Dr Stephen Young is an Associate Professor at the University of Otago’s Faculty of Law (Te Kaupeka Tātai Ture, Otākou Whakaihu Waka), who brings together rigorous research and relatable public engagement. His 2020 book Indigenous Peoples, Consent and Rights: Troubling Subjects earned him the Law Society of Australia and New Zealand’s Early Career Research Award. In 2023, he was further honoured with the University of Otago Early Career Award for Distinction in Research. He has published another book, an edited volume, special issues of journals, numerous book chapters, journal articles, blog posts and other commentaries. Beyond the academy, he is adept at speaking across diverse audiences, from academic book launches to the general public. His media presence includes engagements through newsprint, radio, and television (specifically for commentary on pseudolaw and sovereign-citizen phenomena in Aotearoa), highlighting his ability to translate complex legal ideas into accessible, impactful narratives across multiple platforms. He specialises in Indigenous peoples and the law, human rights, and the troubling rise of sovereign citizen pseudolaw.
