Nerys Udy, who received the Ethel Benjamin, Borrin Foundation and Henry Hollond scholarships, pictured at Matriculation Day at the University of Cambridge earlier this month.
Lively classes, autumn colours and punting on the River Cam have made for a promising start for Otago alumna Nerys Udy’s Master of Law studies at the University of Cambridge.
Nerys, who graduated with an LLB (Hons) and BA in 2020, arrived at Cambridge at the end of September, after receiving three prestigious scholarships to support her aspirations for postgraduate study.
In this Q&A, Nerys (Ngāi Tahu) talks about what she will be studying, who has inspired her, her career so far, and her time at Otago, including as a member of, and later Tumuaki of, Te Rōpū Whai Pūtake, the Māori Law Students’ Association.
The Q&A
How did it feel to receive these special Law scholarships?
I am really fortunate to be supported in my studies at Cambridge as a recipient of a Borrin Foundation Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga Postgraduate Scholarship, the Ethel Benjamin Scholarship and the Henry Hollond Studentship in Law at Trinity College.
Some of the people who have inspired me most throughout my career have been previous recipients of these awards, who have gone on to do amazing things through the law. So, it felt really humbling to receive this support myself, enabling me to pursue my aspirations for postgraduate learning.
More than that, I feel it is a testament to the many dedicated teachers, mentors and colleagues who I have learnt from and who have supported me in so many different ways in my journey in law.
What will you be studying at Cambridge, and what are you looking forward to?
I am undertaking the LLM at Cambridge. I am interested in the way New Zealand’s law is evolving, which flows into an interest in the theoretical frameworks that sit behind, and seek to explain, our law.
Cambridge is a great place to explore this as many of its papers have a strong theoretical approach, providing space to examine theoretical issues applied across a range of different areas, including in constitutional law and human rights law.
I am looking forward to not only learning from the fantastic professors at Cambridge but also learning from my fellow LLM students from around the world, who all bring their own unique perspectives and insights from their home jurisdictions.
I am already enjoying the lively discussions in some of my first classes. I am also looking forward to exploring the beautiful Cambridge township. I have arrived just as the autumn atmosphere is setting in, although it has still been warm enough to try punting along the River Cam, which Cambridge is known for.
Can you give us a brief outline of your path since leaving Otago?
After graduating from Otago, I spent two years clerking in the Supreme Court in Wellington. This gave me an opportunity early in my legal career to gain an insight into the work of the courts and to develop my legal knowledge through exposure to the diverse range of legal issues coming before the court.
I then transitioned into a role as a junior barrister at Thorndon Chambers, where I was fortunate to work alongside fantastic mentors and colleagues, on a range of cases crossing public, commercial and Treaty of Waitangi law.
Experiencing the law in practice was significant in my decision to undertake further postgraduate study, giving me new and deeper perspectives from which to explore my academic interests.
Could you tell us some of the highlights of your time at Otago?
Otago was a fantastic place to study for many reasons. I originally came to Otago to study History, but was drawn into the study of Law through the engaging lecturers in the first-year course.
Studying Law at Otago was an enriching experience, providing a strong foundation of legal knowledge and skills but it also instilled a passion for understanding the role the law plays in our lives. I was lucky to learn from lecturers who were experts in their field, such as Professor Jacinta Ruru, the first Māori professor in Law, who was influential in my interests in Law.
Completing a Bachelor of Arts in History alongside my Law degree also added a further dimension to my education. There are many intersections in the insights that History and Law can offer, and both disciplines offer particular tools for understanding the world around us, so I am grateful to Otago for equipping me with that skillset.
Beyond the academics, the central place of the University in the life of Dunedin made it a great place to study and introduced me to lifelong friends.
Can you also share a little about your time as Tumuaki of Te Rōpū Whai Pūtake?
Te Rōpū Whai Pūtake, the Māori Law Students’ Association at Otago really provided a sense of community for Māori Law students to come together, and it played a large part in my Law school journey at Otago.
From my first year in the Law school, Te Rōpū Whai Pūtake introduced me to friends and tuākana who shaped my Law school experiences, providing inspiration, motivation and of course, many late night study sessions.
I also recall alumni of Te Rōpū Whai Pūtake coming to speak to us as students, and being really inspired seeing the positive impact they were making for their communities in different ways through the law.
It was a privilege to give back to the Rōpū as Tumuaki alongside a dedicated executive committee in my last year at Otago. What is most special to me about this rōpū is not just the relationships formed during my time at Otago, but also seeing successive cohorts of new Māori students continue to nurture the Te Rōpū Whai Pūtake community, building connections and supporting each other through Law school and beyond.
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