Research

My research on environmental and natural resources law in transnational, interdisciplinary contexts is recognised globally. In particular, I have published widely on freshwater and marine law and policy and intersections with Indigenous rights and interests. I am recognised in the top 2% of scientists globally in the field of law (Elsevier, 2024).

My award-winning book with Cambridge University Press Indigenous Water Rights in Law and Regulation explores transnational law and policy frameworks on Indigenous water rights. My work on opportunities for Indigenous peoples' water rights in laws and policies globally earned me the 2021 Royal Society Te Apārangi ECR Excellence Award for Humanities.

I am a 2023 Rutherford Discovery Fellow, leading the project Blue carbon futures in Aotearoa New Zealand: Law, climate, resilience . I have led multiple, multidisciplinary environmental research teams to deliver research projects for the Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge on law and policy for ecosystem-based management and the Riverine Rights Norwegian Research Council project on legal innovations recognising the rights of rivers. I have been selected as a New Zealand entry to the Frontiers Planet Prize for my co-authored work on power and scale dynamics in global water governance.

My research has been used by governments and Indigenous peoples tackling pressing socio-environmental challenges around the world and relied on in evidence, government inquiries, by judges and in government reports. I have research collaborations with Iwi and Hapū across Aotearoa and I use my comparative law and Spanish language skills to transfer knowledge across settler-Indigenous contexts around the world.

Appointments & Awards

Frontiers Planet Prize national winner 2024

I was a 2024 Frontiers Planet Prize national winner for my paper: 'Setting a pluralist agenda for water governance: Why power and scale matter.'

Ranked in the top 2% of scientists globally

I was listed in the top 2% of scientists globally, in 2024. I am ranked 515th globally for the subfield of law.

Winner of the 2022 Sir Ian Baker Published Article Award

First Honourable Mention for the Transnational Environmental Law Best Article Prize 2023

My article in the Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand's Ngā Kete 2023 Annual Collection won the 2022 Sir Ian Baker Published Article Award

First Honourable Mention for the Transnational Environmental Law Best Article Prize 2023

My co-authors and I received the first honourable mention in the Transnational Environmental Law Best Article 2023 for our piece on Experiments with the Extension of Legal Personality to Ecosystems and Beyond-Human Organisms: Challenges and Opportunities for Company Law

Appointed to the Advisory Board, Transnational Environmental Law Journal

In 2024 I was appointed to the Advisory Board for the Transnational Environmental Law Journal

Appointed to the Editorial Board, Associate Editor, Australasian Journal or Water Resources

In 2024 I was appointed as Associate Editor of the Australasian Journal of Water Resources

High-impact publications

Books

Journal Articles

Indigenous Water Rights in Law and Regulation responds to an unresolved
question in legal scholarship: how are (or how might be) indigenous peoples’ rights included in contemporary regulatory regimes for water

Journal Articles

My article in the International Journal of Human Rights analyses the institutional arrangements for the Waikato and Waipā Rivers in Aotearoa New Zealand to consider how effectively they promote Indigenous rights and the exercise of Māori law and relationships with place.

Presentations

My recent presentation about designing marine law and policy for the health and resilience of ocean and coastal ecosystems at the Te Au o Te Moana Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge Conference

My book chapter in this edited collection explores ecosystem rights in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia

My article published in Climate Law analyses Aotearoa New Zealand's climate adaptation laws and policies through a feminist lens

My short video about oceans law and policy for the Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge Te Au o te Moana series

My chapter in this book on the recognition of nature and its components as a subject of rights discusses the use of legal personhood for natural resources governance around the world

My article published in Frontiers in Marine Science discusses policy enablers that could encourage the uptake of carbon projects by private landowners in Aotearoa New Zealand

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My speech to the United Nations Interactive Dialogue on Harmony with Nature considered the importance of teaching about climate change

My chapter in this book discusses seabed mining in Aotearoa New Zealand

This article explores key opportunities to align marine law and policy to ecosystem dynamics and identifies critical lessons for scale-sensitive marine law and policy design, globally

My presentation on law and policy for marine ecosystems in Aotearoa New Zealand, for the Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge

Dr Elizabeth Macpherson

Research

Appointments & Awards

Frontiers Planet Prize national winner 2024

Ranked in the top 2% of scientists globally

Winner of the 2022 Sir Ian Baker Published Article Award

First Honourable Mention for the Transnational Environmental Law Best Article Prize 2023

First Honourable Mention for the Transnational Environmental Law Best Article Prize 2023

First Honourable Mention for the Transnational Environmental Law Best Article Prize 2023

Appointed to the Advisory Board, Transnational Environmental Law Journal

Appointed to the Editorial Board, Associate Editor, Australasian Journal or Water Resources

Full publication list