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Toi Ohomai Supports Māori Lawyers

Thursday 11 October 2018, 3:05PM

By Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology

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BAY OF PLENTY

This week, Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology co-hosted a symposium on indigenous business research ahead of the World Indigenous Business Forum, now it is supporting the country’s legal profession.

The Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa (New Zealand Māori Law Society) launched its hui-a-tau (annual meeting) with a pōhiri at Tangatarua Marae at Toi Ohomai’s Mokoia campus today (Thursday) at 4pm.

Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships and Māori Success, Ana Morrison, says Toi Ohomai is honoured to share in the celebration of the 30 year anniversary.

“Earlier this week, we had leading entrepreneurs, business thought-leaders and academics discussing how to build strong relevant connections between the business world and researcher community.

“And now, we have some of the sharpest legal minds in the country at our marae, Tangatarua.”

Ana says Toi Ohomai is keen to support professional endeavours that will pave the way for the better future for the region, its communities, and the Māori economy. 

“We support the legal profession through our high-quality legal executive, conveyancing, finance and practice management graduates, and it is wonderful to have the opportunity to directly strengthen our relationship with legal practitioners.”

The hui-a-tau is a two day event and will feature more than 40 speakers on a range of practical topics, as well as discussions on the development of Te Hunga Rōia and issues facing the legal profession.

It will be opened on Friday morning by judge of the Court of Appeal Justice, Joe Williams, who set the theme for the hui-a-tau: Ka Kuhu au kit e ture, hei matua mot e pani – I seek refuge in the law, for it is a parent to the oppressed .

The hui-a-tau will be closed on Saturday by renowned lawyer Moana Jackson, who will reflect on the past 30 years of Māori legal excellence while laying down a wero (challenge) for future generations in his Dreams from a Garage speech.

Te Hunga Rōia was formed at a meeting at Rotorua in 1988 and this year’s hui-a-tau marks the 30th anniversary since its inception. The group was started in the late John Chadwick’s garage.

To commemorate the anniversary, four awards will be presented at the conference dinner at Te Puia on Saturday night. The awards consist of Community Contribution, Te Pae Tata and Matiu Dickson Award for Te Reo and Tikanga Māori.