United Nations internship for Waikato student

Former Prime Minister Helen Clark is not the only one going to a UN posting in New York. Waikato University student Akanisi Nabalarua has been awarded an internship at the United Nations to work in the Rule of Law Unit.

The 25 year old is in her final year of study for her Bachelor of Management (Hons) and Bachelor of Law degrees and says she applied for the internship after hearing about it while studying in Belgium late last year.

"I did some of my law papers on an international exchange, studying at the University of Ghent, where I focussed on public international law, human rights law and environmental law. A friend suggested I apply for the United Nations position."

Nabalarua says once she'd formally applied for the internship and was back at Waikato, she had a phone interview with two UN representatives. A day later she heard she'd been successful. "I work on the basis that you should give everything a go. My experience in Belgium and my time at Waikato has taught me that. Belgium was life-changing, and this is really exciting, the only downside is that I don't get paid and I have to pay my own airfares and living expenses while I'm in New York. I'm busy applying for grants and scholarships."

The Rule of Law Unit at the United Nations works on issues such as human rights, electoral reform, armed conflicts and criminal justice. "It's the very work I'm interested in doing once I finish my degree. There's more to law than standing in a court room."

Nabalarua is originally from Fiji, did her primary schooling in Suva and Canberra where her mother was studying and her secondary schooling at Auckland's Wesley College. Her mother, Dr Eci Nabalarua, previously taught at Waikato is now Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching) at the University of the South Pacific.

"My parents both spent time studying in England and encouraged me to travel and explore. In Belgium I spent hours and hours exploring World War One history. It captured me. It was like doing my own Amazing Race. I wasn't born in New Zealand but to walk in the footsteps of our soldiers and appreciate what they went through was an amazing experience."

Nabalarua will spend two months at the UN before returning to complete her BMS/LLB degree in time for October graduation.