Over her two decades at the University of Waikato, Keely Smith describes herself as something of a “tumbleweed” carried by opportunity rather than a master plan – on a path that ultimately culminated in her appointment as General Counsel.
Keely (Ngāti Ranginui and Ngāti Raukawa) leads a dynamic in-house legal team, working alongside Senior Legal Counsel Tania Frederiks and Junior Legal Counsel Sianiti (Sia) Lasi.
University of Waikato's legal team Tania Frederiks, Sia Lasi and Keely Smith
This International Women’s Day is an opportunity to recognise the University’s powerhouse legal team.
International Women’s Day is a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, which also serves as a call to accelerate progress towards gender equality.
A former international softballer, Keely spent nine years in Chicago before arriving at the University in 2004 intending to pursue an MBA. Instead, she was offered work, and the rest is history.
I basically tumbled from role to role. I did six months in Education; a year in what is now the Planning, Performance and Analytics team before spending 12 years in the School of Māori and Pacific Development and five years in the Vice-Chancellor’s Office. It was during that time that I decided to do a law degree just out of interest.
“After moving into the Vice-Chancellor’s Office, I was encouraged to complete my law degree and seek admission to the bar. A colleague said, ‘Who knows, you might end up being a University lawyer,’ at which I laughed.”
She completed her law degree over seven years while working full-time and raising her daughter as a single parent. After graduation, she spent three years with the University’s long-standing external law firm, Norris Ward McKinnon, an experience that prepared her well for returning in-house.
“The biggest advantage for me was that I already knew the institution. As an in-house lawyer, understanding your organisation is critical. The legal side will follow, but knowing the University’s appetite for risk and, most importantly, its people – makes all the difference.”
Building strong relationships across the University community is central to the team’s approach. Taking the time to meet kanohi-ki-te-kanohi (face-to-face) to understand the various issues different areas of the University encounter, is key. That way, they are better placed to offer informed advice and meaningful support where needed.
“Our work spans a wide range of areas of law. With two campuses, over 3,000 staff and 12,000+ students, there is always something on the horizon.”
Keely’s learning journey didn’t stop with her law degree. In 2023, she was awarded a staff scholarship to complete Te Tohu Paetahi. The aim of the scholarship is to increase the number of staff to be functionally fluent in te reo Māori. She completed the programme alongside her daughter, Hannah.
Reflecting on her career, Keely credits the strong leaders and mentors who encouraged her along the way.
“I was fortunate to have had strong women on my career path – Pamela Moss, Professors Aroha Yates-Smith, Linda Smith, and Sandy Morrison, who believed in me and helped shape my journey. It’s important to me to do the same for others.”
Keely has mentored a number of law students, her now-colleague Sia Lasi being one of them. She holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Financial Analysis (major in accounting) degree and is now the University’s Junior Legal Counsel. Sia joined the legal team from the University's Pacific team.
“It’s about recognising potential and creating opportunities for others,” Keely says.
From international student to Junior Legal Counsel
Sia grew up in Fiji and by Year 13, she knew she wanted to study overseas.
My mum was the one who researched all the New Zealand universities, it was either University of Waikato or University of Auckland. It ended up being Waikato because I have family here. Mum also found that Waikato has a really good management school given their Triple Crown Accreditation
Her mother didn’t just help with the decision – she helped with the transition too.
“My mum went with me to all my first week of lectures in my first year. The first week she sat next to me in every single lecture. For my accounting class, she made me answer some of the questions and the whole class heard her.”
Sia soon found her own support network through the University’s Pacific clubs and in the halls of residence. She became a Residential Assistant and Senior Residential Assistant at Bryant Hall and immersed herself in student union activities, building community and confidence along the way. She also worked as a student ambassador and got to travel to schools around New Zealand sharing her experience and informing prospective students on pathways to the University.
After graduating in December 2018, she joined the University’s Pacific team, working in roles including Student Success Coordinator and Pacific Engagement Manager. It was in this space where Sia had an impact on the increasing number of Pacific students – and was often called Aunty Sia by many of them.
After six years working in the Pacific student engagement space, she felt ready to put her law degree into practice.
For Sia, studying law was about more than career ambition – it was a way to honour the commitment her parents had made to her future. By paying international fees and backing her dream of studying abroad, they gave her an opportunity she was determined to make count.
“My parents paid those international fees to send me here. So, I felt it was befitting for me to honour that sacrifice and look for something within the law area.”
It was then Sia was appointed legal coordinator and administrator and has now been appointed as Junior Legal Counsel and keen to continue her career at the University.
“I’ve been really blessed and fortunate to be always under the wing of real successful leaders from Fui Te’evale to Dr Keaka Hemi to now Keely and Tania whose values and work ethic is what I aspire to be like. I want to stay here, and I want to grow here. It's been the influence of those who I've been under the leadership of.”
Balancing ambition, family and career
One of those who Sia is learning from is Senior Legal Counsel Tania Frederiks (Ngāti Ranginui and Ngāi Te Rangi), who has around 35 years of experience in the legal profession.
“I went straight from school, to working in a small law firm in Huntly. I then worked in a couple of law firms across the North Island before returning to the Waikato in 2000 to take up a Legal Executive position at a small rural law firm in Morrinsville where I remained for 20 years.”
It was there that Tania made the decision to do her law degree and become a qualified lawyer.
I was literally doing the job of a lawyer, so it made sense to take the next step and become a qualified lawyer. It was a huge advantage for me to have over 20 years legal experience in a profession that I really enjoy.
Tania juggled full-time work whilst pursuing her law degree at the University of Waikato. She completed her law degree within four years, while also parenting two young boys with a “very supportive husband”.
After graduating, Tania practised as an Associate Solicitor at a large Hamilton law firm before taking up her in‑house counsel position at the University in June 2024.
“Now seeing my lecturers while I'm working in my position here at the University is just gold. Having had that relationship as a student but then coming back and having that relationship now as a colleague within the law faculty, that’s unique and you just can’t get that anywhere.”
Keely says that in Tania, “we recognised a unicorn”.
“Her significant private practice expertise has been an incredible asset to the team and the University as a whole,” she says.
All three women acknowledge they’re in a privileged place to know a large and varied number of people at the University with the work they cover.
“We triage queries from any facet of the University, from service contracts, commercial or employment issues, potentially student disciplinary issues, Official Information Act requests. It’s variable on any certain day,” Tania says.
Building strong relationships across the University community is central to the team’s approach.
Making a difference, together
While all three enjoy roles they look forward to each day, Sia says what makes it truly special is being part of a team contributing to the University’s continued growth.
“Especially when you’re surrounded by people whose values truly align with your own. It’s incredibly exciting to work in this space and to know I play even a small part in the bigger picture. Seeing students graduate and move into roles they’re passionate about, roles that genuinely make a difference for our people, is so rewarding. Knowing I’ve contributed in some way to their education truly warms my heart.”
For Keely, the highlight has been progressing her career within an institution that has backed her development.
“It allowed me to follow my passion and in turn take others on the haerenga (journey). My greatest success has been to see my daughter follow a similar path and become a lawyer. Leading by example as a single mother and proving that nothing is impossible if you’re prepared to work hard and follow your purpose.”
Tania shares similar reflections.
“I hope what I’ve instilled in my children is the value of hard work. They saw me working eight-hour days, attending four-hour lectures in the evenings for four years, and completing assignments on weekends. They witnessed first-hand what commitment looks like.
“I wanted to model that work ethic for them, and I believe it stayed with them. They show up, put in the effort, and they don’t shy away from responsibility, even after a tough week. That, to me, means everything.”
