Bradley Arona-Waqanivavalagi Te Rarawa
Bradley says the connections he’s made – especially in the Māori Law Students' Association, Te Rākau Ture – have been a highlight of his time at Auckland Law School.
Key facts
Iwi: Ngā Puhi, Te Arawa
Programme: Bachelor of Laws and Arts conjoint
Majors: Māori Studies
Career: Solicitor
Bradley has always wanted to find a way to give back to Māori and Pasifika communities, so he decided to undertake a conjoint degree in a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts.
His goal was to practise as a lawyer in the Youth Court and Te Kooti Rangatahi so he could help young people with troubled upbringings to move forward and encourage them to lead better lives. Meeting new people has been a highlight of his studies.
Bradley mentioned that he found many of his friends from Te Rākau Ture – the Māori Law Students’ Society. He says they have given law students, such as himself, the opportunity to give back to young Māori and speak to them about pursuing tertiary education.
"The connections you make during your time at Law School are extremely valuable. I like learning things that actually piqued my interest – such as the New Zealand legal system and how the law works.
Bradley is now a Solicitor at Meredith Connell, New Zealand’s largest litigation firm.