Culture at Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade

Lots of good and genuine people. However it is a traditional/old school institution, meaning negative work cultures and hierarchies remain. Attempts to acknowledge M?ori and other indigenous groups but sometimes it feels tokenistic. Appreciate that diversity is increasing.

My team is fantastic, I feel supported and am able to ask for help whenever I need it. We have regular team catch ups at work over the daily quiz or a morning tea and do monthly after work drinks.

There is a weird level of hierarchy and expectation. But I have a great time and enjoy my team

Individuals who work together, rather than a true team environment - which is fine.

The organisation is quite hierarchical, often requiring you to meet with people at your level, and get things signed off by multiple managers. The teamwork is great, people are always willing to help out where need be, and open to answering any questions you have. The culture in my team is good, with Friday doughnuts or drinks, however, there could be more done. The organisation is currently working on a 'positive workplace culture' reshift.

After hours culture is appropriate- while there are occasional drinks, no one ever gets drunk and everyone remains professional. Very safe. In the office, I have heard other people have negative interpersonal comments flung around and there are some teams which don't give enough support to grads (leading to a sink or swim experience for some). The grad buddy program is very positive and helps with minimizing the risk of that, but you need a good buddy.

Very hierarchical Some work place culture problems with bullying/harassments but this depends entirely on your team, most are great. People tend to be very extroverted and kind and often socialize together. You work closely in teams and will travel and spend much time together, so your colleagues become some of your closest friends. I'm always surprised at how many people know/like each other with such a big workplace.

Still quite ridged and old boy

Though it's not everyone there is a real competitive feeling here and many of the more senior members treat graduates with little to no respect. In certain conversations it feels like activities outside of sitting at your desk and working all day are frowned upon and the social side of the organisation needs to be navigated with caution.

The team I'm on are wonderful and I feel incredibly supported. There's plenty of scope for collaboration with different team members and even on solo work I spend a fair bit of time checking in with others/getting checked-in on. There's a fair bit of socialising as well, both within the team and along more lateral lines (my buddy has taken me for coffee with members of her cohort, for example, and I go hiking with my own on occasion). The company structure is generally excellent (I really appreciate that there's only PO1 (->SPO/LA)->UM->DM->DS in terms of line management rather than having a dozen ranks in between, if that makes sense?), and I've had the opportunity to talk to people across the whole of the wider group including the DM and Dept. Sec. Occasionally the hierarchy seems to be enforced very strictly, and inconsistently across teams.

Very passive aggressive, snobbish, do your time/get in line

The Ministry's culture is based around doing good work well, without the corporate, money making angle. Everyone is dedicated to their work and wants to do well while retaining a co-operative and social working environment.

Extremely hierarchical structure. Teamwork, at least for me, is effective in my division. Overly high workload and pressure on grads and senior policy officers alike. Little time to socialise at work due to workload. Big expectations from the get go on employees. Over-time far too common.