The thought of studying law was something that had never crossed Bluff twins Makareta and Katarina Coote’s minds.

The pair were at the University of Otago for an open day, heading to an archaeology lecture, when the Dean of Law entered the elevator they were in.

When he found out where they were headed he invited them to his introduction to law lecture instead.

“He said we’d love it, and by the end of the lecture we did,” Makareta said.

Their university days were helped along with the Bluff Community Board Bursary, which awarded the twins $2000 per annum for three years. They decided to put the money towards their accommodation while studying.

Makareta and Katarina (Kāti Mamoe, Waitaha, Kai Tahu) graduated together in 2019 and have returned to Southland to work in Invercargill law firms.

Makareta is a solicitor at Walker Murdoch Law, while Katarina is an associate at Eagles Eagles & Redpath.

“It meant we could be close to home and be around family. We also chose Invercargill so we could help our community.”

One day a week the pair head to Bluff to work in their individual offices there.

Despite it never being on their radar initially, the twins now love law.

“Practising at a firm is very different from what we experienced at university, but it’s great,” Makareta said.

They encouraged any Bluff resident thinking about study to apply for the Bursary.

“It’s such a big help. It meant we didn’t have to worry about money and could just concentrate on our studies.”

Bluff Community Board chairman Ray Fife said he was proud to be able to offer the Bursary to Bluff residents wanting to study.

“It’s so important that we support the young people of Bluff in their future endeavours, and the Bursary is one way we are able to do this.

“So many people have benefitted from this and have gone on to have amazing careers. I like to think the Bursary was able to ease the financial constraints that come with being a student and help the recipients to concentrate on their study.”

The Bursary is available for candidates who are enrolled for full-time study at university or another agreed establishment within New Zealand, or candidates who are making applications for admission to a university or other agreed establishment within New Zealand to a full-time course of study in the coming year.

More information and application forms are available from the Bluff Service Centre on Gore St between 8.30am and 5pm. Applications close on January 18, 2023.

More information can be found here.