Andrea Munro

Andrea Munro interned with Te Wai Ariki over Summer School 2023 through Auckland Law School’s Community Law Internship course.

Kia ora,Ko Andrea Munro toku ingoa, Ko Ngāti Wai, Ngāpuhi ngā iwi, Ko Ngāti Rehua te hapū, Ko Motairehe te marae.

I feel so humbled to have joined Te Wai Ariki as an intern over Summer School 2023, through the Faculty’s Community Law Internship course, and to have worked with the highly esteemed Dr Claire Charters and Dr Fleur Te Aho. I feel many Māori tauira start their law study quest due to the social injustices either their whānau have experienced or they have personally experienced. I have seen injustices personally in the Family Court and the sadness of seeing whānau affected by drugs/drink and subsequent crime. It’s not pleasant to stand by and witness unjust decisions in relation to Māori, especially in relation to wāhine and tamariki Māori. I have chosen to reframe my frustrations into learning the law, analysing and constructively questioning it. Reading some of the research that Te Wai Ariki members have developed on current events such as constitutional transformation, the rights of tamariki Māori, state abuse, and mātauranga Māori is awe inspiring. The mahi that the Centre’s academics achieve daily is incredible. I thank you for allowing me to be involved with Te Wai Ariki to complete my community law paper.