Colin Aikman Award

The Colin Aikman Award has been established in Colin Aikman's memory to provide opportunities for students in the areas of constitutional law, human rights, international law or other legal issues affecting the South Pacific. The Award was launched in November 2005 to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations. Dr Colin Aikman was Professor of Jurisprudence and Constitutional Law at Victoria University of Wellington from 1955 to 1968, and Dean of the Law Faculty for seven years. He then became the foundation Vice Chancellor at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji for six years. As a constitutional lawyer and legal advisor to the Department of External Affairs, he was involved in the conferences leading to the establishment of the United Nations in 1945 and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. He was also involved in drafting the constitutions of the Cook Islands and Samoa in the 1960s. The award is available to students studying law at undergraduate, masters or PhD degree level at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, with a focus on constitutional law, human rights, international law or other legal issues affecting the South Pacific. The award is made based on academic merit in accordance with the level of study of the applicant.