What's your job about?
Waka Kotahi New Zealand Land Transport Agency is responsible for managing the country’s land transport system, ensuring its safety, efficiency, and sustainability. Our vision is to create a land transport system that connects people, products, and places to foster a thriving Aotearoa. Our aim is to enhance the lives of New Zealanders by promoting mobility, commerce, and exploration while fostering social connectedness, economic prosperity, and environmental stewardship in our nation.
In the Insights team, we utilize primary research to understand and represent the needs, behaviours, and attitudes of people, allowing us to confidently develop our networks and services in partnership with them. My involvement in Insights research projects typically spans from conception to completion. In the early stages, I meet with our clients to discuss their brief, collaborate with other Insights Advisors to plan research timelines, objectives, and outcomes, and contribute to survey and sampling design.
During the research fieldwork, I begin analysing survey results, identifying emerging themes and trends in responses for topline reporting, liaise with external research agencies to ensure the integrity of survey samples, and respond to any queries from our clients about the research project and preliminary findings. Upon completion of a research project, I check and cleanse survey data, assist with designing and writing the final report, contributing to explaining the findings and recommendations of the research, and disseminate the findings and final report, usually through presentations at relevant team meetings and workshops.
What's your background?
I grew up in Mangere Bridge, South Auckland, under the loving care of my grandparents and extended whanau. As the eldest of over 30 grandchildren, our family home was a vibrant hub of shared experiences and cherished memories. This early upbringing instilled in me the values of family, community, and resilience.
My educational journey led me to Auckland University of Technology (AUT), where, like many, I faced a unique challenge during my first semester at the start of 2020 – a sudden lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over subsequent semesters, the pandemic persisted, testing my resolve, and teaching me invaluable lessons in grit and determination.
While pursuing my studies, I concurrently held a full-time job with a private company. However, the pandemic prompted a shift in my career aspirations. I realised that my true passion lay in contributing to the greater good, working to enhance my country rather than solely focusing on returns for shareholders.
This epiphany led me to embark on a new path in public service. Currently, I am an Insights Advisor in the Insights team through the Emerging Professionals Programme at Waka Kotahi. With eight months in this role and two years in the programme, I am dedicated to leveraging my skills and experiences to make a positive impact on New Zealand’s future.
Beyond my professional life, I enjoy spending quality time with my family and relaxing at home or at the beautiful beaches that surround us.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
Yes. Waka Kotahi is charged with providing a land transport system that serves all New Zealand and to do that properly we need people from all walks of life. A degree can be helpful but your ability to communicate and work with others is sometimes more important. Having a passion for learning about why people do the things they do is also helpful when working in Insights.
What's the coolest thing about your job?
While I’m a part of the graduate programme, I get to do three different roles over two years, and my first one is in Insights. What’s cool is that I get to try out various parts of the organisation. It helps me figure out what I really enjoy doing in the long haul because, honestly, I don’t often know until I’m knee-deep in it. So, I’m grateful for the chance to explore before making a big commitment – plus, knowing there’s job security at the end of the programme is a major bonus.
What are the limitations of your job?
The breadth and complexity of managing the country’s land transport system is enormous. Sometimes it feels like learning and remembering every department function, project, and acronym is an impossible task and you’ll forever feel lost amongst work programmes, strategic initiatives, and organisation updates. Also, in my role, I occasionally encounter challenging situations where I must address and navigate sensitive or offensive opinions expressed by survey respondents, which can be mentally taxing.
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