Born and raised in Invercargill, I am proudly tangata tiriti (person of the treaty) with Chinese whakapapa.
Throughout my experiences, I was oftentimes the only person of colour in the room and therefore the only one bringing the perspectives of my community. This is why I am passionate about raising the voices of Aotearoa’s diverse rangatahi and communities and ensuring they are represented in high-level conversations in Aotearoa and beyond.
Tell us about your graduate placement and your host agency.
I am seconded to Te Mana Ārai o Aotearoa New Zealand Customs Service as a Graduate Advisor. My team sits within the governance space and deals with the office of the Minister of Customs. In this fast-paced role, I have a front seat to the machinery of government and the decision-making and processes that shape Aotearoa domestically and internationally. Customs has been such a great introduction to the public service and the work government agencies do every day to protect and help our communities.
As an ethnic communities graduate, I am extremely humbled to be part of something that is more than just a job; it represents meaningful progress towards Aotearoa’s future of diverse and inclusive leadership. This is why, alongside my substantive role, I am also involved in organisational culture conversations at Customs. I currently sit on the Customs’ Inclusion and Diversity Council and am a Network Lead for the Asian Network. It has been very rewarding to share my passion for inclusion and diversity and see how this engagement informs and potentially transforms the status quo.
Is there a career goal you are working towards?
This graduate role has really emphasised that you can have a meaningful career in the public service; one that creates safer and more inclusive communities and ultimately protects our future rangatahi. In my current and future roles, I want to better understand and influence high-level decision-making that impacts Aotearoa. I see myself in a role that can influence and drive positive change for the benefit of all people and communities across the motu.
Why do you think it’s important to have a diverse public service?
Put simply, it’s a matter of representation. Aotearoa is home to many diverse communities and our public service - its decision-making and policies - must also represent that.
However, a diverse public service is meaningless without a concerted effort towards equity and inclusion. Without these elements, diversity is tokenistic at best, and exploitative at worst. We must ensure that our diverse public servants are given a seat at the table, that they feel safe to express themselves and that their voices and ideas may be heard without fear.
What advice do you give to graduates considering a career in the public service?
The public service is full of passionate people wanting to make a difference. If you want to pursue meaningful work and to challenge yourself, I would definitely recommend a career in the public service.
We need you. Your voice, your experiences, your perspective. Bring your whole self to the application, interview and (eventual) job - the public service will be all the better for it.