Legacy of leadership continues in law scholarship

Charlotte Leach, who has always been driven by the ideas of justice and fairness, is the 2026 recipient of the Jolene Patuawa-Tuilave Māori Leadership in Law Scholarship.

“I chose to study law because it seemed like a degree that I could use to try and make positive social change. A law degree allows me to use my privileged position as someone who has gone to university to improve the availability of justice to others – especially Māori and Pacific communities,” Charlotte says.

Charlotte (Ngāti Maru and Sāmoan - Falelatai) is the twelfth recipient of this annual award, established by Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua and Otago in the memory of a very special alumna.

Jolene Patuawa-Tuilave (Scottish, Ngāti Rangiwewehi, Te Uri-o-Hau, Te Roroa, Ngāti Torehina, Ngāpuhi and Ngāti Whātua) was a very highly respected Otago law graduate and young leader in the legal profession whose early death brought short her important work amongst hapū and iwi, and was a large loss for her whānau and friends.

“To receive a scholarship in Jolene’s name is extremely humbling. Jolene’s legacy and the way she used her professional career to advocate for iwi Māori is very inspiring to me. Ultimately, I studied law to make positive change for my communities and receiving a scholarship named after such a wahine toa is such a special reminder for me to keep striving towards that goal,” Charlotte says.

The scholarship was awarded at a ceremony on 8 May, and she had her whānau alongside her.

It was a moving ceremony in which Jolene was remembered in all her facets, both professionally and personally.

Speakers were Otago Kaitohutohu Māori Hata Temo, Tame Te Rangi (Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua), Judge Rachel Mullins, Deputy-Vice-Chancellor Māori, Distinguished Professor Jacinta Ruru, Dean of Law Associate Professor Bridgette Toy-Cronin, and Charlotte herself.

Tame Te Rangi, who has represented Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua at every scholarship ceremony, brought news of Jolene’s whānau and recalled the whakatauākī "Mate atu he tētēkura, ara mai he tētēkura. As one fern frond dies, another rises to take its place”.

Judge Mullins was a close friend of Jolene. When she was a first-year student, she says Jolene, in her second year, “took me under her wing”.

“It is special her memory lives on through the recipients of this scholarship, and that she is still supporting Māori,” says Judge Mullins.

“Charlotte takes a little of Jolene’s fire and determination with her.”

Charlotte was born and raised in Lower Hutt and attended Hutt Valley High School. While deeply loyal to ‘the Hutt’ she partly chose Otago because “it was as far away from home as possible - I wanted something new".

She will return to Wellington next year, to start as a Law Clerk at Chapman Tripp in litigation.

Academically, Charlotte has been impressive.  Accepted into the Bachelor of Laws with Honours programme at the end of her second year, she is writing her dissertation on Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its position in Aotearoa’s legal processes, as well as working as a research assistant to Professor Andrew Geddis.

Her advice for learners starting this journey is: “It’s not ‘cringe’ to get involved or to speak up in tutorials or even ask a question. Not doing these things is just limiting your own learning.”

Charlotte’s focus has not just been academic. She is President of the Pacific Island Law Students’ Association (PILSA) and tutors Pacific Island students and is also active in Te Roopū Whai Putake (TRWP) - the Māori Law Students association. Members of both these associations were at the ceremony to honour Charlotte and the scholarship.

“A highlight of my university journey so far is how far I have come in terms of cultural confidence. I was not raised in my Māori or Sāmoan culture and university has been the place where I have had opportunities to reconnect, to learn about tikanga and te reo Māori, and to be an active member of these communities, especially PILSA. It has been enriching and fulfilling,” Charlotte says.

Charlotte thanks her whānau for their support, she believes her mother Michelle could pass second-year law with the amount of advice she called her for.

Michelle has also been learning te reo Māori alongside Charlotte, and together they are discovering more about their whakapapa.

“We feel privileged for Charlotte to be recognised for her contributions and her potential. It is especially meaningful having it all tied to a woman who embodied everything Chalotte would like to do – not just as a lawyer but as a person too,” Michelle says.

-Kōrero Antonia Wallace, Communications Advisor | Kaiarataki Pārokoroko