Intern brings Māori culture to Ningbo office

Brandon (left): "It was refreshing and authentic to have gone to China to experience the nation for myself."

Kia ora koutou, ko Brandon Jost-Turei toku ingoa, and I whakapapa to Tainui and Taranaki, but was born and bred in Papakura.

It’s almost unheard of for a South Auckland native to go to China, let alone for that person to live, breathe and excel there daily.

The only impression I had of China prior to going was through the eyes of others, YouTube videos, and what I learned at university.

My Mahi took place in Ningbo (two hours south of Shanghai), China, where, for over 100 days, I worked for United Media Solutions (UMS) as a digital marketing intern.

United Media Solution’s business encompasses marketing consulting, cultural analysis, and social media management.

I thoroughly enjoyed the projects I worked on, completing a plethora of tasks, from creating social media content for UMS themselves to assisting in market research and working with high-value clients.

Brandon (standing second left) with the team at United Media Solution

At the start of my internship, I noticed a strong interest in the office to learn about Māori culture. This immediately provided an opportunity for me to teach the office about my culture.

Truthfully speaking, it took me a little out of my comfort zone, as it’s pretty hefty having to curate a workshop that encapsulates an element of the entire culture while still being Mandarin/Chinese friendly. However, it was gratifying each time we did a cultural exchange, as I took away a multitude of cross-cultural connections between China and Aotearoa, which I hope may foster connections between UMS and Māori organisations.

In Ningbo Brandon made sure to get out and about to meet locals and experience the local culture

There were just too many things that blew me away about China to outline in one article, but the most consistent one was that everyone I spoke to was super excited to meet and talk with a foreigner, or a Laowai as they say.

Everywhere I went there was an intense curiosity as to why I was in China. So much so that it forced me to learn some basic phrases, such as ‘My name is Jost’ and ‘Xinxilan’ (New Zealand).

It was always a pleasant surprise to meet so many people interested in me as I was in them.

Undoubtedly, my absolute highlight was my Lunar New Year festival week, which I spent in Northern China.

It was already a bit of a flex to come back and tell my peers, “I spent this Chinese New Year in China”, showing the pictures of the various sites I visited dating from the birth of modern-day China to ancient artefacts.

However, the week was elevated even more when I was invited to the home of a Chinese business friend to enjoy a family feast of authentic Chinese cuisine. I felt a great deal of manākitanga, which I’ll cherish for a lifetime, acting somewhat as a closing ceremony for my entire time spent in China.

So, now I have garnered a personal perspective on China as a whole from its culture, history, economy and everything in between.

The internship experience has broadened my viable career options, realistically placing China in my sights if I decide to explore postgraduate or working options over there.

I’m forever grateful to the Asia New Zealand Foundation team for giving me a platform to shine abroad. It was refreshing and authentic to have gone to China to experience the nation for myself.

The Foundation's Business Programme supports New Zealand companies to better understand Asia so they can make the most of opportunities in the region. We are also focussed on growing the next generation of Asia-savvy business leaders.

The Foundation's business internship programme helps interns build a better understanding of the people, place and culture of their Asian host country, while developing industry-specific skills that will benefit them as they progress in their careers.