ABSTRACT
This chapter shows the current, prominent place of Maori in New Zealand's society and Government; a position where Maori culture and practices are seen as a fundamental part of New Zealand's society, and where Maori people are represented across Government and industry. Maori have only recently occupied this position in New Zealand. In the late 1980s, the then Department of Justice commissioned Moana Jackson, a prominent Maori scholar, to produce a report on the relationship between Maori and the criminal justice system. This Report was sought to develop a bicultural approach to justice and corrections in New Zealand that aligned with the Government's Policy of Biculturalism. Jackson used this forum to raise several concerns about the Department of Justice and the broader New Zealand Government's approach to biculturalism. The Department of Justice's response to Jackson's concerns was mixed. It rejected the claim of 'cultural appropriation.
