Monday 26 August 2019 2:53pm
Katarina (left) and Makareta Coote both graduated on 17 August.
Identical twins Katarina and Makareta Coote say although they took the same programme, and graduated with law degrees on the same day, studying at Otago allowed them to explore their individuality.
The twins, who grew up in Bluff and attended high school in Invercargill, are of Kāi Tahu and Kāti Māmoe descent.
They did not intend to go to university, and both wanted to be actors, so never imagined they would both study law.
“Our parents suggested we go to university and if we didn’t like it, we could always do something else. So we went along to Otago’s University open day and entering the elevator in the Richardson Building, headed for an Anthropology introductory lecture, an arm stopped the elevator door from closing. It was Professor Mark Henaghan, who we would come to admire very much. He said ‘where are you two going? Come to my law lecture, you will never look back!’, and that’s exactly what we did.”
The pair had their own academic strengths and weaknesses, and Katarina says this was often complimentary, and they appreciated having someone to share ideas with.
“There may have been some healthy competition but we were always happy for each other, and celebrated when the other was doing well. We enjoyed the range of different areas of law and the sense of family in the law faculty.
“The challenging part was that for a lot of our University life we were separated because I had to repeat first year law so we weren't always in the same lectures,” Katarina says.
Although this was difficult the twins say it’s what made them grow as individuals and become more self-reliant.
“Although we are identical twins and studied towards the same degree, we feel that our time at University has really allowed us to find our own interests and realise the differences within ourselves, and we’ve really grown as individuals,” she says.
Makareta finished her studies last year in November and waited for Katarina, who says she is grateful her sister waited to graduate so they could share celebrations. Makareta was recently admitted as a Solicitor and Barrister in the Invercargill High Court and in May started a new job at Cruickshank Pryde Solicitors in the Property Team alongside Keith Brown.
“I really enjoy my new job and I have already had a major presence with clients. I am also now on the Southland Community Law volunteer roster, which I have missed doing in Dunedin. I am excited to swear Katarina into the Invercargill High Court later this year.”
Katarina is currently studying at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies and will be ready for admission as a lawyer in late 2019.
“I have developed a passion for criminal law so I am hoping that I can find a job where I can get a feel for criminal law work,” she says.