Source: Auckland Council
In December last year, 50 ambitious, wide-eyed twenty-somethings strode into Auckland Council, each wearing an outfit meticulously chosen to scream “hire me!” (or at least whisper it convincingly). Day one was a heady mix of excitement, nerves, and an almost audible chorus of imposter syndrome echoing off the walls. As we exchanged awkward smiles and first-day introductions, one question loomed large: why us?
For three of our interns, the answer lies in their unique stories and unstoppable passion.
Georgia Dennis: a life of green perspectives
Georgia Dennis is the person you’d want to sit next to on a plane — and not just because she’s clocked enough frequent flyer miles to rival a seasoned pilot. From backpacking across South America to attending high school in Italy, Georgia’s experiences have shaped her passion for sustainability.
A small Guatemalan town devoid of plastic opened her eyes to a world without mass production. A month-long conversation with a Venezuelan man in Ecuador taught her how privilege shapes opportunity. Canada showed her how New Zealand leads the way in environmental action. Her most important lesson? Perspective.
Now, pursuing a master’s in environmental management and armed with degrees in physics and philosophy, Georgia is bringing that perspective and purpose to her role.
“Working at Council feels like a way to repay the environment for all we’ve taken from it,” she says. Georgia believes the world isn’t black and white, but if we all embraced a little more “green”, it might just thrive.
Deshma Weerapperuma: passionate about rocks and ripple effects
“I love rocks,” Deshma declared at three, setting the stage for a lifelong passion that’s now guiding her through a degree in Earth Sciences.
Born in Botswana and raised in New Zealand, Deshma’s love for nature is as vast as her hobbies. She climbs mountains despite being terrified of heights, bakes stunning treats through her own pâtisserie business, and plays competitive tennis when she’s not sampling water as a Safeswim intern.
Driving to Auckland’s beaches and waterways for Safeswim makes her work feel like an adventure, blending her passion for the outdoors with meaningful environmental action. Whether she’s scaling rocks or analysing them, Deshma’s enthusiasm reminds us all to chase what we love — even if it’s scary sometimes.
Olivia Wentzell: where wildlife meets waterways
If animals, photography, and travel had a mascot, it would be Olivia Wentzell. Splitting her early years between Montana and Nelson, Olivia developed a “dream big” mindset. Now pursuing a degree in zoology, Olivia balances volunteering at Auckland Zoo and a wild bird hospital with her role on the Overland Flow Path Compliance Team.
Through site visits and stormwater projects, she’s learning how protecting waterways supports biodiversity and marine life. She sees her internship as more than a stepping stone — it’s a chance to make lasting connections while safeguarding New Zealand’s future ecosystems.
The answer to “why us?”
So, why us? Because we care. And that’s what makes all the difference.
It’s not about the miles we’ve travelled, the hobbies we’ve mastered, or the degrees we’re earning. It’s about our shared drive to make a difference. Every one of us, from bakers to backpackers, climbers to conservationists, brings passion to Auckland Council.
So, after 11 weeks packed with hard-work, meetings, and lots of laughter, the 2025 Intern Programme has come to a close.
Clarke Mckinney, Auckland Councils Healthy Waters Recourse Management Team Manager, and the interns work dad, thinks this group of interns has the potential to go far.
“The interns have exceeded all expectations: their curiosity, passion and skill have brought immense value to the council, and we look forward to repeating the success of this programme next year!”
More information on Auckland Council’s graduate programme is available via the Auckland Council Careers website.
Written by Auckland Council intern Kaavya Ghoshal of Healthy Waters.