From 15-19 July 2024, the Auckland Law School held its first-ever inaugural Pacific Law Week! The first Pacific Law Week embraced the theme, “The Ocean within Us” as inspired by the seminal work of renown Pacific academic, Epeli Hau’ofa, and aimed to foster inclusivity and celebrate Pacific (Moana Oceania) excellence and achievement at the Auckland Law School.

Throughout the week, the FOLAU Team at Auckland Law School hosted a series of exciting events, such as:

• Pacific Law Week Official Launch
  We were privileged to have Acting Dean Professor Warren Swain provide welcome remarks and the honourable Judge Faumui Lope Ginnen of the Manukau District Court deliver the Opening Address at the Pacific Law Week Official Launch.

• Moana Lunchtime Seminars
  We were pleased to hold two Moana Lunchtime Seminars by our own Moana Oceania academics at the Auckland Law School who are conducting incredible research in the Pacific region: Associate Professor Guy Fiti Sinclair (Associate Dean – Pasifika) and Dr Suliana Mone (Assistant Associate Dean – Pasifika).

• Beyond our Shores Talanoa: Pacific Peoples in the Law Panel (sponsored by Meredith Connell)
  During this talanoa, generously sponsored by Meredith Connell, we had the privilege of hosting three Moana Oceania alumni of Auckland Law School to share their experiences of being a Moana Oceania person in law school and in legal practice.

• Ways of Knowing and Being Moana Oceania: Talanoa & Kava Session
  The Ways of Knowing and Being Moana Oceania: Talanoa & Kava Session was held in collaboration with the Pacific Islands Law Students Association (PILSA) and allowed our students to engage in talanoa about being Moana Oceania in a diverse society. We were grateful to host community leader and academic from the Faculty of Arts, afioga Lemoa Henry Fesuluai, to facilitate our talanoa.

• Breaking Waves: LLB Part I Law Fono
  During this session, hosted by our MAI Academic Skills Mentor Ruby Macomber and our MAI Part I Tutors: Danika Schuster and Nikita Sionetali, our Moana Oceania tauira in Part I of the LLB at Auckland Law School had the opportunity to learn and practice academic skills to help them reset their intentions for the upcoming semester.
  
  
• Pacific Law Week Public Seminar: Pasifika Peoples in the Criminal Justice System of Aotearoa NZ
  We were grateful to host Auckland Law School alumna, Adi Litia Tuiburelevu, to present a public seminar on the incredible research project funded by the Michael and Suzanne Borrin Foundation: Pacific Peoples in the Criminal Justice System of Aotearoa New Zealand.

• Pacific Law Week Closing Function: Inaugural Olive Malienafau Nelson Public Lecture & Pacific Law Awards
  The culminating event of the Pacific Law Week was the Closing Function which was held at the Fale Pasifika. The Closing Function combined two incredible events: the Inaugural Olive Malienafau Nelson Public Lecture and the Pacific Law Awards.

The Inaugural Olive Malienafau Nelson Public Lecture was delivered by Tugaga Lesamatauanuu Misa Telefoni Retzlaff (former Deputy Prime Minister of Samoa, former Attorney General of Samoa, and Auckland Law School alumnus) whose inspiring lecture paid tribute to the trailblazing legacy of Olive Malienafau Nelson, who was the first Pacific graduate and first Pacific law graduate from The University of Auckland.

This was followed by the Pacific Law Scholarship and Awards Recognition Ceremony which celebrated the success of our Moana Oceania law students. We were delighted that La’auli Sir Michael Jones and Lady Maliena Jones, Sir Brian and Lady Lesley Williams, Judge Tania Sharkey and many other Pacific trailblazers could join us.