Valmaine Toki 

Expert Member, United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII)

Senior Lecturer, Te Piringa, Faculty of Law, University of Waikato, New Zealand

 

Valmaine Toki is of Nga Puhi, Ngati Wai and Ngati Rehua descent. Before joining Te Piringa she taught at the Faculty of Law, University of Auckland within the areas of Contemporary Treaty and Māori Issues, Jurisprudence and Legal Method. As a He Ture Pumau scholar Valmaine previously worked for Te Ohu Kai Moana Trustee Ltd on Māori fisheries, aquaculture and asset allocation. During this time Valmaine completed an MBA from the Australian Maritime College at the University of Tasmania, focusing on marine resource management, spanning strategic planning, economic growth, management planning, and sustainable practices. Valmaine has assisted in cases to the Māori Land Court, the Environment Court, and the High Court and as a Treaty negotiator for her hapu.

 

Her research interests lie within the area of human and indigenous rights, therapeutic jurisprudence and resource management. Recently she has undertaken research into 'therapeutic jurisprudence' as a vehicle to implement indigenous legal systems/tikanga Māori to reduce the disproportionate number of Māori criminal offenders. This envisages a specialist indigenous court that embraces Māori customs, ethics, values, and norms.

 

Valmaine is a Vice Chair on the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

 

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