Law studies show path to the future

Victoria University student Nicola Walsh has landed an internship that’s allowing her to watch history be made through the law.

The 22-year-old is the inaugural intern for the prestigious Barristers‧Comm Māori and Pasifika Internship at the Bar, which she began in July this year.

Of Te Āti-Haunui-a-Pāpārangi and Ngāti Raukawa iwi, Nicola was one of three law students shortlisted for the position at the Wellington practice and she was rapt to be chosen.

“It’s been really amazing actually,” she says. “I thought when I applied for it, it would be a cool opportunity to see what the law’s like from a barrister’s perspective.”

The Bachelor of Law honours student, who is doing a conjoint bachelor’s degree with criminology and psychology, is an intern at Barristers‧Comm for 12 hours each week, and 15 hours in the university break.

“They are really good, they let me know when there are beneficial trials or cases on.”

‘Beneficial means ‘hot topic’ or ‘ground-breaking’ cases that are helpful for Nicola to know about for her legal career. The internship has led to great learning experiences, including attending Parliament, the Court of Appeal and more.

“I got to watch one of the barristers present at the Justice Select Committee hearing on the CounterTerrorism Legislation Bill; the bill going through at the moment. I’d never been to one of those.”

Nicola also attended the Court of Appeal for the Borrowdale v. Director-General of Health case, looking at whether the Level 4 lockdown last year was unlawful or not.

“I’m quite interested in public law stuff, and we’d come across it a bit last year… so that was a perfect one to go to.”

“They (Barristers‧Comm) are really helping to expose me to different areas of the law and introducing me to lots of different people, all to benefit me and my future career.”

Also helping her on the way is Te Āti Hau Trust, set up to help Ātihau-Whanganui Incorporation shareholders and whānau pursue their aspirations and goals.

The Trust has supported her since she started university in 2017. This year, she received an extra $1200, thanks to a shared grant between the Trust and the university.

“They have supported me right from the beginning, which has been really, really helpful – they have definitely helped me and my family out a lot,” says Nicola, who attended Sacred Heart Girls’ College in New Plymouth.

“I have always wanted to be a lawyer and my parents always said I would make a good one, but I think that was because I liked to argue,” she laughs.

In her days at Victoria University in Wellington, Nicola didn’t find it easy. “I found the first year most challenging.”

The young woman says the law school cohort was around 1100 and of those, only about 330 can continue into the second year and she feared she wouldn’t make it. But she did.

On the way, Nicola is learning about her cultural heritage. Her mother, Amanda Tatana before marrying, is of both Te Āti-Haunui-a-Pāpārangi and Ngāti Raukawa descent.

But her New Zealand-born parents met in Africa while on their OE, so Nicola and her older sister were born in Gaborone, Botswana. The family moved back to New Zealand when she was about eight months old.

“I was not brought up in a tikanga Māori environment,” she says. “As I’m growing up it’s definitely becoming more and more important to me.”

The spur to learn more about her Māori identity was being chosen as one of the public law tutors, and particularly the Māori, Pasifika and International tutor.

“It wasn’t really until then, when I was, on a regular basis, teaching and communicating with Māori, Pasifika and international students that I felt something was missing in terms of me and who I am.”

Nicola enrolled in te reo Māori classes and studied some Māori specific papers at university. “I took a Māori customary law paper and I ended up getting in the top four in the class for that,” she says.

“It’s made me a lot more confident in myself. It’s really helped me get a better idea of who I am as a person and it’s brought me a lot closer to my family, and lots of different people.”

Her learning path has helped cement her future dreams.

“I really wanted to pick a profession where I could help vulnerable people or minority groups, particularly Māori.”

To continue learning about her whakapapa, Nicola and her sisters are planning to visit their nanny Mary Wallace, koro Paora Tatana and uncle, also Paora Tatana, at Ngāti Huia Marae. Nicola also wants to do a full-immersion te reo Māori course.

While her focus is studying, Nicola keeps fit by running and going to the gym. “I’m also very social. I like to run off the motto ‘work hard, play hard’. University doesn’t rule my life, but it is an important part.”

Te Āti Hau Trust secretary Charmaine Teki says Nicola appears to know what her goals are, and she is striving towards them. “What stood out for me is her line of study - criminology and psychology is a field we do not see a lot of applicants study.”

The Trust hopes she excels in her chosen field of study: “We are excited for Nicola and her future aspirations.”

TOITŪ TE TANGATA