ABSTRACT
This chapter begins with the relational underpinnings of responsable justice. An indigenous law is constituted on a relational paradigm. The Nga Pou Rahui is an example of Maori indigenius law. It refers to a Maori system of regulation to protect land, waters, ocean areas or species which are at risk or under threat, by the imposition of a restriction on access to the environment or prohibition on use of such resources. Responsability is a framework to catalyse law and governance for accountability and to serve as a reference for action on climate change and the governance of water. The chapter provides guidelines for law for "living well with the earth" as a prelude to introducing law with attributes of responsable governance. An ethics of responsability is informative for showing the limits of liberal constructs and for re-centring law to address the relational conditions of life.
