Mireama Houra

Ko Taranaki, Ruapehu, Piripiri ōku maunga
Ko Tokomaru, Aotea, Kurahaupo ōku waka
Ko Te Ātiawa, Taranaki Whanui, Te Ātihaunui-a-Papārangi ōku iwi
Ko Puketapu tōku hapū     
Ko Tahuaroa, Tairangi, Tuwatawata te Manu Tahuaroa. Takurua Te Whawai aka Rihari, Tahuaroa Watene, Te Karira Tahuaroa Watene, Taranaki Onauku Arapaoa,  Honiana Te Puni ōkutī ipuna,
Ko Waitohi te awa
Ko Waikawa, Te Tatau o Te Pō nga marae

I am a Senior Barrister and my field of expertise covers Indigenous Human Rights under International law, Comparative indigenous Governance and at national state level Public, Civil and Criminal law.   These include, representing claimants and appearing in the Maori Land Court, Waitangi Tribunal, Appellate Court, Civil and Criminal proceedings. My chambers is Te Pātaka O Te Mana Tangata Chambers Limited and is based in Tāmaki Makaurau.

My involvement in Maori Land Court and Treaty work has so far embraced representing claimants before the Waitangi Tribunal in several inquiries beginning in 2009 with the East Coast Inquiry, Te Rohe Potae (Waikato), Te Paparahi o Te Raki (Ngapuhi) Inquiry Districts and Porirua ki Manawatu Inquiry Districts.

In 2017 I became involved in MACA Applications with co-counsel pursuant to The Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011 which was brought on behalf of several coastal hapū and iwi in Tairawhiti whose objective continues is to uphold their respective rangatiratanga over their rohe moana that was guaranteed to them and Te Tiriti and the Wakaminenga to be honoured and recognised by the Crown.    In more recent years this work has extended to Te Ātiawa ki Te Upoko o Te Ika a Maui Potiki Trust  and also Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-A-Māui Trust.

My other interests are in indigenous Governance and constitutional reformation namely equality, concern with the recognition of indigenous peoples inherent, treaty and cultural rights. 

The substantive areas of interests include;

• the recognition of indigenous peoples’ customary law;
• the right to redress for takings of indigenous cultural, intellectual, religious or spiritual property;
• indigenous peoples’ rights to their lands, including spiritual ties to ancestral lands traditionally owned, occupied and used, recognition of indigenous land tenure systems, the right to own and control their lands, self- governance to territories and resources for their present and future needs;
• Indigenous people’s cultural rights in political, social and economic development in governance between Native nations, national, state and local governments. How Indigenous nations can be treated as sovereigns by other nations.