From Waikato to New York – Empowering Māori Leadership Abroad

Whāia te iti kahurangi, ki te tūohu koe me he maunga teitei. Seek the treasure you value most dearly. If you must bow your head, let it be to a lofty mountain.

I have been accepted into a highly competitive eight-week internship in New York — a rare opportunity that will directly shape my path as a future Māori lawyer. This experience will expose me to international legal practice, advocacy, and leadership at a global level.

I am fundraising to meet the travel and programme costs required to take up this opportunity. This is not simply about studying overseas — it is about equipping myself with the skills, perspective, and networks needed to serve Māori communities and contribute meaningfully back home in Aotearoa.

Every contribution, whether large or small, supports a kaupapa of representation and growth. This journey is about choosing the path that feels challenging rather than comfortable — stepping into unfamiliar spaces, embracing discomfort, having the courage to try something new, and gaining more life experience beyond the familiar.

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