Liz Lotoa
Liz’s internship with Netball NZ provided an opportunity to develop invaluable communication and organisational skills.
Key facts
Programme: Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Laws (Honours)
Specialisation: Politics and International Relations
“I undertook my internship at Netball NZ in their Communications team. Netball NZ is Netball’s national sporting organisation which is responsible for overseeing the development of the sport in NZ.
“Working in a small professional office was interesting and not as scary as it might seem once you get to work. However, my time in the workplace was limited due to the Covid-19 lockdown.
“My work changed from an in-office internship involving historical archiving of Netball NZ’s historical documents as well as some work with the Communications team, to a remotely completed research project.
“My project focused on the influence of Māori and Pasifika peoples on the ANZ Premiership teams. I had to research the available literature on Māori and Pasifika participation in sport in New Zealand, identify and interview a number of prominent figures in the ANZ Premiership community, and then analyse and synthesise the information from the interviews into a report for Netball NZ.
“The experience was incredibly unique, and I was given the opportunity to take the lead on organising and undertaking interviews. This responsibility helped me to develop invaluable communication and organisational skills whilst completing the project.
“My key takeaway was that flexibility and adaptability are key skills that can be utilised in the workplace. The nature of the internship changed immensely, and it came down to the willingness of those involved to adapt and move forward with the project
At this point the options appear to be limitless. Once you get your foot in the door in the professional world you realise that a BA is applicable to more career options than you would initially think. The internship opened my eyes to the possibilities and I am looking forward to teasing these options out more.
“The ability to critically analyse and synthesise information were skills I found incredibly applicable from my BA. Research skills are required to succeed in a BA so to see these skills utilised in the workplace was rewarding and exciting.
“The internship was an opportunity I will forever be grateful for. It helped me to develop confidence and I learnt to back myself throughout the project. Furthermore, all the interns were supported by our course coordinators and regular Zoom meetings ensured we were supported every step of the way.”
Liz is a recipient of a University of Auckland Top Achiever Scholarship and a Faculty of Arts Summer Scholarship.