Otago law graduate Sophie Hursthouse's dissertation was awarded the Mai Chen Legal Innovation Award, which recognises innovative legal thinking.
Recent law graduate Sophie Hursthouse has been named the inaugural winner of the Mai Chen Legal Innovation Award.
Her award-winning entry examined how international law applies to bargaining between Pacific Island countries and Aotearoa New Zealand in terms of migration of seasonal workers.
Sophie, who works in Wellington as a research counsel with the Māori Land Court and Waitangi Tribunal, says she is honoured to receive this award.
Sophie Hursthouse
“My dissertation is the result of many hours of hard work, along with invaluable support from my supervisor, several generous academics, and my friends and family.”
There is a power imbalance between New Zealand and Pacific Island countries regarding the RSE (Recognised Seasonal Employer) scheme that deserves more attention, she says.
“I hope this research will serve as a meaningful resource for Pacific Island negotiators seeking to address this disparity.
“The funds from this award will be directed towards advancing this cause and furthering the impact of the research."
The award, which is worth $5,000, is funded by distinguished Otago alumna, Auckland barrister Mai Chen. The establishment of the award was announced during her address at the December 2023 graduation ceremony, where Mai herself received an Honorary Doctor of Law.
Dean of Law Professor Shelley Griffiths says Mai wanted the award to promote the writing and analysis of a legal subject or theme in an innovative way.
“It doesn’t have to be something new in law, it could be from any area, it is the originality and quality of legal thought that is important,” Shelley says.
All entries were judged by a panel made up of the Law Dean and three senior members of the legal profession. The current panel includes three Otago alumni who are all members of the New Zealand judiciary, Justices Christine French, Sarah Katz and Forrest Miller.
Justice Miller says Sophie’s entry addresses an issue that is likely to assume great importance in an era of rapid demographic change.
Mai Chen
“We thought that her focus on the relationship between New Zealand and Pacific Island countries nicely illustrated her carefully reasoned arguments about power imbalances and the adequacy of existing international instruments.
“It seemed to us that although her analysis relies on the Migrant Workers Convention (to which we understand not all Pacific Island countries are parties) they apply with equal persuasiveness to bilateral agreements.
“It would be interesting to see further developed the tension between individual rights to labour mobility and the argument that it should be subject to bilateral agreements between states to ensure not only that migrant workers are well-treated but also that labour-giving countries do not suffer from loss of skills.”
Mai Chen says Sophie’s entry was from a fresh viewpoint but logically substantiated by evidence, interpretation of core international laws and logical reasoning.
“She has made a valuable contribution to an important topic to New Zealand and made us think about the issues from a new perspective.
“I am proud of what she has achieved at this early stage in her legal career. A good portent of legal thinking to come from her.”