Utu (Māori concept) explained

Utu is a Māori concept of reciprocation or balance.

To retain mana, both friendly and unfriendly actions require an appropriate response; that is, utu covers both the reciprocation of kind deeds,^[1] and the seeking of revenge.^[2]

Utu is one of the key principles of the constitutional tradition of Māori along with whanaungatanga (the centrality of relationships), mana and tapu/noa (the recognition of the spiritual dimension).^[3] Along with equivalent traditions in other Indigenous communities, it has also been cited as an influence in attempts to introduce restorative justice into the criminal justice systems both in New Zealand and elsewhere.^{[4] [5]}

Utu can also be used about monetary repayments, paying or repaying.^[6]

Cultural references

• Utu, a 1983 New Zealand film loosely based on events from Te Kooti's War
• "Amazon's "one-click" patent reconsidered" - a modern example of the term's use within New Zealand society

See also

• Restorative justice

External links

• An exploration of utu as a legal concept

Notes and References

1. Web site: Utu. Ministry of Justice, New Zealand. 17 September 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20110810035543/https://www.justice.govt.nz/publications/publications-archived/2001/he-hinatore-ki-te-ao-maori-a-glimpse-into-the-maori-world/part-1-traditional-maori-concepts/utu. 10 August 2011.
2. http://www.waitangi.com/warfare/utu.html "UTU - Payment and Revenge, an Eye for an Eye"
3. Book: Jones, Carwyn . Indigenous peoples and the state : international perspectives on the Treaty of Waitangi . 2019 . Mark Hickford, Carwyn Jones . 978-0-367-89544-0 . London . Māori and State visions of law and peace . 1124338401.
4. Takagi . Paul . Shank . Gregory . 2004 . Critique of Restorative Justice . Social Justice . 31 . 3 (97) . 147–163 . 29768262 . 1043-1578.
5. Shriver . Donald W. . Shriver . Peggy L. . 2012 . Law, Religion, and Restorative Justice in New Zealand . Journal of Law and Religion . 28 . 1 . 143–177 . 10.1017/S0748081400000266 . 23645229 . 0748-0814.
6. Web site: utu - Māori Dictionary. maoridictionary.co.nz. 2019-09-10.