Leading change through employment law

Leadership is courageous and often difficult—something Law PhD student Ria Holmes understands as she embarks on research into tikanga Māori in employment law.

Ria Holmes (Te Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Raukawa ki te tonga) has whakapapa to the Kapiti coast and grew up in Tauranga. She developed a passion for advocacy and labour rights as an undergraduate Law and Anthropology student.

She eventually joined E Tū as a trade unionist—a role that aligned her belief in social justice with her knowledge of employment law.

“The joy of a law degree is that it can take you into lots of adjacent fields,” she explains. “The skills I learned were really applicable in my day-to-day tasks.”

After her son Zeke was born, Ria was inspired to pursue postgraduate studies in law. Having gained a first-class Honours degree, Ria was advised to expand her research into a PhD, given the ambitious scope of her project. Her thesis, titled ‘Te Tiriti, Tikanga and Employment Frameworks—Intersections and Pathways Forward’, aims to understand how tikanga is currently incorporated into employment frameworks and collective agreements, how this affects workers’ lived experiences, and what can be done to improve outcomes for Māori.

The Faculty of Law at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington was the ideal choice for Ria due to its research excellence, supervisory team, and proximity to government and policy makers.

“I am very lucky to be working with prominent Māori academics such as Māmari Stevens and Dr Carwyn Jones—as well as having access to Professor Gordon Anderson, an authority in employment law, to discuss ideas with,” says Ria. “Also, Wellington has a wonderful energy—it felt like coming home.”

Ria’s research employs Kaupapa Māori methodology and theory, so being guided and supported by her supervisors and wider whānau was important.

“One of the big issues for me when I started my project was whether I was the right person to be researching and writing about tikanga Māori. I am not a fluent reo speaker,” she admits. “I am on a journey of reconnecting with my taha Māori. Being close to my whānau, and my marae has been the guiding force I need.”

Ria is driven by the impact and legacy of her research.

“For me, equitable access to work, fair pay, and other factors that impact our lives are crucial. I want my research to leave better opportunities for my son and future generations. To do that, I needed to look to our kaumātua to understand where we’ve come from so we can plan for the future of our mokopuna.”

Juggling studies and childcare responsibilities is a reality for many postgraduate students, but Ria is grateful for the flexibility that doing research allows. She often works early in the morning, during school hours, and late into the night.

“Postgraduate study is a journey and a balancing act—I couldn’t do it without the support of my whānau.”

For now, Ria’s goal is to continue working in research and to develop her career in academia so she can lead meaningful change for Māori in the workforce. She believes her research is applicable to many areas—from trade unions to the public service, academia, and corporate settings.

“This research area is new and developing, being able to work in this space is a privilege. I hope the research will guide meaningful change.”

Ria encourages students who wish to pursue postgraduate study to seize the opportunity and understand the privilege it represents.

“Just do it! Leadership can be uncomfortable—there is always more to learn. It is a great privilege to do research and comes with great responsibility,” she says.