Tupu Tai summer internship evaluation
The purpose of this report was to evaluate the Tupu Tai Pasifika Internship Programme to gauge the current status of the programme, its ability to inform future programme design, and necessary changes needed to continue to promote greater diversity in the policy space. Accordingly, the team at Point and Associates interviewed both Tupu Tai alumni and agency hosts to gain insights into how the Tupu Tai Pasifika Internship Programme was being received by its primary stakeholders. A cost benefit analysis and document review were also completed as part of the evaluation.
Using the four strategic objectives of the Tupu Tai Pasifika Internship Programme as a guide, we found that the programme was successfully meeting its aims of increased Pasifika representation in government policy roles. Amongst the positives of the Programme were:
The opportunity for interns to develop personally and professionally and to become more culturally aware.
The opportunities to network and build connections that increased the chances to acquire future government placements
Effective pastoral care that ensured interns were supported
Both Tupu Tai alumni and agency staff identified substantial benefits from the programme. These include increasing the percentage of Pasifika policymakers from 1.8% in 2016 to 5.2% in 2021
Policy work, however, has the potential to significantly impact societal outcomes. Just as a diverse Board and workforce in the private sector has been shown to improve decision making and financial performance, a diverse policy workforce could be reasonably expected to deliver the broadest possible societal benefits. Using outcomes costed in the Treasury CBx report (health, employment, national security, education etc.) it is estimated that Tupu Tai is cost effective, potentially delivering $0.6M in benefits (Net Present Value) at 6 years (2016 $ ) and $1.95M at 10 years.
The alumni and agency hosts were overwhelmingly positive in their assessments of the Tupu Tai Pasifika Internship Programme .
Tupu Tai Pasifika internship 2020/2021 cohort outside Parliament