Young Whangarei man wins scholarship to study in China

Whangarei's Jack Robinson has been awarded a scholarship which will see him travel to Beijing to study law

When Jack Robinson was in high school he had no idea where he was going to end up.

He was more of a science student when he was at Whangarei Boys' High School but wanted a more philosophical education.

Now the 20-year-old has been awarded a scholarship to study a Master of Laws at China University of Political Science and Law in Beijing.

"I was at my aunt's house in Newtown and we'd just been packing up her house and I got this email which I had been waiting for with anticipation for a while and I was silent. She looked at me and I told her and she was over the moon," he said.

The scholarship covers all his expenses. He said he did not think he would be able to study there so soon without it.

Mr Robinson said when he was in high school he would not have thought he would end up in China.

He was not even sure what university he would be going to and ended up studying an arts degree at Victoria University of Wellington after being awarded a separate scholarship.

"I've never taken preferences, it's just how it turned out. I'm definitely interested in [China] but I was more of a science student in high school.

"I decided I wanted more of a philosophical education and high school hadn't provided me with the philosophical side so I decided to focus on my weaknesses rather than my strengths."

As part of the Victoria University of Wellington scholarship Mr Robinson went to China in November last year with professors from the university.

During his time there he attended lectures and seminars and went to the China University of Political Science and Law where he met the course co-ordinator, members of the faculty, and made friends.

"It is very highly regarded within China. It has the largest law faculty at any university in the world."

He was interested in China and its relationship with New Zealand.

"I'm interested in debunking myths you hear about East Asia because racism in New Zealand toward Chinese people, who make up a huge percentage of our immigration population, is astounding."

Mr Robinson will be in China for two years and is due to leave mid-August.