Maui Solomon

Biography: Maui Solomon (Moriori, Kai Tahu, and Pakeha - English, Irish, French, and German) Maui is a Barrister and Indigenous Peoples Advocate with 22 years legal experience specialising in land and fishing claims, cultural and intellectual property, environmental law and Treaty/Indigenous Peoples Rights issues. He has also been a key legal and political advocate for the recognition of the customary and Treaty rights and identity, mediation and negotiation of his own Moriori people of Rekohu (Chatham Islands) and Maori tribes in Aotearoa/New Zealand. He currently represents 3 of the 6 tribes in the landmark Wai 262 claim before the Waitangi Tribunal concerning indigenous flora and fauna and cultural/intellectual heritage rights of Maori under the Treaty of Waitangi, which claim seeks, among other things, to develop a unique system for protection and use of Maori traditional knowledge and associated resources. Maui maintains an active interest in international Indigenous Peoples issues with particular emphasis on the Convention on Biological Diversity and the World Intellectual Property Organisation. He is currently the President-elect of the International Society of Ethnobiology, a society dedicated to working in harmony and collaboration with indigenous and traditional peoples which seeks better recognition and protection of their cultural and intellectual property rights. He has written and published many papers in the field of his work and is regularly invited to attend and address international conferences. Maui and his partner Susan live in Titahi Bay, Porirua, Aotearoa/NZ and have 5 wonderful teenage children. Me rongo (in peace).