The journey from studying at Auckland’s McAuley High School to serving around the world in the Royal New Zealand Navy has been an “incomparable experience” for Sailor of the Year Leading Writer Joanna Mafi (pictured).
Joanna, who is currently in Türkiye to commemorate Anzac Day at Gallipoli, says her career trajectory has been very unexpected.
“Never in my life did I expect to be where I am now, and I’m so fortunate for every challenge and opportunity that has allowed me to be where I am, and be who I am,” Joanna says.
Spending Anzac Day at Gallipoli will be very poignant for Joanna and her fellow Pacific service members.
“For us as Pacific peoples, this is also a time where we pay tribute to our Pasifika people who bravely stood alongside our Kiwi soldiers during tough times,” she says.
Of Tongan descent, Joanna joined the Navy five years ago, lured by the opportunity to travel and the experiences that came with the job.
“I could say I joined to be part of something bigger than myself, and what really got me in the Navy description online was ‘humanitarian aid’.
“I’m a humanitarian at heart, and this is what sold it for me.”
Joanna has fit a lot into her relatively short career. Being deployed to Canada, Fiji, and Niue on missions, as well as serving in New Zealand while seeing some less-frequented parts of the country like the Chatham and Auckland Islands.
In February, Joanna hit a professional high when she was named Sailor of the Year for her mahi as Leading Writer, which involves handling payroll and personnel management, along with administration onboard various ships.
She adds the award was a surprise, and a huge honour.
Support from her kainga has been pivotal in Joanna’s success, with her parents acting as mentors and a motivating factor.
The proud Tongan woman says being Pacific is definitely an advantage while working in the region and being able to incorporate knowledge of culture and values when delivering relief to communities.
Always looking ahead, Joanna says she plans to pivot her career next year and make the switch to engineering.
“My experience so far has been incomparable - I’ve challenged myself so far out of my comfort zone, and I want to keep extending that.”
For anyone considering a career in the Defence Force, Joanna is encouraging, but adds passion and dedication is a must.
“Depending on how much you want it, will determine how much work and effort you put in to get there.
“I’d say just give it a try, because if you don’t, you’ll just never know, and you may later wonder to yourself, ‘what if?’.”
For more information on careers in the Royal New Zealand Navy and the wider Defence Force, visit the NZDF’s Careers page.