A Salute to Auckland Uni Pacific Graduates Kristian Schmidt & Lama Tone

Congratulations to this term’s Pacific graduates Kristian Schmidt and Lama Tome and their families on achieving your degrees. Well done on behalf of many in New Zealand’s Pacific Community.

Student mentor and hip hop dancer

Kristian Schmidt who works as a MATES Coordinator is graduating BA/LLB. He won one of the early Chancellor’s Awards for Top Maori and Pacific Island

Auckland University Pacific graduate Kristian Schmidt

Scholars, entering the University in 2003. Kristian started as a Mentor in the MATES programme and for the past two years he has been a Coordinator, helping to manage the programme at Massey High School, Onehunga High School and Te Kura o Nga Tapuwae. He is highly respected by the students in the schools and by the MATES mentors. Kristian is a keen and talented hip hop dancer. He has performed in Law School revues as well as in the wider community.

Former Manu Samoa player Lama Tone this month graduated with a masters in architecture.

From Samoan rugby to Pacific architecture

Lama Tone is graduating Master of Architecture degree with First Class Honours (grade: A). Lama was formerly in the Manu Samoa rugby team, then played professional rugby in France where he developed his appreciation for fine buildings. A neck injury forced his early retirement from rugby and he decided to return to NZ to study architecture. He is also a matai (chief), and his title is Peseta Lama Tone. He has some interesting observations about the comparison between being a top-class sports person and a postgraduate student. Now working as an independent building consultant in NZ and Samoa. He lives in Mangere.

[Email from The University of Auckland]

---