top of page

Careers in the Law Wānanga

 

This video series is for any rangatahi interested in finding out more about a career in the law.  Hear from a variety of inspirational people using their legal training in different settings, including Judges, law students, partners and solicitors, law clerks, in-house lawyers and university law school lecturers and staff.

 

Thanks to the Michael & Suzanne Borrin Foundation for making this video content possible and to MinterEllisonRuddWatts, Kāhui Legal, Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa, the Pacific Lawyers Association, Who Did You Help Today Trust and all of the contributors.

Day 1 - What is it like to work
in the legal sector?

Day 1, Session 1 - Introduction to the "Careers in the Law" Wānanga
06:38

Day 1, Session 1 - Introduction to the "Careers in the Law" Wānanga

Join Justice Kiri Tahana, Stacey Shortall and Maria Sopoaga as they introduce this online wānanga for rangatahi interested in finding out more about careers in the law. Justice Kiri Tahana is a Judge of the High Court, sitting in Auckland. Justice Tahana graduated with an LLB(Hons) and a BA (in Māori and Political Science) from Victoria University of Wellington. Justice Tahana has worked at Gilbert & Tobin in Sydney, at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in London, as Senior Legal Counsel at the Commerce Commission and as Senior Director, Legal Counsel at Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company PJSC (du) in the United Arab Emirates. In 2017, Justice Tahana joined the partnership of Kāhui Legal in Rotorua, becoming Managing Partner in 2019. Through this work she gained extensive experience in commercial, corporate (including regulatory and competition) law and litigation experience, along with considerable expertise in advising on matters relating to te Tiriti o Waitangi. Justice Tahana's iwi are Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Makino and Tapuika (Te Arawa). Stacey Shortall is a partner at MinterEllisonRuddWatts and one of New Zealand's top lawyers. Stacey graduated with a B.Com./LLB from Victoria University of Wellington and obtained a Master of Laws from the University of Alberta, before spending 11 years working as a litigator for Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton, and Garrison in New York. While practising there, she became involved in pro bono work, volunteering in women’s prisons as well as with domestic violence victims, refugee women fleeing abuse, and impoverished mothers seeking to have their children returned from foster care. At MERW, Stacey established the Who Did You Help Today Charitable Trust and initiated several projects designed to create social change. Stacey has been recognised as a leading lawyer in New Zealand by the Chambers Global Guide, the Legal 500, Legal Media Group, and NZ Lawyer. She has received numerous other awards, including most recently the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to the law and the community. Maria is a senior solicitor in MinterEllisonRuddWatts’ Litigation & Dispute Resolution team in Wellington. She graduated with a BA/LLB from the University of Auckland in 2018 and leads the firm’s pro bono assistance of WhoDidYouHelpToday’s Mother’s Project in Wellington. In 2019 she was the inaugural recipient of the Centre for Legal Innovation's Young Legalpreneurs Scholarship for New Zealand and was named by NZ Lawyer as a Rising Star in 2020. Maria was again recognised in 2021 as one of NZ Lawyer’s most influential lawyers and received ILANZ’s Community Contribution Award in 2021. She currently serves on the National New Lawyers Group and the Executive Committee of the Pacific Lawyers Association.
Day 1, Session 3 - Virtual kōrero with Principal Youth Court Judge, Judge Ida Malosi
06:29

Day 1, Session 3 - Virtual kōrero with Principal Youth Court Judge, Judge Ida Malosi

Virtual kōrero with District Court Judge, Judge Ida Malosi and Isabella Ieremia Judge Ida Malosi is the Principal Youth Court Judge for New Zealand. After graduating from Victoria University of Wellington she established an all Māori and Pasifika women legal practice in South Auckland—King Alofivae Malosi. In 2002, she became New Zealand’s first female Pasifika Judge when she was appointed to the Family Court, where she worked with her Māori Youth Court colleagues to establish Rangatahi Courts. She also served as Samoa's first Samoan female Supreme Court Judge between May 2013 and July 2014, where she established the Family Court and the Family Violence Court and implemented judicial settlement conferences. In 2015, the Australasian Institute of Judicial Administration awarded the Rangatahi and Pasifika Courts its Award for Excellence in Judicial Administration. Isabella Ieremia is a Pasifika Arts Advocate, studying Law and Arts at the University of Auckland. Isabella advocates for greater access to high-quality art for Pasifika people and other minority groups - to ignite positive change. At 19, Isabella was the assistant producer for ‘The Guerilla Collection’ - bringing Pasifika artists together to create new work, and this year she worked as the assistant producer on ‘Upu’ - a collection of poetry from Oceania presented by Silo Theatre. Isabella was selected as one of the Y25 YWCA finalists for 2020. Alongside this work, Isabella has balanced being a Summer Clerk at Bell Gully, and Research Assistant and Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Auckland.

Day 2 - Prepping for legal
studies and beyond

Day 2, Session 6 - What else can you do with a law degree?
05:05

Day 2, Session 6 - What else can you do with a law degree?

Asena Tolungamaka is a Policy Officer in the Development, Economy and Prosperity Division at MFAT, Director of People & Organisational Development for Navigators of Success and Trustee for Kaibosh Food Rescue. Asena graduated from the University of Auckland with a BA/LLB in 2018, and worked for a variety of employers, such as Lion, Auckland Council, MFAT and Air New Zealand, before settling into her current roles. In 2018, Asena won the Prime Minister's Leadership and Inspiration Award for her work leading Navigators of Success. Juliet Tainui-Hernandez is the Assistant Governor and General Manager of Transformation, Innovation, People and Culture at Te Pūtea Matua/ The Reserve Bank of New Zealand. Juliet is qualified as a Barrister and Solicitor of the New Zealand High Court, admitted as a Solicitor in the Supreme Court of New South Wales Australia, and as a Solicitor of England and Wales. Juliet worked with Ngāi Tahu and a large New Zealand law firm before working in Australia, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom. In these places, Juliet worked in roles ranging from litigation and dispute resolution, risk management and regulatory compliance, strategy and business transformation, and broad leadership and management roles, including aspects associated with integration, expansion, and the combinations of international legal practices. Rachael Le Mesurier is the Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the NZ Super Fund. She was previous the Executive Director of Oxfam New Zealand and a Council for International Development Board Member. She has worked in a range of jobs, including as National Director of the Muscular Dystrophy Association of New Zealand, CEO of Citizens Advice Bureau New Zealand, a Regional Director of Family Planning New Zealand, and Executive Director of the New Zealand AIDS Foundation. In 2020, she received a CNZM for services to governance, the community and health. Sarah Paterson is a consultant and has worked on trade and primary sector issues for almost 20 years, initially on WTO disputes and trade negotiations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Since then Sarah has been the Trade Policy Manager for Meat & Wool New Zealand and headed Fonterra’s global Trade and Policy teams. Sarah has an LLB/BA (Hons) from the University of Otago and is currently a Director on the New Zealand Meat Board and a member of the New Zealand Army Leadership Board. She is also a Trustee of the WhoDidYouHelpToday? charitable Trust.

Day 3 - You have what
it takes!

Day 3, Session 3 - Māori in the Law with Justice Kiri Tahana and Judge Ngaroma Tahana
04:34

Day 3, Session 3 - Māori in the Law with Justice Kiri Tahana and Judge Ngaroma Tahana

Justice Kiri Tahana is a Judge of the High Court, sitting in Auckland. Justice Tahana graduated with an LLB(Hons) and a BA (in Māori and Political Science) from Victoria University of Wellington. Justice Tahana has worked at Gilbert & Tobin in Sydney, at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in London, as Senior Legal Counsel at the Commerce Commission and as Senior Director, Legal Counsel at Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company PJSC (du) in the United Arab Emirates. In 2017, Justice Tahana joined the partnership of Kāhui Legal in Rotorua, becoming Managing Partner in 2019. Through this work she gained extensive experience in commercial, corporate (including regulatory and competition) law and litigation experience, along with considerable expertise in advising on matters relating to te Tiriti o Waitangi. Justice Tahana's iwi are Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Makino and Tapuika (Te Arawa). Judge Ngaroma Tahana is a Judge of the Manukau District Court. She was previously a partner at Kāhui Legal. She holds degrees in law and business management from Auckland and Waikato Universities. She was admitted to the bar in 2005 and began her legal career at Simpson Grierson, where she had over five years’ experience covering environmental litigation, regulatory compliance, resource management, and Maori land/Treaty issues. In 2010 Ngaroma moved home to Rotorua, and expanded her litigation experience as a Crown Prosecutor. Ngaroma joined Kāhui Legal in June 2018, specialising in criminal defence and general litigation. Ngaroma acts on both private and legal aid instruction.
Day 3, Session 4 - Kōrero with Justice Joe Williams and Joseph Xulue
04:34

Day 3, Session 4 - Kōrero with Justice Joe Williams and Joseph Xulue

Justice Joe Williams is a judge of the Supreme Court. Justice Williams has an LLB from the Victoria University of Wellington and an LLM (Hons) from the University of British Columbia. He became a partner at Kensington Swan in 1992 and went on to co-found Walters Williams & Co in 1994. In 1999 he became Chief Judge of the Māori Land Court and was appointed Deputy Chairperson of the Waitangi Tribunal shortly after in 2000. He was made Chairperson of the Waitangi Tribunal in 2004. Justice Williams was appointed a judge of the High Court in September 2008, a judge of the Court of Appeal in February 2018, and a judge of the Supreme Court in May 2019. Justice Williams’ iwi are Ngati Pūkenga, Waitaha and Tapuika. Joseph Xulue is a Crown Prosecutor and President of the Pacific Lawyers Association. Joseph graduated from the University of Auckland with a B.Com./LLB and became the first indigenous Kanak to be admitted to the New Zealand bar. He began working in the Auckland Public Defence Service office in 2017, before moving to the Office of the Crown Solicitor at Manukau - Kayes Fletcher Walker working as a Crown Prosecutor. His work focuses on reflecting the South Auckland community it serves and prosecuting crime in a firm and fair way. Joseph has recently received a Fulbright New Zealand Graduate Award, recently completing his Master of Laws in criminal justice reform and Indigenous peoples' rights at Harvard University.
Day 3, Session 5 - Life and Leadership
05:19

Day 3, Session 5 - Life and Leadership

Join Nathalie Harrington, Aigagalefili Fepulea’i, Grace Stratton, Tama Waipara and Tane Tu'ipulotu for a virtual kōrero on life and leadership. Nathalie Harrington is a Senior Solicitor at MinterEllisonRuddWatts and a Next Generation Member of the New Zealand China Council. Nathalie graduated from Victoria University of Wellington with a BA and an LLB. She then worked as a Solicitor at Russell McVeagh, during which time she studied Advanced Business Chinese at National Taiwan University with the support of the Prime Minister's Scholarship for Asia. Nathalie later worked as an Advisor for The Compliance Company, before undertaking her current work. Aigagalefili Fepulea’i is a Samoan-New Zealander poet and indigenous and climate change activist. While taking on the role of head girl at Aorere College, she co-founded Pasefika climate change group 4 Tha Kulture and participated in the 2019 climate strikes, a story documented in the film High Tide Don't Hide. Aigagalefili is also well-known through social media for her poetry about racial inequality, particularly in education during the pandemic. Aigagalefili has received many accolades, including first prize at the New Zealand Storytellers competition for her piece “Waiting for Water”, the Young Leader award in the New Zealand Women of Influence Awards 2020, and Supreme Award for Youth Advocacy at the inaugural Pacific Cooperation Foundation Youth Leadership Awards. Aigagalefili is also studying toward her LLB/BSc at AUT University. Grace Stratton is a life-long wheelchair user - having been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at age one. Grace begun a law and communications double degree in 2019, the same year she launched her business: All is for All. All is for All works mainly as a consultancy, ensuring disabled people are understood, valued, and given sovereignty over outcomes that affect them and stories that are told. Through this business, she has provided countless opportunities for disabled people, earning her many awards, including becoming a supreme AIMES alumni, one of Forbes Asia’s 30 under 30, and the ACC supreme winner of the Attitude Awards. Grace is completing her double degree in Law and Communications at AUT University. Tama Waipara is a singer, songwriter, and curator. He graduated from Manhattan School of Music with a Master's degree in Music and Performance Clarinet and has been involved in theatre, the documentary Manhattan Māori and the movie "Pulse: A Stomp Odyssey". He has worked on a variety of albums, and musical projects, including his album "Fill up the Silence" that was awarded best roots album in the 2014 NZ Music Awards. However, his biggest role in the creative sector is as a curator, working as a programme manager for the Auckland Arts Festival from 2012 - 2019 and as CEO/artistic director for the Te Tairāwhiti Arts Festival in Gisborne. Tane Tu'ipulotu is a small business owner of TT Sports Massage and 1st XV Assistant Coach at Scots College. Tane played rugby union for the Hurricanes in the Super Rugby competition, as well as for the Manawatu Turbos, Pacific Islanders, Newcastle Falcons, and the Yamaha Jubilo, before retiring in 2013. In addition to rugby, Tane trained and worked as a Sports Massage Therapist. This led to him starting his own business, TT Sports Massage in 2014.
bottom of page