She is the eldest child of a Parsi father and Irish mother who, after emigrating to Aotearoa New Zealand in the ‘50s, had by 1970 settled in Cambridge, Waikato and began making their—in Una’s words—“first-generation family.”
From a young age, Una remembers clearly an expectation to attend university and pursue success.
“That was my privilege and upbringing. It didn’t really matter to my parents what I did, but it mattered that I went.
“They raised us to be confident in ourselves and to understand that we could achieve anything that we wanted.”
Fresh out of high school, and thinking law was the only option for someone not good at math or science, Una attended the University of Otago and received a Bachelor of Laws.
She then headed to Wellington and embarked on what she didn’t know at the time would be a lifelong dedication to public service.
“At first, the point was to get any job, and I got a job in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs.
“You didn’t need to be a lawyer to do this job, but boy did it light my public service fire. Because what I was doing was helping people with consumer troubles.
“It was my first real exposure to the way other people were brought up and the privileges they did or didn’t have.
“They were just so disadvantaged in the marketplace—terrible car deals, terrible hire purchase deals. Really hard lives that I was a part of helping.”
After a suggestion by her sister, Una eventually decided to do further study, and chose to complete a master’s degree at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
“This was where I got a cracking good degree (as compared to my undergraduate degree). And I think it’s because Victoria taught me how to think and made me feel confident in the thoughts that I had.
“I also, combined with the brief work experience I had had, began realising I could use my law degree to make a difference to people. I found that I could work towards something that was bigger than myself and that was very exciting.”
Una went to work for the Ministry of Fisheries, where she was appointed Chief Legal Advisor, followed by the Crown Law Office, some time as acting director of the Government Communications Security Bureau, and eventually the top job as (the first woman) Solicitor-General of New Zealand.
On what has contributed to her inspirational rise and journey, Una says she always had people in her corner, giving her the confidence to say what she really thought, and to feel comfortable making a contribution.
“What I have experienced along the way in the public service is people who wanted to help me be the best me.
“Rather than being held back, I’ve been lucky enough to find people who could see things I perhaps couldn’t see.
“That has led me to realise that my strength is working with people. The way I deliver the work I do, is always with, and through, other people.
Una says the more she knows, the more she realises she doesn’t know, and that it is by working with others that she has been able to learn so much and achieve the things that she has.
“I’m not stupid enough to think that I know the answers just because I’ve got this job. In fact, you really need to work with people and to understand people and their perspectives in order to be influential.”
On being selected a Distinguished Alumni Award winner this year, Una says she is incredibly honoured and proud, but notes the privileges she has enjoyed in obtaining her success.
“I’ve always been able to do what I love, and I know what a privilege that is.
"I have been able to take jobs that I’ve found really interesting and engaging, and to follow a calling of serving the public.
“My hope for others is that they can be afforded those privileges too.”