Matthew S.R. Palmer &amp; Dean R. Knight. <i>The Constitution of New Zealand: A Contextual Analysis</i>

A Contextual Analysis provides an excellent overview of New Zealand's Constitution today.This review explains why.It then critically examines how the authors address te Tiriti o Waitangi, tino rangatiratanga, and Mori rights more broadly, including under international law.While the specific chapter on te Tiriti o Waitangi is excellent, there are other sections in the book-focused on other elements of the Constitution-where some of the conclusions could potentially be more nuanced and sensitive to Mori perspectives.One example might relate to the perceived strength of the rule of law in New Zealand.The book provides an overview of New Zealand's constitutional ethos, the establishment of the New Zealand state, the ongoing role of the Crown, New Zealand's unique democratic structure, and the principal institutions of government: Parliament, the Executive, and the Judiciary.Under the chapter on accountability and transparency, Knight and Palmer include analysis of, for example, administrative tribunals and the ombudsman.The chapter on human rights precedes the chapter on te Tiriti o Waitangi, and is followed by chapters on local and global governance.The final chapter considers the future of constitutional change in New Zealand.The Constitution of New Zealand does exactly what it is intended to do as part of the Constitutions of the World series.It methodically "provides scholars and students with accessible introductions to the constitutional systems of the world, supplying both a road map for the novice and, at the same time, a deeper understanding of the key historical, political, and legal events which have shaped the constitutional landscape of each country." 1 The book will, in fact, have broader appeal, including to practicing lawyers, the judiciary, officials in local and central government, political lobbyists, and the interested general public.Given that both authors advocate for more civics education earlier in New Zealand's school system, the book might also be used in higher-level secondary curricula.One of the greatest strengths of the book is the authors' realist approach, coupled with their exceptionally deep understanding and lived experience of many facets of New Zealand's Constitution, and their renowned academic rigor.The focus is more on