How does UC facilitate incorporating more diversity for everyone?
Café Reo welcomes anyone to come learn te reo, meet people who already speak it and have a kōrero with them, and they provide afternoon tea. We get a wide range of people that I didn’t expect, which is amazing. The kapa haka class had a big mix of people who engage with it, whether it’s their culture or not. And we have a Māori Law Students Association, Asian Law, Pasifika Law, Women in Law. It’s been really helpful in getting that support and encouragement for more diversity into the law school.
Why is the UC Māori Law Students Association so important to you?
It took a long time for me to realise that having both parts of me (law and Māori) in one place can be the best experience because you feel like you fully belong. It’s a bit more niche, a very different culture, so we provide targeted support. We know it can be isolating as a minority, so we also provide opportunities to meet other Māori law students across all the unis in NZ.
How do you unwind?
One of the biggest things about Christchurch is the fact that I can go from uni to the beach in 20 minutes – I absolutely love it. I chuck my surfboard in the car, go to my lectures, and then go out any chance I get. I love being outdoors, so it’s a nice change after being in a lecture theatre all day.
Any advice for other students?
There’s a whakataukī that I feel strongly about: Kia kaha, kia māia, kia manawanui. The last bit, ‘manawanui,’ is what’s important to me and what I think is also key for other students. It means ‘to be steadfast/determined,’ which is a big part of going to university.
