Seminars

#2512 Yes Minister Returns

– thoughts on parliamentary democracy incorporating The Treaty of Waitangi

Speaker Chris Finlayson

Date Saturday 12 July 10am - 1pm

Venue Waikanae Presbyterian Church Hall, 43 Ngaio Road, Waikanae

After graduating with a BA in Latin and a LLM from Victoria University, Chris Finlayson practised law in Wellington as a solicitor before going to the Bar in 2002. He was elected to Parliament in 2005 and became Attorney-General and Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations in 2008 as well as holding other portfolios including Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage.  He left Parliament in 2019 to return to the Bar. During his career, Christopher Finlayson has served on several professional bodies. Outside of law Mr Finlayson has had extensive involvement in arts and culture.  He is the author of two books, He Kupu Taurangi: Treaty Settlements and the Future of Aotearoa New Zealand with James Christmas (2021) and Yes Minster: An Insider’s Account of the John Key Years (2022).

In this seminar Chris will offer his thoughts on Aotearoa/New Zealand's possible evolution of its Westminster-based parliamentary democracy against the development of our understanding of the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi and their implications for the future of New Zealand’s democracy.