Lena Tuane Ana Wong is a Cook Islander who graduated in 2013 with a Masters of Law (Honours) and who currently works with the High Court in Auckland.
An "island girl" who ultimately wants to return home, she was interviewed by the Cook Island News about her academic success and background.
FSB: It’s been said you are said to be the first Cook Islands woman to graduate with a Master at Law with Honours, how did that feel?
To be honest, I’m not even sure if that’s true, but if it is, it’s pretty humbling. I think for most of my university career I was just happy to get by. I have never really rated myself in academia – that was something my sister Talei was good at. It took me a while to realize what I was capable of. The day I graduated with my Masters, I literally had to sit down and stare at it for a while to take it all in. I am proud of my achievements, but know that it definitely was not a solo effort.
I majored in international law with a view of working in foreign affairs. I ultimately wanted to end up in the United Nations or working for a regional organisation. I would love to move back to the Pacific. Whilst I’ve loved living in New Zealand, I’m an island girl at heart and want to be back home.
There are so many things I loved about being brought up in Rarotonga. Firstly I loved growing up with all my cousins and extended family. There is only my sister and I in our family but I always felt like I grew up amongst a family of 50.
My family mean everything to me and sharing my childhood with my cousins was the best way to grow up. Secondly I loved the simple way of life and how easy and laid back everything was. I was blessed in so many ways as a kid, Mum and Dad would never worry when I disappeared after school or on weekends because they knew I was with one relative or the other and as long as I called home at some point. I was free to any good home
Cook Islands culture was drilled into me as a child and I was super-proud of it. I started dancing when I was maybe three. I danced for the Pacific Angels and Warriors I think it was called. It was a dance team of kids that performed at the Pacific Resort for my Aunty, Lizzy Koteka. When I got a bit older, I joined Orama Dance Troupe and was adopted into the Orama family. I don’t think I was that great a dancer, but they were my family. Aunty Kura, Aunty Mata, Aunty Gina, Aunty Vainiu and the many others took me in as their own and I lived my life around dance practices, making costumes, and shows at the different hotels. I will be forever grateful to all those people that made me appreciate and love all things Cook Islands.
I will be forever grateful for my parents. Mum is a force to be reckoned with and as a kid I was often referred to as her ‘ball and chain’ because I refused to be without her. Mum was the kind of person that wanted to make sure we knew were we came from. She is all about family and you can guarantee that if she bought something for us, my cousins would be getting one of the same. Mum grew up in a family of seven and made sure that what we had, we shared. Often we didn’t really understand it, but I get it now. Helping everyone you can with whatever you have makes the world a better place in Mums’ eyes.
More so than ever, I am definitely my Fathers daughter. Dad is my rock and my strength. Dad was super busy and travelling a lot when we were kids but he always made sure that we were well provided for. Dad was a bit worried about me when I was a kid because I seemed so consumed by dancing, my cultural activities and playing with the other kids. My sister was the brains and I was the ‘flighty’ one.
Dad taught me that I could be whatever I wanted to be. He reminded me that we all come from humble beginnings but if we work hard any of our wildest dreams can come true. Dad told me that I was going to be a lawyer – I’m pretty sure I laughed at the time. Now I have a Masters so guess he was right. I think you can achieve whatever you set your mind too and if you’ve got someone that believes in you unfailingly then it’s definitely possible. My dad was that person for me.
FSB: You were very close to your maternal grandfather – what is your fondest memory of him?
My grandparents had moved to New Zealand in 2003 while my cousin and I were in boarding school. After my nanna passed away, my granddad became the focal point for our family. I think one of the greatest memories I have of Grandaddy was the night before my graduation in 2012. I went to stay with him so we could go to the ceremony the next day. He sat next to me, prayed over me and told me that he was so happy to be alive to see us kids graduate. I was the fifth of his grandkids to graduate from Auckland University and the look of pride on his face the day of Graduation made all the years of study worthwhile.
FSB: What do you think is the most important thing about being a Cook Islander?
To be fair I’m only half Cook Islander, my dad is Fijian/Chinese and although I’ve never lived in Fiji I’m proud to have that mix. I grew up in the Cook Islands and deep down its all I really know. I’m so proud of the way I grew up and my Cook Islands culture. I owe a lot of who I am to the people that raised me and the place that I grew up in. I think it’s important to learn all you can about the place you come from because it’s what makes you into the person you are.
FSB: If you could change one thing in your life, what would that be and why?
I would definitely be living back in the islands by now. I’ve gotten to a point in my life where I’m ready to be back in the Pacific. I came to New Zealand to study and now that I’m done, I’m ready to come home.
Read more at Cook Island News
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