Twenty-one tertiary students have completed summer internships and research projects at Tauranga City Council, gaining hands-on experience while making meaningful contributions to the community.

The students worked full-time across various departments, including events, heritage, and research, supporting the Council’s goal of enhancing Tauranga.

Their efforts culminated in an expo-style presentation, where they shared insights and findings with their peers and Council staff.

Romy van der Boom, who recently completed her Masters of Water Science and Management, worked with the Pollution Prevention team, assisting in responses to overflow events and advising industrial businesses.

Van der Boom said businesses were receptive to practical guidance, such as proper chemical storage to prevent stormwater contamination.

“People do really care about the environment, and they want to do the right thing. Being able to provide that advice during my time here and see how the small steps we suggest contribute to the bigger picture – that was really rewarding,” she said.

Emma Johnston, who is studying a Bachelor of Environmental Science, majoring in Environmental Hazards and Disaster, interned with the Emergency Management team, working on community preparedness initiatives, including a tsunami virtual reality simulation.

Johnston said her experience broadened her understanding of career opportunities in emergency management.

“It’s been valuable to see how the emergency management structure operates. From the outside, it could seem quite complex, but having spent time working within the team, I’ve got a lot more clarity about what my future could look like in similar roles – and I’ve learnt plenty about tsunami preparedness too,” she said.

Four students, including Tauranga local Ben Jones, worked on research projects. Jones, a University of Waikato Masters student, explored ways to enhance city liveability through community technology, hosting workshops to gather public input.

Jones said engaging with a diverse range of people to shape Tauranga’s future was rewarding.

“We provided toolkits for people to design the city themselves as part of future planning. To be working towards making a difference for Tauranga was so worthwhile, and learning about Council and how it works for its community was also beneficial,” he said.

Marlene Herewini, Council’s Employment Pathways Lead, said the programme provided students with insight into local government careers and the skills required to serve the community.

Tauranga City Council will advertise its next round of summer internships in late 2025. For more information on research projects for University of Waikato students, visit the University of Waikato website.