Can the courts measure mana? w/ University of Canterbury’s Rachael Evans: 22nd July, 2024

In 2022, the Supreme Court used the idea of damage to a person’s mana to overturn Peter Ellis’ historic convictions for child sexual abuse. 

In two more recent cases – Green v Police, and Sweeney v Prison Manager of Spring Hill Corrections Facility – the courts too engaged with the concept of mana. 

Wire host Sofia Roger Williams spoke to lecturer at the University of Canterbury’s Faculty of Law, Rachael Evans (Ngāti Tama, Ngāti Pamoana), about the significance of the precedents they set and how the courts have measured mana.

She began the interview asking her about these cases and how each of them engaged with the concept of mana.