Laura (centre): "Getting the internship with NZCC is an opportunity for which I will be eternally grateful."
My recent Asia New Zealand Foundation internship at the New Zealand China Council (NZCC) was a seven-week journey of both discovery and growth.
Although I entered the role with my own expectations and goals, little did I know the experience would surpass these in many unexpected ways.
Reflecting on my time with NZCC, I want to delve into the opportunities I had within the role and how this contributed to developing my confidence in my professional working ability and long-term goals.
As a third-year university student, I had been looking for an opportunity to apply the skills I'd developed through my tertiary education to a 'real world' context.
My internship hunt led me to stumble upon NZCC's call for a 2023 summer intern through the Asia New Zealand Foundation's business internship programme. I applied immediately, as the internship presented an exciting chance to utilise all areas of my studies: Chinese, politics, law and te reo Māori.
Getting the internship with NZCC is an opportunity for which I will be eternally grateful.
The working environment at NZCC stands out as a critical factor in the success and enjoyment of my
internship journey. From day one, the executive team supported me to perform at my best.
In our initial meeting, executive director Alistair Crozier and assistant director Summer Xia encouraged me to make the most of this opportunity. Their openness and encouragement for me to share my thoughts and ideas on projects made me feel involved and valued.
Staff at New Zealand China Council made Laura feel a valued member of the team
The NZCC team were not only my supervisors but also approachable mentors who were always willing to share their guidance, knowledge, and experience. This supportive backdrop made each project I worked on all the more engaging and impactful.
Every day at the NZCC office brought new and exciting challenges.
Under the Council's executive team, I led research on the organisation’s te ao Māori engagement, carried out social media initiatives, and contributed to event management.
The te ao Māori initiative provided me with a unique opportunity to kōrero with various Māori leaders to gather case studies, perspectives and guidance on a roadmap for achieving NZCC's goals in 2024 and beyond.
The project enabled me to grow not only NZCC's knowledge of Māori kaupapa, practices, and experiences but also my own.
Being able to better understand and connect with my Māori heritage and culture made this project particularly engaging and rewarding.
I had the opportunity to manage three of the Council's social media platforms (X, Instagram and Linkedin), pitch potential content ideas, draft posts and look for ways to increase user engagement.
As each of the Council's social media platforms looks to engage different stakeholders, working within the online area of the Council improved my ability to write appropriately for different audiences.
Throughout my internship, I also had the pleasure of attending several working events through the
Council's network.
These opportunities honed my ability to navigate cross-cultural environments, practice my language skills, engage with the Council's partner organisations and build a network within the international relations sphere.
The internship provided opportunities for Laura t meet with the Council's partner organisations and network with key leaders
The Council plays a crucial role in supporting opportunities for New Zealand to engage with China.
With China being New Zealand's biggest trading partner, the Council facilitates high-level dialogue and collaboration, enhancing economic opportunities and promoting mutual understanding.
I gained considerable insight into this relationship throughout my time at NZCC, notably through attending the 2023 AGM and Council meeting.
Through the Asia New Zealand Foundation's business internship programme, I have grown my confidence in my professional working ability, strengthened my passion for a career in international relations, and deepened my understanding of China, diplomacy and trade.
The journey has been a memorable one, and I look forward to future interns being able to have the same opportunities.
Thank you also to the Asia New Zealand Foundation, particularly members Ethan Jones, Veronica
Thompson and Joyce Bonde, for looking after me throughout the whole internship experience.
The Foundation's business programme supports New Zealand companies to better understand Asia so they can make the most of opportunities in the region. We are also focussed on growing the next generation of Asia-savvy business leaders.
Our internship programme help interns build a better understanding of the people, place and culture of their Asian host country, while developing industry-specific skills that will benefit them as they progress in their careers.