Tikanga
From Māori law (Aotearoa New Zealand)
Religious and customary law
What it means
The Māori system of law and values, covering right ways of acting, relationships between people and with the land, and how wrongs are put right. Its main ideas include mana (authority), tapu (restriction) and utu (balance).
Why it travels badly
It is often translated as 'Māori custom', which makes it sound like folklore. It is a full system of norms with its own principles, applied within communities, and increasingly recognised by New Zealand's courts and statutes.
How other systems say it
tikanga Māori
The Supreme Court held in Ellis v R (2022) that tikanga is part of the common law of New Zealand, where relevant. Statutes such as Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 refer to it.
native title and Indigenous customary law
Recognised in a narrower way, as the basis of native title rights after Mabo (No 2) (1992).
Indigenous legal traditions
Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 recognises existing Aboriginal and treaty rights.
Tip for translators and students
Keep 'tikanga' in the original, with a gloss such as 'Māori law and values'. Avoid 'custom' alone.
Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
TheLawToKnow Tools’s glossary is an educational overview of the main differences between legal systems. It is not legal advice.
