Travel and Learning Award for Aaron Te Koha
Supporting Aaron Te Koha to travel to the Hague and bring back lessons about the function, mechanisms, laws, and the trial process within international criminal law to Aotearoa.
Borrin Foundation Travel and Learning Award
Aaron’s plan
Aaron’s interest for international criminal law emerged during his honours level study at the University of Waikato, where he completed postgraduate level research in the field of international human rights and humanitarian law. This encapsulated study of the international criminal court at its various tribunals, and a particular focus of Aaron’s study was the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. This research led Aaron to inquire about potential possibilities to practice as counsel at the international criminal court. His visit will enable him to foster relationships with current practitioners, while also having the opportunity to visit the Court itself, the Museum for Crimes against Humanity and Genocide, and to have the opportunity to witness a live hearing in action at the ICC.
About Aaron
Aaron Te Koha (Ngati Tamatera, Ngapuhi) is originally from Hamilton, and studied at the University of Waikato. He completed his Bachelor of Laws with First Class Honours and also completed a degree in Business Management. Prior to studying law, he lived in Australia and worked as a prison officer at a maximum-security prison in Melbourne, where he worked closely with Maori and Pacific prisoners. Aaron worked at the Public Defence Service Manukau for almost four years, before making the decision to commence practice as a barrister-sole in May 2021. He works solely within the area of criminal law and sees this as his primary passion. He also works part time for a local charitable trust in Manukau, assisting clients and their whanau through the criminal justice process.
Grant Amount
$8,000 in 2022-2023 to support travel
“This opportunity is a huge gift. I have never travelled overseas extensively, and the opportunity to do this, while learning and engaging with my passion for the criminal law, is something that I will savour and be eternally grateful for.”
– Aaron Te Koha