The question of whether a person's mana continues after death is central to a case before the Supreme Court.
Convicted sex offender Peter Ellis died in September, but his lawyers argue that on tikanga Māori grounds, his appeal should continue.
Ellis' long-time lawyer Robert Harrison walked into the Supreme Court on Thursday, fighting to clear his clients' name even after his death.
"If the matter stops now there will always be that question lingering whether Mr Ellis would have been successful," Ellis' counsel Natalie Coates said.
Ellis was convicted in 1993 on 16 charges of sexual offending against children at the Christchurch Civic Childcare centre. Three convictions were later quashed.
He spent seven years in prison, but always maintained his innocence.
"Him and family were impacted by allegations and conviction and the associated stigma of the offences he was convicted of," Coates said.
Ellis was granted leave to appeal his convictions last year - but died of bladder cancer in September. Solicitor-General Una Jagose argued that should put the matter to rest because, at best, his convictions would be set aside.
"In my submission that will forever leave this matter for the victims in a state of imbalance... because of a matter of fact Mr Ellis' cannot be retried," Jagose said.
Tikanga Māori was used to argue for a posthumous appeal - including the concept that 'mana' continues after death. The Māori Law Society was asked in court whether death brings the matter to an end.
"From a tikanga Māori point of view, for the reasons that I've explained, the answer would be no," Māori Law Society's Matanuku Mahuika said.
Members of the public had to watch proceedings from the foyer of the Supreme Court because the public gallery was so full. Ellis' brother and sister represented the family and victims also attended, but due to suppression orders, they cannot be identified.
A decision on if the appeal is successful is expected by the end of the year.
