45th Annual Conference of the Australian and New Zealand Law and History Society
Australian and New Zealand Law and History Society (ANZLHS)
Theme: Oral Sources and Non-Traditional Legal Sources
Reconsider what counts as a legal source
This conference brings together scholars, students, and practitioners to examine how law can be studied through oral history, memory, storytelling, and other non-traditional materials.
If you work with legal history, Indigenous law, or interdisciplinary research, this event gives you a clear space to question methods, explore new sources, and connect with others working across law and history.
Why attend
- Hear current research on oral sources, customary law, and non-traditional legal materials
- Gain insight into how law is experienced and recorded beyond courts and statutes
- Engage with work on Indigenous legal traditions, including tikanga Māori and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander law
- Explore how historians use newspapers, letters, archives, and community records to study law in everyday life
- Present your own research and receive feedback from a focused academic audience
- Connect with scholars across law, history, political science, and related fields
Who should attend
- Legal historians
- Law academics and researchers
- Graduate students and early career researchers
- Scholars in history, political science, Indigenous studies, and gender studies
- Legal practitioners with an interest in legal history
- Anyone researching law and society
Event details
- Dates: Thursday 3 December to Saturday 5 December 2026
- Time: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm each day
- Location: University of Canterbury, Ōtautahi Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand
- Event type: In-person academic conference
Conference theme
- Oral testimony and oral history
- Memory, storytelling, and folklore
- Indigenous legal traditions and customary law
- Archival records, petitions, letters, and council decisions
- Newspapers and public reporting of law
- Family histories, demographic material, and socio-economic data
Keynote speakers
- Professor Te Maire Tau, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury
- Distinguished Professor Shaunnagh Dorsett, University of Technology Sydney
- Emeritus Professor Jeremy Finn, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury
Practical information
- Hosted by Monash University and the University of Canterbury
- Multi-day academic programme
- In-person attendance required
- Located in Ōtautahi Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to submit a paper to attend?
No. You can attend without presenting.
Is this suitable for students?
Yes. Graduate students and early career researchers are encouraged to attend and participate.
Event Details
- Date:
- 3 December 2026 at 9:00 am – 5 December 2026 at 5:00 pm
- Venue:
- The University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
- Campus:
- The University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
- Categories:
- Research
Description
Australian and New Zealand Law and History Society (ANZLHS)
Theme: Oral Sources and Non-Traditional Legal Sources
Reconsider what counts as a legal source
This conference brings together scholars, students, and practitioners to examine how law can be studied through oral history, memory, storytelling, and other non-traditional materials.
If you work with legal history, Indigenous law, or interdisciplinary research, this event gives you a clear space to question methods, explore new sources, and connect with others working across law and history.
Why attend
- Hear current research on oral sources, customary law, and non-traditional legal materials
- Gain insight into how law is experienced and recorded beyond courts and statutes
- Engage with work on Indigenous legal traditions, including tikanga Māori and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander law
- Explore how historians use newspapers, letters, archives, and community records to study law in everyday life
- Present your own research and receive feedback from a focused academic audience
- Connect with scholars across law, history, political science, and related fields
Who should attend
- Legal historians
- Law academics and researchers
- Graduate students and early career researchers
- Scholars in history, political science, Indigenous studies, and gender studies
- Legal practitioners with an interest in legal history
- Anyone researching law and society
Event details
- Dates: Thursday 3 December to Saturday 5 December 2026
- Time: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm each day
- Location: University of Canterbury, Ōtautahi Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand
- Event type: In-person academic conference
Conference theme
- Oral testimony and oral history
- Memory, storytelling, and folklore
- Indigenous legal traditions and customary law
- Archival records, petitions, letters, and council decisions
- Newspapers and public reporting of law
- Family histories, demographic material, and socio-economic data
Keynote speakers
- Professor Te Maire Tau, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury
- Distinguished Professor Shaunnagh Dorsett, University of Technology Sydney
- Emeritus Professor Jeremy Finn, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury
Practical information
- Hosted by Monash University and the University of Canterbury
- Multi-day academic programme
- In-person attendance required
- Located in Ōtautahi Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to submit a paper to attend?
No. You can attend without presenting.
Is this suitable for students?
Yes. Graduate students and early career researchers are encouraged to attend and participate.