Jennifer Corrin

The only book of its kind, Introduction to South Pacific Law provides an overview of law in Pacific Island countries and in Papua New Guinea. It sets out the framework of South Pacific legal systems and also describes the substantive law on a broad range of topics. Examining both State laws and customary laws, the book highlights common patterns and explains some of the principal differences between the laws and legal systems of the countries of the region. The introductory chapter looks at the development of South Pacific law and at South Pacific jurisprudence. Individual chapters are devoted to State laws, customary laws, constitutional law, administrative law, criminal law, family law, contract law, torts law, land law and court systems. The book makes extensive reference to legislative provisions and case law of individual jurisdictions. Including a discussion of recent changes in the law, this new edition of Introduction to South Pacific Law is a useful and up-to-date resource for all those interested in the law of the region. JENNIFER CORRIN is Professor Emerita at The University of Queensland. She is an academic and consultant on law reform and development in plural legal regimes and legal issues affecting small States. Before joining The University of Queensland, she spent five years at the University of the South Pacific, having joined the Faculty after nine years in her own legal firm in Solomon Islands. She is author of Contract Law in the South Pacific (now in its second edition) and co-author of Courts and Civil Procedure in the South Pacific. She is co-editor of Legal Systems of the Pacific. JUSTICE DR VERGIL NAROKOBI is a Judge of the National Court and Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea. Prior to his appointment as a judge in 2020, he was Legal Counsel at the Ombudsman Commission of Papua New Guinea and President of the Papua New Guinea Law Society. His PhD from Victoria University of Wellington examined the implementation of Papua New Guineas national goals and directive principles and basic social obligations. He also holds an LLM from the University of Cambridge.

This book is a unique study of the law of contract in a range of South Pacific Island countries: Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, to name a few. Whilst this law has yet to establish its own regional identity, it differs significantly from the law of contract which operates in England and Wales. Incorporating an up to date survey of local jurisprudence, this book discusses the common law principles with reference to both regional decisions and case law from England and Wales. Further, it explains how the law of contract differs from country to country within the South Pacific and highlights the areas where regional courts have chosen to follow national legal developments in other countries, such as Australia and New Zealand. Relevant legislation in operation is also discussed, including local enactments and statutes that have been introduced from overseas. In addition, a separate chapter is specifically dedicated to customary laws, exploring the question of whether there is a customary law of contract. It explains the role of customary laws and their place within State law hierarchies of laws in South Pacific legal systems. Subsequent chapters go on to explore the relationship between customary laws and particular State contract laws. Contract Law in the South Pacific is a valuable resource for students, academics and legal practitioners, both within and outside the region.

The only book of its kind, Introduction to South Pacific Law provides an overview of law in the South Pacific. It sets out the framework of South Pacific legal systems and also describes the substantive law on a broad range of topics. Examining both state laws and customary law, the book highlights common patterns and explains some of the principal differences between the laws and legal systems of the countries of the region. The introductory chapter looks at the development of South Pacific law and at South Pacific jurisprudence. Individual chapters are devoted to state laws, customary law, constitutional law, administrative law, criminal law, family law, contract law, torts law, land law, and court systems. The book makes extensive reference to legislative provisions and case law of individual jurisdictions. Including a discussion of recent changes in the law, this new edition of Introduction to South Pacific Law is a useful and up-to-date resource for all those interested in the law of the region.

This book compares the conduct of civil cases in countries of the South Pacific. It explains the practical application of civil procedures in the context of the courts in which they operate. The text focuses on the rules that apply in the superior courts of Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. An introductory chapter explains the origin of the rules and the factors that link and differentiate them. The preliminary considerations that should be weighed before proceedings are instituted are highlighted. In a separate chapter, the constitution and civil jurisdiction of the courts are explained. Legislative and case law developments are also discussed. The book also has a chapter on alternative ways of resolving civil disputes. The text describes recent changes to the rules and suggests further reforms that might be considered by South Pacific rule making bodies. The book is designed for use by legal practitioners and scholars interested in civil procedure in the South Pacific region. It is also of use to teachers and students of South Pacific civil procedure, both at degree level and in professional legal training programmes.