Young Kiwis gear up for their Asia internships
Twenty-four young New Zealanders from business, sport, media, engineering, legal and arts backgrounds will soon be on their way to Asia to gain work experience through the Asia New Zealand Foundation’s internship programme.
The soon-to-be departing interns
From media agencies in Seoul and Bangkok, to finance and logistics firms in Tokyo and Jakarta, interns will spend up to three months working alongside experienced mentors and teams in their host countries, and in some cases, within the world’s most respected organisations and companies.
Since 2009, the programme has given hundreds of young New Zealanders the opportunity to develop real-world skills, grow their professional networks and deepen their understanding of a region that continues to play an increasingly important role for New Zealand.
The programme supports interns before and during their placements, ensuring they are well-prepared for living and working in fast-moving, unfamiliar cultural settings. Before heading overseas, this year’s cohort gathered in Auckland, where they heard from staff, previous interns and guest speakers who shared advice on workplace etiquette, adapting to life in a new culture and making the most of their time abroad. The session also provided a chance for the group to ask questions, connect with each other, and reflect on the experiences ahead.
Connor Nelson, who will be interning with the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre, said he’s looking forward to gaining global experience, especially given his particular interest in Asia.
“Since it is a global organisation, I’m really excited about being able to connect with legal practitioners from all over the world. I think that will really diversify my legal knowledge, and I’m excited to bring that learning back to my practice in New Zealand as a lawyer,” he said.
A key factor in choosing participants is recognising the importance of New Zealand’s relationship with Asia and the value of gaining experience in the region. Media programme intern, Fergus Goodall Smith, shares this view.
“I think that we’re going to see Asia become a bigger player in the next decade in terms of all things, so I think having a knowledge of how that place works would be really valuable,” he said.
The pre-departure meeting was a chance for the interns to learn about the Foundation, prepare for the adventure ahead and get to know eachother
Hearing the new interns speak about their hopes over the months ahead highlights the importance of supporting young, emerging talent in New Zealand. The Foundation’s acting business programme director, Adele Mason, says the value of the programme extends well beyond individual experience.
“These internships deliver more than just individual experience; they help build New Zealand’s long-term capabilities in and of Asia. Many of our former interns have gone on to work in senior roles in government and business, working closely with Asia. Their success is a reminder of why these opportunities are so important,” she says.
This year's interns:
Aashish Ramanlal (Auckland University) has commenced his internship at Hogan Lovells, Japan, a global leader that delivers exceptional legal services in highly regulated sectors.
Aleksandra Bogdanova (New Zealand Broadcasting School) will be interning at Deccan Herald, India, a prominent English-language daily newspaper known for its in-depth coverage of regional and national news.
Alicia Carr (University of Canterbury) will be interning at JoongAng Daily, South Korea, an English-language newspaper known for its comprehensive coverage of South Korean news and global affairs.
Angelica Silva (University of Canterbury) has already begun her internship with NEC Corporation, Japan, an IT corporation with major operations in IT services and social infrastructure.
Audrey Harrington (University of Canterbury) has commenced her internship at United Media Solution, China, a leading provider of integrated marketing communications services.
Brie-Ellen Harding (New Zealand Broadcasting School) will be interning at SLRC, Sri Lanka, the principal public television broadcaster in Sri Lanka.
Connor Nelson (University of Auckland) has commenced his internship at the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre, Hong Kong, a leading international arbitration institution.
Daniel Cha (University of Auckland) will be interning at Silver Fern Farms, China, a leading New Zealand meat processor and exporter.
Duncan Mutch (University of Canterbury) will be interning at KPMG, Viet Nam, one of the Big Four accounting firms in Vietnam.
Ellen Lovegrove (University of Canterbury) will be interning at Taipei Times, Taiwan, an English-language daily newspaper known for its coverage of local and international news, with a focus on Taiwan's politics and culture.
Emily Sidaway (University of Canterbury) will be interning at Sport Singapore, Singapore, a platform that provides sport and recreation programmes to Singaporeans.
Enari Tevita (University of Auckland) will be interning with renewable energy company Alternergy in the Philippines, a country that is rapidly developing its renewable energy sector.
Evie Richardson (Auckland University of Technology) will be interning at The Bangkok Post, one of Thailand's leading English-language newspapers.
Fergus Goodall Smith (Victoria University of Wellington) will be interning at JoongAng Daily, South Korea. Korea JoongAng Daily is one of the three main English newspapers in South Korea.
Gavin Yang (University of Auckland) will be interning at KPMG, Viet Nam, one of the Big Four accounting firms in Vietnam.
Geeske Dykshoorn (University of Auckland) will be interning at Silver Fern Farms, China, a leading New Zealand meat processor and exporter.
Havana Beal (Auckland University of Technology) will be interning with Sport Singapore, Singapore, a platform that provides sport and recreation programmes to Singaporeans.
Jack McKenzie (Victoria University of Wellington) has commenced his internship at United Media Solution, China, a leading provider of integrated marketing communications services.
Kate Judson (Massey University) will be interning with Philippines Star, Philippines, an English-language newspaper and the flagship brand of the Philstar Media Group.
Kyran Lockwood (Victoria University of Wellington) will be interning with KPMG, Indonesia, one of the Big Four accounting firms in Indonesia.
Maisie Arnold-Barron (Massey University) will be interning at Thai PBS, Thailand, Thailand's public broadcaster.
Minsoh Rachel Choi (University of Auckland) will be interning at Beach House Pictures, Singapore, a production company dedicated to non-fiction storytelling.
Reuben Smith (New Zealand Broadcasting School) will be interning at TaiwanPlus, Taiwan, a premier international media platform providing English-language news and entertainment from Taiwan.
Samantha Mythen (Victoria University of Wellington) will be interning at Rappler, Philippines, a leading digital media company in the Philippines.
The Foundation's Business Programme supports New Zealand companies to better understand Asia so they can make the most of opportunities in the region. It also supports to grow the next generation of Asia-savvy business leaders.
Our internship programme helps 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.
