Enriching minds, honouring legacies, and celebrating milestones
Public lectures are at the heart of our community engagement, here at Te Kauhanganui Tātai Ture—Faculty of Law.
Central to this are a number of philanthropically funded lectures which both commemorate those who have made an outstanding contribution to New Zealand law and bring distinguished international scholars to New Zealand.
The Faculty thanks the generous individuals and organisations who contribute to the success of these activities.
Each of these events can be watched by selecting the tiles below.
Ian Borrin Lecture
The Ian Borrin Lecture is given in honour of the late Judge Ian Borrin, an alumnus and major supporter of this lecture and the Victoria University of Wellington Law Review. The 2024 lecture was given by Professor James Lee —a Professor of English Law at The Dickson Poon School of Law, King’s College, London, and the 2024 Ian Borrin Visiting Fellow.
Lecretia Seales Memorial Lecture in Law Reform
Given in honour of lawyer and law reform advocate Lecretia Seales, the Lecretia Seales Memorial Lecture is generously supported by Lecretia’s family and friends. The 2024 lecture was given by lawyer and former cabinet minister the Honourable Christopher Finlayson KC.
Donate to the Lecretia Seales Memorial Lecture in Law Reform and honour lawyer and law reform advocate Lecretia Seales.
Robin Cooke Lecture
The Robin Cooke lecture continues to be the pinnacle of the calendar of events and is generously supported by the Cooke family. It is given in honour of the late Lord Cooke of Thorndon, a Law School alumnus who is widely considered New Zealand’s most eminent jurist. The 2024 lecture was given by the Right Honourable Lord Sales, Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.
Watch our philanthropically-funded lectures
Ian Borrin Lecture
Once upon a time in the Common Law: Institutional Narratives and Legal Change—Professor James Lee.
Lecretia Seales Memorial Lecture
Reforming New Zealand's Legal Infrastructure—The Honourable Christopher Finlayson KC.
Robin Cooke Lecture
What Is the Rule of Law and Why Does It Matter?—The Right Honourable Lord Sales.
Te Kauhanganui Tātai Ture—Faculty of Law Inaugural lectures
Inaugural lectures celebrate a key milestone in the academic journey. This year, the Faculty of Law had the privilege of welcoming Dr Dean Knight and Dr Catherine Iorns to the rank of Professor.
In his lecture, Of wise decisions, government accountability and a small-ish democracy, Professor Knight analysed Aotearoa New Zealand's public law and its role in promoting decision-making and accountability within our small democracy. He highlighted how the process of judicial review provides a framework for ministers, officials, and public bodies to explain and justify their decisions, and explored how it ensures that government decisions are wise and informed.
Professor Iorns's inaugural lecture, Unplanned, unconfined and the unseen—Precaution and protection in environmental law, took her audience on a journey from childhood, to academic research, through to legal practice and activism— featuring New Zealand's pristine Te Waikoropupū Springs.
