Celebrating our 2024/25 Tupu Tai interns

Jett and Iosefa wrapped up their internships last week, and we caught up with them to hear about their experience, what they’ve learned and what they hope to do next.

Both interns completed substantial pieces of research that deepen our understanding of Māori experiences in the housing system. Their work will help inform content for our upcoming briefing to the incoming minister (BIM) and contribute to wider policy thinking across the organisation.

Iosefa’s research focused on Māori home ownership and the history that has shaped current home ownership rates for Māori whānau. He looked at how long-standing structural factors have impacted Māori access to home ownership. He also looked at potential policy solutions that could help improve outcomes.

Alongside the research itself, he says one of the most valuable learnings was understanding how broad the housing system is, and how strongly housing connects to health and wellbeing. He also gained insight into how a Māori policy team adds perspective and supports best practice.

Jett explored Māori-led responses to homelessness, looking at why these approaches work and how they create better outcomes for whānau. She also supported the December emergency housing quarterly report for the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, which gave her a chance to collaborate with other teams and see how large cross-agency work comes together.

Jett says that understanding the lived experiences of her own communities has strengthened her motivation to work in spaces that improve access to safe and suitable housing.

Jett and Iosefa reflected on the warmth and support they received from the Māori housing policy team and the wider policy group.

“I felt really supported throughout my time here and enjoyed seeing how strongly people across the organisation care about housing outcomes,” says Iosefa.

“My highlights included spending time with the Māori policy team, meeting other teams, shadowing Colin, and taking part in professional development opportunities.

For Jett, the biggest surprise was how collaborative the environment is.

“I expected structure and formality but found openness and a willingness to share knowledge at every step,” she says.

Her highlights included deepening her understanding of Māori homelessness, getting to know people across the organisation, and shadowing Colin in leadership settings.

Both interns came into the programme with a strong interest in public sector work.

For Iosefa, his background in health science highlighted how many health inequities stem from structural factors. Policy felt like a place to influence long term change and his previous experience in the Tupu Tai programme encouraged him to return.

For Jett, the opportunity to understand the inner workings of policy was the main draw. Her expectations were met and then exceeded through the relationships and learning she experienced here.

Find out more about the Tupu Tai Pasifika Public Sector Internship Programme on the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment website: About Tupu Tai (MBIE)(external link).