Defining the Formless

Demian Melissa , ‘Custom in the Courtroom, Law in the Village’ (2003) 9(1) Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute 97, 100.

Corrin Jennifer , Accommodating Legal Pluralism in Pacific Courts: Problems of Proof of Customary Law' (2011) 15 International Journal of Evidence and Proof 1, 2, n 1.

Weiner James Glaskin Katie , ‘Introduction: The (Re-)Invention of Indigenous Laws and Customs’ (2006) 7(1) Asia Pacific Journal of Anthropology 1, 1.

Ibid.

Brown Kenneth , ‘Customary Law in the Pacific’ (1999) (3) Journal of South Pacific Law.

Custom is only mentioned when explicitly overridden in adoption and inheritance matters: Constitution of Tongas 111.

Laws of Kiribati Act 1989 (Kiribati) s 5(2) (‘Laws of Kiribati Act’).

Article 8(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (‘MI Constitution’), providing for continuation of existing law, does not mention customary law. However, art 10(2) refers to ‘the continued application of the customary law pursuant to’ art 8(1).

Constitution of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea sch 2.1.1(1) (‘PNG Constitution’); Underlying Law Act 2000 (PNG) s 3 (‘Underlying Law Act’). Customs Recognition Act 1963 (PNG) provides some restrictions.

Constitution of the Republic of Palau art 5(2) ('Palau Constitution).

Constitution of Solomon Islands sch 3, s 3 (‘SI Constitution’).

Laws of Tuvalu Act 1987 (Tuvalu) s 4 (‘Laws of Tuvalu Act’).

Constitution of the Republic of Vanuatu s 95 (‘Vanuatu Constitution’).

Customary law is recognised through New Zealand legislation: Cook Islands Act 1915 (New Zealand), s 421–422 (‘Cook Islands Act (NZ)’), and the Land Court's continuing jurisdiction: Constitution of the Cook Islands s 48(3).

Land Act 1969 (Niue) s 10(1); Constitution of Niue s 33(1)(a) includes procedures for bills relating to customary land.

Constitution of the Independent State of Samoa arts 100–101 ('Samoan Constitution); Land and Titles Act 1981 (Samoa) s 37 (‘Land and Titles Act’).

National Criminal Code (Federated States of Micronesia) s 108.

Custom and Adopted Laws Act 1971 (Nauru) s 3.

Constitution of the Sovereign Republic of Fiji (1990) s 100(3) ('1990 Fiji Constitution).

Constitution (Amendment) Act 1997 (Fiji) s 186(1) ('1997 Fiji Constitution).

Constitution of the Republic of Fiji, ss 28, 30 <http://www.electionsfji.gov.fj/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Constitution-of-the-Republic-of-Fiji-.pdf>.

Demian , above n 1, 100.

Paterson Don , ‘South Pacific Customary and Common Law’ (1995) 21(2) Commonwealth Law Bulletin 660, 661.

Ibid.

Ratu Filimone Ralogaivau, ‘Problem Solving Courts’ Pacific Islands Governance Portal Conference Papers No 8 (2006) <http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTJUSFORPOOR/Resources/BlendingTradDisputeReswithRoL.pdf>, 3.

Brown , above n 5; Paterson , above n 23, 661.

Palau Constitution, art 5(2).

Constitution of Tuvalu, s 27(7).

MI Constitution, art 10(1).

Samoan Constitution, art 8(2)(d).

Constitution of the Federated States Of Micronesia, art 5(2).

PNG Constitution, s 53(5)(d).

1990 Fiji Constitution, s 16(3)(d).

MI Constitution, arts 3(3)(5), 3(3)(7).

Palau Constitution, art 8(6).

Vanuatu Constitution, s 30.

MI Constitution, art 24(2).

PNG Constitution, sch 1.2.2.

Laws of Kiribati Act, s 5.

Cook Islands Act (NZ), s. 2.

Laws of Tuvalu Act, s 5.

SI Constitution, s 144.

Samoa's definition relates to land. Land and Titles Act, s 2.

MI Constitution, art 24(2).

Samoan Constitution, art 111 (definition of law').

Farran Sue , Is Legal Pluralism an Obstacle to Human Rights?' (2006) 52 Journal of Legal Pluralism 77, 100.

MI Constitution, art 3(1)(3).

Based on a search of the PacLII database <http://www.paclii.org/> on 2 February 2014.

SI Constitution, s 144.

Fiji's 1997 Constitution contained a similar provision (s 186).

Edwards v Edwards [1996] SBHC 75 (‘Edwards’).

Ibid.

Laws of Kiribati Act, s 5.

Laws of Tuvalu Act, s 5.

Underlying Law Act, s 1(1). The Constitution uses the term ‘custom’ with an identical definition.

Land and Titles Act, s 2.

Demian , above n 1, 98.

Corrin , above n 2, 16.

Customs Recognition Act 2000 (Solomon Islands), s 3.

Laws of Kiribati Act, sch 1, para 1.

Underlying Law Act, s 16(1).

Laws of Tuvalu Act, sch 1, para 1.

Corrin , above n 2, 16.

Laws of Kiribati Act, s 5; Laws of Tuvalu Act, s 5.

Underlying Law Act, s 1(1).

Land and Titles Act, s 2.

Cook Islands Act (NZ), s 2 (emphasis added).

Based on a search of the PacLII database <http://www.paclii.org/> on 8 February 2014.

Edwards [1996] SBHC 75 (emphasis added).

Tanavalu v Tanavalu [1998] SBHC 4.

Ibid.

MI Constitution, art 24(2).

SI Constitution, s 144 (emphasis added).

Edwards [1996] SBHC 75.

Ibid.

Cook Islands Act (NZ) s 2.

Laws of Kiribati Act s 5.

Laws of Tuvalu Act, s 5.

PNG Constitution, sch 1.2.2.

Land and Titles Act, s 2 (emphasis added).

Teonea v Pule o Kaupule of Nanumaga [2009] TVCA 2.

Ibid [96]. Tompkins JA , in dissent, held the resolution could only be customary law to the extent it declared existing customary law. Ibid [58].

Laws of Tuvalu Act, s 5.

PNG Constitution, sch 1.2.2.

Kolta Development Pty Ltd v PNG Defence Force [1997] PNGLR 585.

Ibid per Salika J.

Ibid.

Ibid.

Land and Titles Act, s 2.

Re Somare [1981] PNGLR 265.

Ibid per Kidu CJ.

State v Alfred [2009] PGNC 29.

State v Noel [2012] PGNC 20.

Ibid.

Ibid.

Public Prosecutor v Gideon [2002] VUCA 7.

Ibid.

Jowitt Anita , The Nature and Functioning of Pacific Legal Systems' (2009) 13(1) Journal of South Pacific Law 1, 3.

Federated States of Micronesia v Mudong [1982] FMSC 11.

Demian , above n 1, 98.

Brown , above n 5.