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.
Registrations open soon
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, Christchurch, New Zealand
- Event type: In-person academic conference
- Cost: Free
- Registration: Required
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 speaker
Jeremy Finn
Professor Emeritus, University of Canterbury
Keynote topic:
“Many characters in search of an author”: Judicial biography in New Zealand
This keynote examines the limited development of judicial biography in New Zealand, reviews existing work, and highlights opportunities for future research in this field.
Practical information
- Hosted by Monash University and the University of Canterbury
- Multi-day academic programme
- In-person attendance required
- Located in Christchurch, New Zealand
Frequently asked questions
Is the event free?
Yes. This is a free conference, but registration is required.
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.
Secure your place
Registrations open soon
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
- Open to:
- Registrations open soon
- Cost:
- Free
- 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.
Registrations open soon
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, Christchurch, New Zealand
- Event type: In-person academic conference
- Cost: Free
- Registration: Required
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 speaker
Jeremy Finn
Professor Emeritus, University of Canterbury
Keynote topic:
“Many characters in search of an author”: Judicial biography in New Zealand
This keynote examines the limited development of judicial biography in New Zealand, reviews existing work, and highlights opportunities for future research in this field.
Practical information
- Hosted by Monash University and the University of Canterbury
- Multi-day academic programme
- In-person attendance required
- Located in Christchurch, New Zealand
Frequently asked questions
Is the event free?
Yes. This is a free conference, but registration is required.
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.
Secure your place
Registrations open soon