Finn Meredith
Prime Minister’s Scholarship for Asia, Reimagining India with IndoGenius
Introduction
Tēnā koutou. Ko Finn Meredith toku ingoa. I was born in Switzerland but my whakapapa hails from Ngāi Te Rangi in Tauranga Moana and the Casey clan in Éire. I live in Te Whanganui-a-Tara/ Wellington and study at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington. I am starting a conjunct degree in a Bachelor of Laws with Honours and a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in International Relations and Political Science and a minor in Religious Studies.
I am privileged to spend six weeks with IndoGenius’ PMSA 2024 Reimagining India Study Tour. I applied because I am passionate about gaining knowledge from cultures across the globe to bring back to Aotearoa. India’s government, society, international relations, and spirituality are unique, and I am excited to spend six weeks living and breathing India.
Children and rangatahi are my passion. Aotearoa must build strong relationships with global powerbrokers like India to secure a stable and safe future for future generations. I am proud to be part of that process.
After I graduate in 2025, I would like to work with MFAT and Aotearoa embassies as a diplomat or an international lawyer. I believe that te Tiriti ō Waitangi principles, te ao Māori and mātauranga Māori should be central to Aoetearoa foreign policy, especially with non-Western post-colonial nations. This trip is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to start my journey and gain valuable learnings from a millennia-old society
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The World Sings When Our Hearts Shine Bright
My mind boggles at who I was pre-departure. I struggle to comprehend everything I have seen, experienced, and done during the last six weeks. It feels naked to be absent from the voices, aroha, and personalities of the other 23 Kiwi students who braved this Indian odyssey with me. How can I describe this trip…Continue…
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ReImagining Finn Meredith 2024
Life would be so much easier if the smart thing to do aligned with the thing that sets your heart ablaze. However, I have learnt on this trip that this is not the case for me. The children of India have confirmed something I have always known but chosen to ignore. I may be an…Continue…
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No Way Back
Ancient Rome had a saying that to cross the Rubicon River was to pass the point of no return. When Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon River in 49 BC, a civil war began in Rome. The previous status quo is gone, and there is no way back. Since my last blog post, I have crossed…Continue…