Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade Graduate Stories

The coolest part of my job so far has to be travelling overseas to represent Aotearoa New Zealand during trade negotiations. As daunting and stressful as it is when you’re sitting at the negotiating table, it is certainly a position I feel incredibly privileged to be in.

There are many opportunities for learning and development, not only within your set role but outside of it too. I have been fortunate to have had such supportive teams that encourage and push for these kinds of experiences that have allowed me to up-skill and better myself.

All the typical time management stuff for assignments!! Break it down, plan out time, and make a study group!

The coolest thing about my role is when we receive partner reporting (NZNGO reporting on activities we have funded) and I get to read about, and evaluate, the impact our funding is having at a community level.

What I do impacts, not just the ministry, but New Zealanders and countries in the Pacific, as well as their people. It’s overwhelming being asked to coordinate meetings between New Zealand and major allies or ensuring that we fund programmes to the tune of millions in order to contribute to the safety and security of others in the Pacific.

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.

Domestically, I get to represent MFAT to other agencies, industry and the public and see how government policy directly impacts people. Internationally, it is about standing for New Zealand’s values and working with other countries for a safer and more prosperous world.