ANZSOG’s Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA) aims to take its high-achieving students out of their comfort zones and expose them to new ideas, and the challenges faced by other jurisdictions.
The program’s 2024 and 2025 cohorts recently visited Wellington/Te Whanganui-a-Tara in November 2025 for a week of teaching and learning, followed by the graduation ceremony for the 2024 cohort.
The immersion gave students a deeper understanding of issues in Aotearoa New Zealand, and the chance to talk frankly with senior leaders, and strengthened their bonds with each other through presentation of the EMPA’s capstone Work Based Projects.
Place-based learning is a vital part of the EMPA and gives students a more in-depth understanding of the role of place and how government and non-government organisations can work together in innovative ways that are shaped by the local context. Students visited Darwin in 2023, Cairns in 2024, and Christchurch in early 2025.
Students began the Wellington week with a Pōwhiri (traditional Māori welcome) at the National Library of New Zealand, followed by a session at the Department of Internal Affairs, and a visit to the New Zealand Parliament.
A key part of the learning experience was the chance to have candid discussions with senior New Zealand public servants and academics.
A model on Inclusion and Indigeneity, with Gerrard Albert, Whanganui Iwi leader, and Prof Rawinia Higgins, Deputy Vice Chancellor Māori, Te Heranga Waka Victoria University of Wellington, allowed students to deepen their understanding of the importance of Te Reo Māori (the Māori language) as a preserver of culture, and the importance of Māori culture and identity in modern Aotearoa New Zealand, and its role in governance and partnerships between the Crown and Māori iwi (tribal organisations).
The session examined the role of iwi and local communities in ensuring that top-down policy directions had impact and relevance on the ground.
Other panels looked at ‘Public administration in the global context’ featuring:
- Professor David Capie, Director, Centre for Strategic Studies and Professor of International Relations, Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington (VUW)
- Dr Julia Macdonald, Director of Research and Engagement, Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whītau Tūhono
- Andrew Hampton, Director-General, Te Pā Whakamarumaru New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS)
And ‘Leadership in uncertainty: Responding to change and leading reform’ featuring
- Iain Rennie, Secretary and Chief Executive, Te Tai Ōhanga The Treasury, Aotearoa New Zealand
- Grainne Moss, head of the Ministry of Regulation (a new ministry tasked with assessing the quality of existing and new regulation)
- Richard Chambers, Commissioner, Ngā Pirihimana o Aotearoa New Zealand Police
Students from the 2024 cohort then presented their work-based projects, the capstone subject of the EMPA, which sees them work in teams to create an original piece of research on an issue nominated by a public sector agency. The research will influence the future direction of the agency, and students are required to use the skills they have learned throughout the EMPA.
Projects covered strategies to improve recruitment of Aboriginal police officers in the Northern Territory, Empowering WA to lead the global green economy transformation, increasing rates of tree planting and ways for government agencies to be at the forefront of the digital economy.
The week concluded with the graduation ceremony for the 2024 cohort, who will return to their work with a new set of skills, a richer understanding of their roles in the public sector, and greater confidence in their ability to make a difference.
Andrea McBeth, an EMPA graduate and Hamilton Area Regional Commander in the New Zealand Police Force delivered an address to the cohort, that urged them to have confidence in their own abilities.
“Under uncertainty, that's when you have to trust your training. In this room, we are now some of the most highly trained public servants in Australasia. And no one is coming for us to run our organisations,” she said.
“It's up to us. And what we do is really important. It's such a privilege for us to be in leadership and to run the public service.”
Class of 2024 Valedictorian Nicole Berry spoke at the graduation ceremony and thanked her colleagues for helping and inspiring her throughout her EMPA journey.
“There are so many amazing people in this room who have incredible careers in the public service. Every session we've been together, every subject, every trip, there's been so many insightful questions and observations from you all,” she said.
“What I will be taking away from this whole amazing experience is a much clearer sense of what public value is, what it means to me, how it translates into my work, and how I can be the best public servant that I can be.”