What's your job about?
The work I do revolves around sustainability and trade. The portfolios I primarily work on are the Agreement of Climate Change, Trade & Sustainability (ACCTS), and Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform (FFSR). A regular work day for me involves attending virtual negotiations, writing briefs and being a go-to contact for my portfolios. MFAT is quite fast-paced however so you will also get the opportunity to experience other exciting work, and engage with new stakeholders or agencies you may not of if you worked anywhere else.
What's your background?
I grew up in Tauranga, but whakapapa to Ngāti Hauiti and Ngāti Porou ki Harataunga. I attended Tauranga Girls College, and then went on to study a Bachelor of Economics and Finance at Victoria University in 2017. I graduated from University at the end of 2019 and immediately went on to work at Statistic New Zealand in the International Business Performance team. While I worked there I became an expert in the Business Operations Survey, and Tatauranga Umanga Māori – Māori Business Statistics.
After working at Statistics New Zealand for two and half years I decided it was time for a change and applied to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). I have always had an interest in the work that MFAT does, and thought in applying I may be able to experience work that was a bit more fast-paced and challenging. After a month of application processes, I was offered the job. I started at MFAT in February 2022 and was placed in the Trade Policy and Negotiations Division.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
Yes, as you can see I have quite a diverse background which primarily revolves around numbers. I originally believed that MFAT would only accept people with Masters in policy or law degrees. However, from my experience MFAT are looking for people who are determined, inquisitive, and actively interested in the ministry’s work. Don’t forget your diversity of background can help you stand out and provide you with a point of view many won’t have at MFAT.
What's the coolest thing about your job?
Though tiring in this virtual climate, negotiations would be the coolest thing about my job. Being involved in important trade agreements and seeing the nuances of different countries engaging together and working towards the same goal is really special, and exciting and not something you will get to experience in all jobs.
What are the limitations of your job?
MFAT does a lot of important work, and as you engage with countries in different time zones over Zoom it can mean you work longer or later hours. It is definitely something you needed to adjust to in this COVID climate, as usually, you would get to travel for these things. That would be another limitation. A lot of people lot to work at MFAT for all the travel and experiences you can have overseas, but with COVID so prevalent travel has been restricted for us, and we have been encouraged to do what we can from New Zealand.
3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student...