Empowering Pacific peoples by creating positive systematic change is at the heart of the work Tupu Tai interns Okirano Tilaia and Tanumia Matega (pictured) have been delivering at the Ministry for Pacific Peoples (the Ministry).
Managed by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), the Tupu Tai programme is a paid summer internship offered to Pacific tertiary students and recent graduates interested in a career in the public sector.
Okirano and Tanumia were placed with the Ministry’s Policy and Strategy team in Wellington for a three-month internship over summer, some of which was spent researching the current state of Pacific leadership pathways in the Public Service.
“We looked at what programmes are already out there, what the gaps are, what is and is not working well in these programmes, and the potential role of the Ministry,” Okirano explains.
“A major part of the findings is around the collaboration cross-agency and working together to achieve the same goal of empowering and uplifting our Pacific peoples in the Public Service,” Okirano adds.
Recently, the interns’ findings were presented at the Pacific Public Servants Network online fono, and they hope by sharing the information, it will help shape the way agencies collaborate.
Okirano and Tanumia have now completed their internships at the Ministry, and while Tanumia will continue with her Law and Health studies at Victoria University of Wellington, Okirano has secured a role as an Advisor with the Ministry’s Christchurch-based Southern Partnerships team.
Delighted with the opportunity to stay at the Ministry, Okirano is looking forward to expanding his experience in the Public Sector.
“I have already gained invaluable insights and experiences at the Ministry, that have greatly contributed to my personal and professional growth,” he says.
These include cultural immersion, community engagement, and policy and programme development.
“Being immersed in a Pacific-centric environment allowed me to develop a deep understanding and appreciation of Pacific cultures, traditions, and values.
“I have had the opportunity to contribute to the development, implementation, and evaluation of policies and programmes aimed at advancing Pacific interests and well-being.
“This exposure to government processes and decision-making has provided me with valuable insights into policy development, project management, and public sector governance.”
Visit the MBIE website to learn more about the Tupu Tai Pasifika Public Sector Summer Internship Programme.