Tupu Tai Internship 2025

Discover a career with purpose at MBIE

Tupu Tai Pasifika Public Sector Summer Internship Programme

Tupu Tai Summer Internship programme is looking for proud Pasifika students and recent graduates who are passionate about seeing change for their families and wider communities. Join the growing tide of Pacific peoples working in public policy in Aotearoa and gain work experience in a 11-week internship over summer.

Applications open Monday 28 April 2025 and close Sunday 1 June 2025. 

Please see the 'How to Apply' section below so that you know what to include in your cover letter for this role.

Visit www.tuputai.govt.nz for more information

Tēnei tūranga -

About the role:
 

Tupu Tai is an 11-week paid internship across the summer break. Through Tupu Tai you will have the opportunity to work on policy projects in one of the many government agencies that affect change in areas such as education, housing, employment, justice and the environment.

This is a fantastic opportunity where you will:

• Contribute to the growing tide of Pasifika representation in the public sector
• Develop your leadership skills and professional resume
• Build professional networks with other interns, government agencies and community leaders

Hear from previous interns on their Tupu Tai experience

Tupu Tai places high value on the entire wellbeing of each intern, providing wrap around support heading into, during and post internship.

Some of the benefits you will receive through the Tupu programme are:
 

• Skill development workshops that increase an intern’s employability
• Mentoring from a senior Pasifika staff member
• Inclusive Leadership training and Cultural supervision provided to your managers, so they are more culturally aware and competent.
• Opportunities to build long lasting professional networks

Ngā pukenga me ngā wheako e hiahiatia ana -

Skills and experience required:

We are looking for applicants who:
 

• Are in their final year of tertiary study (of an undergraduate/postgraduate degree);
• Graduates and Tupu Tai alumni can apply or re-apply if they have finished their degree after March 2023;
• Are of Pacific descent and allowed to live and work fulltime in New Zealand
• Are available to complete the internship full-time in Wellington from 17 November 2025 to 30 January 2026

Ētahi kōrero mō MBIE -

About MBIE:

MBIE's goal is to create a resilient and high-performing economy that delivers real and ongoing quality of life for all New Zealanders.

We do this by working with others to create an environment that supports businesses to be more productive and internationally competitive, enables all New Zealanders to participate in the economy through improved job opportunities and by working to ensure quality housing is more affordable.
 

People are at the heart of our mahi, our way of working is guided by our values which shape our behaviours.
 

• Mahi Tahi – Better Together
• Māia – Bold and brave
• Pae Kahurangi – Build our Future
• Pono Me Te Tika – Own It
   

Our aspirations are echoed in our Māori identity – Hīkina Whakatutuki – which broadly means ‘lifting to make successful'.
 

MBIE recognises the partnership founded under Te Tiriti o Waitangi between Māori and the Crown and is committed to giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We will do this through enduring, meaningful and effective partnerships with iwi, Māori, other Māori groups/organisations and the Crown, as this is critical to enable economic and social development, both for Māori and for wider Aotearoa New Zealand. We are committed to continuing to partner with iwi in order to find new sustainable solutions to address long standing systemic and cross-cutting issues facing Māori and wider Aotearoa New Zealand and we are also committed to identifying opportunities for iwi to lead and creating an enabling environment for iwi to leverage these opportunities.

E mōhio ana a Hīkina Whakatutuki i puea ake te kōtuinga I waenganui i a ngāi Māori me te Karauna i Te Tiriti o Waitangi, ā, kei te whai ia ki te whakaū ake i Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Mā te whai kiko o ngā kōtuinga ahungaroa o ngāi wi, o ngāi Māori, me ētahi atu rōpū Māori ki te Karauna, katutuki tēnei. He āhuatanga nui tēnei e āhei ai ngā mahi whanaketanga ā-ohanga, ā-pāpori hoki ki a ngāi Māori me Aotearoa whānui. E whai tonu ana mātou ki te kōtui atu ki ngā iwi mō te rapu huarahi hou ki te whakaara i ngā kaupapakua roa nei e tāmi ana i a ngāi Māori me Aotearoa whānui, ā, e whai ana hoki ki te tautohu i ngā āheinga kōkiritanga mā ngā iwi, me te tautoko i ngā iwi kia whai mana ake ai ēnei āheinga.

Me pēhea te tono -

How to apply:
 

All applications must be submitted via our online process and need to include your CV, cover letter and academic transcript. 
 
In your cover letter please include: 
 

• Your motivation for joining the Tupu Tai Policy Summer Internship.
• Why Policy and/or a career in the Public sector appeals to you as a profession.
• How you would like to contribute to the improved wellbeing of our Pasifika community.

 
As part of the application process, when you click to apply, you will be directed to answer a number of questions which could take some time in answering.  Please ensure you have set aside some extra time to complete these.

Email John at john.sio2@mbie.govt.nz quoting ref MBIE/17192 if you have any further questions.

Applications close Sunday 1 June 2025.