Judge Mina Wharepouri has been appointed District Court judge in Manukau, New Zealand.
His mother is Tongan and he comes from Kolomotu’a, Tongatapu.
Wharepouri became the first Tongan justice in the history of New Zealand after he was appointed to the district court today Wednesday 1.
He told media he was “a traditional, working class.”
“We were working poor before that became popular. My parents struggled to make sure there was a roof overhead and food in the cupboard.”
Judge Wharepouri did not forget his mother Melenaite Vaka.
“Were it not for your hard work and love I could have been sitting in dock of courtroom rather than here on the bench.”
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Tongan appointed as Acting District Court Judge in New Zealand
