Law student's history-making win

Appearing in Te Kōti Mana Nui, the New Zealand Supreme Court, is considered significant for any lawyer.

For University of Auckland student Kahukiwi Piripi who modestly describes herself as ‘not much of a public speaker’, presenting legal arguments in the highest court in the land, was at times she concedes, ‘difficult’.

Kahu’s appearance in the Supreme Court in Wellington last week occurred as top Māori mooters from each of the country’s universities competed in the National Kaupapa Māori Moot final.

The fourth-year conjoint student (Law/Māori Studies), was named the overall winner by the six judges, including Justice Joe Williams, who was recently appointed the first Māori Supreme Court judge.

Appearing for the Crown, Kahu presented legal submissions on points of law arising from the 2017 Court of Appeal decision in Ngaronoa v Attorney-General, which challenged the decision to bar all prisoners from voting in parliamentary elections.

Kahu’s arguments on whether the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 1993
should have been interpreted in accordance with the principles of the Treaty of
Waitangi, made history when presented to the Supreme Court entirely in te reo Māori.

Kahu’s arguments on whether the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 1993 should have been interpreted in accordance with the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, made history when presented to the Supreme Court entirely in te reo Māori.

The daughter of Te Rūnanga o Te Rarawa chairman Haami Piripi, and Professor Papaarangi Reid, Tumuaki at the University of Auckland’s Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Kahu also received the prize for being the best Māori speaker.

The twenty-four year old who plans to pursue a career in international human rights, specialising in indigenous rights, says she thinks of herself as an activist, rather than a student.

I want to work on decolonising strategies on a global scale and towards
improving how indigenous peoples are treated by the system.

Kahukiwi Piripi

“I want to work on decolonising strategies on a global scale and towards improving how indigenous peoples are treated by the system,” she says.

The National Kaupapa Māori Moot is held as part of Te Hunga Roia Māori o Aotearoa, The Māori Law Society Hui-A-Tau, annual conference.
 

Media contact

Miranda Playfair | Media Adviser
Mob: 021 0638393
Email: m.playfair@auckland.ac.nz