleged crime, the Supreme Court has announced. They will face judgement in a two-hour mock trial in the Houses of Parliament before three of the world’s top judges to help mark the 800th anniversary of the sealing of the Magna Carta. One of the judges will be New Zealand chief justice Dame Sian Elias, who will be speaking at the Marga Carta lecture on Magna Carta & the Kiwi Constitution on July 6th.