"The Law of Religion in New Zealand...covers key areas of religion in a legal context. The first chapter introduces the reader to law and religion generally, considering the general relationship between the two; religion and the state; the meaning and place of religion, and religion's general and legal definitions. Later chapters consider topics within New Zealand specifically such as religion in society, including Māori and religion and the post-colonisation religious landscape; freedom of religion; religion and family; religion and employment; religion and charity; and religion and education"--Back cover.

"Religion continues to play a significant and sometimes controversial role in the politics and culture of 'secular' New Zealand. Drawing on the expertise of scholars in law, religious and political studies, history and education, this volume explores the relationship between religion and politics in contemporary New Zealand, with a glance back to the past." "There are chapters on: religion, politics and the New Zealand Wars of the 1860s; government support of the churches; the question of whether New Zealand is a 'Christian state'; civic responsibilities of churches towards other faiths; religious education; and Christian political parties." --Book Jacket.

Discussion of the way in which law engages with religious difference often takes place within the context of a single jurisdiction. Religion and Law: An Introduction, presents a comprehensive text for students, drawing on examples from across key Anglophone jurisdictions – the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, as well as international law, to explore a broad range of issues. Aimed at a non-legal readership, this book introduces the use of legal sources and focuses on factual situations as much as legal doctrine. Key issues arising from interaction of the religious individual and the State are discussed, as well as the religious organisation or community and the State. The interaction is explored through case studies of areas as diverse as the legal regulation of religious drug use, sacred spaces and sacred places, and claims of clergy misconduct. Taking a broad, non-jurisdictional approach to the key issues, in particular providing insights differing from the dominant US experiences and paradigms, this student-friendly textbook includes a clearly structured bibliography and clear guidance on how to approach relevant legal materials.

Written in a lively style, the commentary contains a detailed analysis of this short, but important piece of constitutional legislation. To make it as accessible to readers as possible each chapter of the book follows a pattern of outlining similar provisions in comparable human rights systems (domestic and international), discussing the purposes of each right or provision in issue, engaging in a detailed examination of the meaning of the text of each provision, examining the extent to which justified limits can be placed on guaranteed rights and freedoms, and concluding by considering issues related to remedies where relevant.

"The Australian Constitution contains no guarantee of freedom of religion or freedom of conscience. Indeed, it contains very few provisions dealing with rights — in essence, it is a Constitution that confines itself mainly to prescribing a framework for federal government, setting out the various powers of government and limiting them as between federal and state governments and the three branches of government without attempting to define the rights of citizens except in minor respects. […] Whether Australia should have a national bill of rights has been a controversial issue for quite some time. This is despite the fact that Australia has acceded to the ICCPR, as well as the First Optional Protocol to the ICCPR, thereby accepting an international obligation to bring Australian law into line with the ICCPR, an obligation that Australia has not discharged. Australia is the only country in the Western world without a national bill of rights.4 The chapters that follow in this book debate the situation in Australia and in various other Western jurisdictions.' From Foreword by The Hon Sir Anthony Mason AC KBE: Human Rights and Courts

Offering an interdisciplinary, international and philosophical perspective, this comprehensive Research Handbook explores both perennial and recent legal issues that concern the modern state and its interaction with religious communities and individuals.