Fragile Foundations : The Application of English Criminal Law to Crimes Committed in New Zealand between 1826 and 1907

The arrival of Europeans in Aotearoa brought about an inevitable clash between the laws and values of Māori societies and those of the newcomers.

Like a subduction zone between two tectonic plates, each pressing against the other, this clash led to ruptures, often with long-term consequences. This ground-breaking book examines a series of notable criminal trials in order to understand how the indiscriminate application of English criminal law in New Zealand during the 19th century shaped the landscape of contemporary society.