A Samoan law student on a New Zealand Government scholarship has won the top orator award at the University of Waikato's Vaka Pasifika Moot 2022. 

Joshua Filisi Leung Wai won the award last Friday at the Waikato University’s 5th annual Vaka Pasifika Moot Competition finals which was held at Te Piringa - Faculty of Law moot court.

His team also won the moot competition finals which is run by the Pacific Law Students Association and is sponsored by the law firm Norris Ward McKinnon. Mr. Leung Wai won the same prize 2 years ago when he was in his second year of law degree studies.

The judges of the moot competition this year were Justice Craig Coxhead, a New Zealand Judge currently serving as Chief Justice of Niue, Judge Soana Moala of New Zealand’s District Court in Manukau and solicitor Levi Harris.

Laifone Vaea was Mr. Leung Wai’s moot partner with his team going up against Nora Roebeck Joe and Gina Batiisti who won the best team award.

Mr. Leung Wai, who is now in his fourth year of studies in New Zealand, has also been invited to do his honours which he hopes to undertake next year.

“I give praise to God and am just really humbled with our team winning the moot competition as it was very challenging this year,” he said. 

“I also want to thank everyone who prayed and fasted for me, especially my parents back home.”

It is only understood that the top law students are invited to do honours after the 3rd year of their legal studies. At their graduation they are awarded law degrees with honours.

Mr. Leung Wai topped legal studies in his Foundation Year at the National University of Samoa in 2018, resulting in him being awarded the sole scholarship in 2019 by the New Zealand Government with the endorsement of the Samoan Government to study law in New Zealand.

He is looking forward to serving the Samoan Government at the Office of the Attorney-General after he graduates. His parents are Tuatagaloa Aumua Ming Leung Wai and Tofilau Fiti Leung Wai. Tuatagaloa is the former Attorney-General of Samoa and Tofilau, who is also a lawyer by profession, is the C.E.O of Samoa Stationery and Books (S.S.A.B.) Group.