Thanks to the Hope Fish Grant, I completed my Master’s with Distinction (A grade) within a year and a half.

The HopeFish Foundation played a pivotal role in my academic journey by providing essential funds for an extension on my Master’s degree. While working as a junior barrister during my first year, I faced financial constraints that made it challenging to save for additional fees. Thanks to the grant, I completed my Master’s with Distinction (A grade) within a year and a half—an impressive feat for a Law degree. My thesis explored climate change displacement from a tikanga Māori perspective, addressing the urgent issue of forced relocation from the Pacific to New Zealand. I am now a law lecturer at AUT, where I am developing my thesis for publication, contributing to critical discussions on displacement, human rights, and the integration of tikanga Māori in legal contexts. Completing my Master’s with such high standards has launched my academic career and positioned me well for future PhD applications. I have acknowledged the HopeFish Foundation in the thank-you’s section of my Master’s thesis, which will be available online and referenced in any subsequent publications, ensuring their support is recognised in the wider academic community.