A recent Northland Regional Council (NRC) Tū i te ora Scholarship recipient says the paid work experience opportunity not only provided insight into council’s role in the region but gave him a kete of knowledge to complement his future career aspirations.

University of Auckland Bachelor of Urban Planning second-year student Te Karira Ruakere-Norris (Ngā Mahanga A Tairi, Te Parawhau, Taranaki Iwi, Te Atiawa, Ngāpuhi) received one of NRC’s Tū i te ora Scholarship packages last year.

The scholarship package included a $4000 to assist with study costs plus a paid full-time work experience opportunity over summer, which Te Karira spent with NRC’s Māori Relationships Team (MRT), shadowing the rōpū (team/group) across the business.

He says while he had no idea what to expect from the opportunity, the experience had been eye-opening.

“I wasn’t sure what it was going to be like, an office environment maybe, but the MRT gave me exposure to so many areas,” Te Karira said..

“A lot of these projects were meaningful to me, especially because I know the places and people where these projects were being carried out.

“Some of the key things I took away was just the range of people involved in different projects, as well as the conversations I was involved in, which I wouldn’t have experienced anywhere else.”

Te Karira says spending time at NRC meant he was able to witness tangible results from smaller-scale projects, as well as long-term strategies and their impact on region-wide projects.

The 19- year-old is now currently back in Whangārei with his whānau, where he is undertaking a full-time summer internship with Barkers and Associates.

Once that’s done and he returns to university, he will work for the firm-part time at their Tāmaki Makaurau office.

Te Karira says he was impressed by NRC’s commitment to genuine and strong partnerships with local iwi and hapū through its Tāiki ē strategy.

He says this was encouraging to see and he was excited to work more in this space in his own urban planning career.

“My Nana, Whaea Mira Norris, has been closely involved with NRC over the years regarding tangata whenua matters and now serves as part of the Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party,” he said.

“For the last 20 years, conversations about Māori planning have been implemented through many councils and I think it’s gotten to the point now where we’re at the evaluation stage.

“So far we’ve been using Māori planning schemes, and I feel like we’re coming into our second era where we get to improve on what’s been done which is exciting.”

For anyone considering applying for NRC’s scholarship, Te Karira says to go for it.

“Don’t be afraid to apply, because a place like NRC is the perfect opportunity to get the best mentorship, with people who are willing to teach you.

“I still reflect on the discussions I had there today and there are plenty of strategies that I learned that I still use.”

Applications are now open for Northland Regional Council’s 2025 Tū i te ora Scholarship packages – head to scholarships.nrc.govt.nz