Talofa lava, Malo e lelei, Ni sa bula vinaka, Kia orana, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Taloha ni, Talofa, Halo Olgeta and Warm Pacific Greetings.

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What do we do?

We are the Pacific Law Students' Association (PLSA) of the University of Waikato. We are here to provide a foundation of excellence for Pacific Law Students. Our goal is to unite, support and celebrate the study of Law by Pacific students. We would also like to promote and profile the achievements of Pacific peoples within the community. We see PLSA as being a valuable and positive platform for Pacific Law students to establish bonds and networks with a wide range of pacific peoples.

Contact us

You can contact us via plsa@waikato.ac.nz or via the law School reception. Matiu Dickson is the Law School Staff advisor for PLSA.

2011 Report

Meet and Greet

A meet and greet session was held in Term 1 to allow first year students and students new to the university the opportunity to meet the Te Piringa – Faculty of Law Dean Professor Bradford Morse, PLSA Academic Advisor Matiu Dickson and fellow PLSA students.

It introduced the new students to the support networks available to them to help with their studies and to reiterate the point that there are people available and willing to help them if they so choose. The PLSA Executive was also able to get the ball rolling in terms of establishing contact with the new students.

Graduation Luncheon

This year PLSA had five graduates known to the Executive. They were Jalesi Nakarawa, Hai-Yuean Tualima, Benjamin Ropati, Salesi Mafi, Mange Matui and Cicilia Halaholo. PLSA holds a graduation dinner each year to honour and celebrate the academic achievements of our students and provide an opportunity to encourage current students, and in particular first year students, to strive for success in their studies.

Jalesi was the only graduate available for the event and as such it was decided that a luncheon be held instead. The event was well attended and although small, it nonetheless still contained the mana that a large event would entail.

Justice in the Round Cultural Performance

Te Piringa – Faculty of Law hosted a Justice in the Round conference in Semester A and PLSA was given the opportunity to showcase the Pacific cultures as a fundraiser for the association. PLSA had Samoan, Tongan and Cook Islands performances which were thoroughly enjoyed by all on the night.

Dean Professor Bradford Morse joined in the Samoan performance, as did various participants of the conference. PLSA extends its gratitude and appreciation to the PLSA students and fellow Pacific students who performed on the night – Samoan performers (PLSA Vice President) Sami Sauni and Naomi Harris, Tongan performer Mellisa Tomu and Cook Islands performers (PLSA Executive member) Sonya Marama, Gloria Toru and Leana Teao. Also thanks to our MC Tofiga Tusiane.

Justice Baragwanath

PLSA was honoured to host the Honourable Justice William David Baragwanath to a small luncheon during his visit to Waikato University. Justice Baragwanath is the President of the Samoan Court of Appeal.

He accepted an invitation to meet with PLSA students and it was great having him there sharing tales about various cases, his views on current events in the Pacific and his memories of his work throughout the islands. We also heard about a former PLSA student now practicing in Samoa.

Honorary Lifetime Membership

This year, the current PLSA Academic Advisor Matiu Dickson was awarded an Honorary Lifetime Membership certificate in recognition of his support of the association and it’s Executive. Matiu took on the advisory role at the end of 2009 and has been an immense help to the Executive, especially with the level of mana he brings to each event he attends.

His faith in the Executive and their ability to carry out their duties has allowed them as individuals to grow in their leadership roles and to take on the responsibilities they have with vigour.

The certificate was in honour and appreciation of his guidance throughout his term as the PLSA Academic Advisor. Matiu continues in his role in 2012.

PLSA and WSU (Waikato Student Union) Mentoring Programme

PLSA continued with the mentoring programme established in 2009. This year 10 senior students took up the challenge to be mentors and assist in some way the junior PLSA students with their studies.

Although, it is ideal that each mentor has only one mentoree, in a few instances the mentors has taken on more than one mentoree and for that, the Executive is grateful. Jalesi Nakarawa was the Faculty of Law mentor and students were encouraged at all times to utilise his services as well.

This year, PLSA applied to WSU for funding to assist with recognising and acknowledge the mentors at our end of year event. Funding was received and as such the mentoring programme was to be known in 2011 as the PLSA/WSU Mentoring Programme. The funds assisted PLSA with providing certificates and a small token of appreciation which were presented to the mentors at the end of the year event.

Sports Day

The PLSA sports day was held at the start of Semester B. This was held at the Uni Rec Centre to give students who attended the chance to relax and take a break from studies. The event was thoroughly enjoyed by the PLSA and fellow Pacific students who attended.

The Executive was able to talk individually with the students to gauge where they were with their studies and to reiterate with them the support available .

PLSA and WSU (Waikato Student Union) Tutorial Programme

The PLSA/WSU tutorials were on again this year in Semester B with current PLSA student Theodora Taleni conducting the Constitutional Law tutorials for first year students and Vanessa Shankaran conducting the Contracts tutorials for second year students. We are grateful to Kathryn James who heard our plea for a land tutor for third year students.

The tutorial sessions are in response to students asking that tutorials such as this are held. The tutorials have been well attended, and have proven extremely beneficial to those who have taken up the opportunity to advance their studies.

WSU (Waikato Student Union) Club Awards Night

This year PLSA was nominated for two of the club awards – academic club and cultural club of the year. With the efforts of the Executive and the various students who have assisted, PLSA won the Academic Club of the Year award!!! This award can be added to our success last year when we won the Cultural Club of the Year award.

It is great to have our efforts to assist our fellow students acknowledged by individuals outside of our association – so the WSU award is a welcome achievement. It was a proud moment for the PLSA Executives who were on hand for the awards ceremony especially with the support of fellow Pacific associations present on the night.

PLSA Constitution

The PLSA Constitution was passed during the annual general meeting. Please email the executive if you wish to see a copy of the constitution.

Distinctively Waikato