To help encourage greater diversity in the legal profession, leading New Zealand law firm, MinterEllisonRuddWatts today launched Ngā Karahipi Whakaeke – the MinterEllisonRuddWatts Awards Programme.

Through Ngā Karahipi Whakaeke*, the firm will provide financial assistance and mentoring support to Māori law students who are the first member of their whānau tonu (immediate family) to attend university and/or will be the first in whānau to graduate with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB).

In 2024, the firm is offering financial assistance of $5,000 as well as mentoring and CV support for a Māori law student studying at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington (named Whakaeke Pōneke) and Waipapa Taumata Rau – University of Auckland (named Whakaeke Tāmaki). 

On announcing the new awards, Chief Executive, Andrew Poole, said: “Our firm’s purpose is to help shape Aotearoa New Zealand’s future, and we are excited to establish Ngā Karahipi Whakaeke. 

Whakaeke means to enable arrival, as we aim to support more Māori students through their law studies and to achieve their goals. We are proud to support the next generation of Māori lawyers and look forward to working with these talented students and seeing where the programme can take them."

The first of the firm’s two awards, Whakaeke Poneke, launched today at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington. The second, Whakaeke Tāmaki, will open in September. 

More information on the awards and how to enter is available at MinterEllisonRuddWatts website and the tertiary institutions’ scholarship office.

Award recipients will be confirmed in October with the firm’s support aligning with the 2024 study year.

*Ngā karahipi means scholarship or award, and whakaeke means to enable arrival.