Summer internship leads to coveted role for UC grad

Rebecca (Ngā Rauru Kītahi – Ngāti Maika, Ngāti Pourua; Saoluafata, Samoa; Rotuma, Fiji) is proud to graduate from Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC) this month with a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Accounting and Marketing. 

Originally from Auckland, Rebecca moved to Christchurch in 2021 to study at UC, despite having only visited the city once, for the University’s Open Day. 

“Although I was nervous about moving somewhere different, my parents encouraged me to push myself and try something new, and it was the best decision. I took accounting and commerce in my last year of high school and was good at it, so thought I would give that a go."

During her studies, Rebecca completed a different internship each summer holiday, with her final internship at Ernst & Young New Zealand (EY)  working in their specialist reward and remuneration practice leading to her current role in the company’s tax team in Auckland.

“The grad roles are competitive, so when they offered me the role, I felt this huge wave of relief and happiness to get to return to EY after having such a great time in my internship. Exposure to Reward, which is a specialist area I had never heard of before, was so interesting and the Partner was the one that encouraged me to think about joining tax so I could do my CA (Chartered Accountant).”

“The working world is obviously very different from studying, but uni gave me such a solid foundation to build on and taught me how to learn effectively. The internships took that even further. They helped me apply what I’d learned in a hands-on way. I came away with a completely new perspective, and it made me more confident, more curious, and more excited about where all my hard work could take me.”

Another key highlight of Rebecca’s time at UC was her role as a PASS (Pacific Academic Solutions and Success) Navigator, tutoring and mentoring students studying towards a Bachelor of Commerce. She says it was “the most meaningful part” of her university experience.

"Being part Māori, Fijian and Samoan, I am very thankful for the support I received from our Pacific Advisors, particularly Selai Nakaroti who guided me in my own university journey as well as encouraged me to tutor Pasifika students and get more involved in that side of things. 

“I loved working with the students to shape the material in a way that they liked to learn. To hear them say that the tutoring and work we did together helped them pass their course was just the best feeling ever. It was a way I could be connected to my culture by feeling like I was doing something good to give value to our community and people.”

During her studies, Rebecca received a number of scholarships, including the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand – Suzanne Spencer Memorial Māori Scholarship (2024), University of Canterbury C E Akroyd Memorial Prize – Māori and Pacific/Pasifika Accounting (2023), and University of Canterbury Scholarship – Kaitoko Pacific/ Pasifika (School Leaver) (2022). 

Rebecca’s long-term plans are to gain her Chartered Accountant qualification and use her career to create meaningful impact at work and in people’s lives. "I'd like to use what I've learned and my degree to help people. I've been so lucky to have so many role models in my life and an education that has shaped me, so I would like to be able to use that in the most meaningful ways I can.

“To graduate means a lot because of the people and the connections I've made and all of the learning experiences that have had a really positive impact on getting me to where I am today."