Master of Laws in Māori/Pacific and Indigenous Peoples' Law

Master of Laws in Māori/Pacific and Indigenous Peoples' Law (LLM Māori/Pacific and Indigenous Peoples') provides an opportunity to study in-depth the historical and developing trends within the area of indigenous peoples' rights.

You'll examine how the United Nations and other international organisations influence the process of Indigenous rights development. You will learn what role the State plays in recognising environmental and economic rights of indigenous peoples.

What will post-settlement New Zealand legal landscape look like? You could be the driving force behind developing a truly inclusive New Zealand Jurisprudence that would incorporate the best of the traditional Māori practices and Common Law.

The knowledge and skills developed through our specialist programme are relevant in roles in:

• Academic teaching and research;
• Treaty settlement
• Māori governance
• Crown Law
• Local and central government
• Education
• Māori economy

The Master of Laws in Māori/Pacific and Indigenous Peoples’ Law programme is offered with the same study options as those of Master of Laws (LLM). Please see the Master of Laws page for more information.

To be accepted to the Master of Laws programme, you need to have:

• Completed an LLB or a combined Law degree at the University of Waikato with at least a 'B' grade point average or an equivalent qualification at another university; or
• Completed an LLB (Hons) at the University of Waikato with at least a 'B' grade point average or a combined Law degree at the University of Waikato or an equivalent qualification at another university; or
• Satisfied the prerequisites for graduate study in the subject at a level that is considered appropriate by the Academic Board.

In exceptional circumstances, candidates who do not meet these requirements, but who have a proven record of academic merit and relevant experience may be accepted into the programme.

Students whose first language is not English are required to provide satisfactory evidence of their English language proficiency. An overall score of 6.5 (with at least 6.0 achieved in the Writing band) in the IELTS or equivalent.

English language test	Undergraduate, graduate certificates, and graduate diplomas (all courses except those listed below)
IELTS (Academic)	6.0 overall (no band less than 5.5)
iBT (internet-based) TOEFL	80 with a score of 21 in writing
iBT (home-based) TOEFL	80 with a score of 21 in writing
Duolingo English Test (DET)	105
C2 Proficiency (formally known as Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE))	169 and no bands below 162
Language Cert International ESOL (LRWS)	B2 Communicator with 33-37 score per skill
NCUK English for Academic Purposes	Minimum C grade average with no lower than D in all components. Some programmes have additional entry requirements. For further details, visit our dedicated NCUK information page.
New Zealand Certificate in English Language (NZCEL)	Level 4 (Academic)
Michigan English Test (formally known as Michigan Language Assessment Battery (MELAB))	Minimum score of 54
Pearson PTE Academic	Overall score of 50 with no Band less than 42
Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE)	II with distinction in all four components
University of Waikato College	Successful completion of Level 7 with a B grade in the Certificate of Attainment in Academic English (CAAE) programme