Dr. Luke Fitzmaurice

My research and teaching interests are centred on Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Decolonisation, Family Law, Child Protection and Children's Rights. My PhD research focused on kaupapa Māori approaches to children's rights, and decolonising the child protection system. I have a background in child protection policy, having worked for Oranga Tamariki and Child, Youth and Family prior to undertaking PhD study.

I have a strong interest in kaupapa Māori research, especially kaupapa Māori legal research, and have been involved in a number of multi-disciplinary kaupapa Māori research projects. These have included projects focusing on kaupapa Māori social service providers, iwi-led covid checkpoints as expressions of rangatiratanga, and efforts to prevent removal of babies by the state. My ongoing research work focuses on te Tiriti, decolonisation, child protection and youth justice.

My undergraduate study was here at Victoria University and my postgraduate study was through the University of Otago. Prior to joining the Law Faculty, I was a Teaching Fellow at Te Kawa a Maui, teaching Te Tiriti o Waitangi/The Treaty of Waitangi.

My whakapapa is to Te Aupōuri.