NZ US COUNCIL PRESS RELEASE:
NZUS Council Mike Moore Congressional Internship Programme 2025
November 2025
The New Zealand United States Council is proud to announce the students selected for the 2025/26 NZUS Council Mike Moore Congressional Internship Programme.
This week the Council and three partnering universities will send five outstanding students to Washington, D.C. where they will spend nine weeks working for Members of Congress. They are:
- Lauren Matthews, University of Canterbury Law School (LLB & BA in Politics & International Relations)
- Matteo Zhang, University of Canterbury Law School (LLB & BA in Politics & International Relations)
- Ben Shea, University of Auckland School of Politics and International Relations (BA Hons Politics & International Relations)
- Sophie Newton, University of Auckland Law School (LLB + BA in Politics & International Relations)
- Ruby Gane, Victoria University of Wellington School of History, Philosophy, Political Science & International Relations (BA Hons Political Science).
The NZUS Council Chair, Jonathan Mason, said “the internship programme provides a rare opportunity for New Zealand university students to gain first-hand experience of American politics. It is designed to help the next generation of New Zealand leaders build a deeper understanding of the USA as well as gaining a deeper appreciation of the value of the bilateral relationship. It fits with our goal of providing platforms for New Zealand and US engagement and fostering close bilateral connections.”
Professor Petra Butler, Executive Dean, UC Law Faculty said “The University of Canterbury Faculty of Law is delighted to participate in this programme that offers our students the unique opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills by interning with members of the United States Congress and Senate. This internship, facilitated by the NZ-US Council, is part of the UC Law Faculty’s commitment to foster global partnerships that strengthen our legal education offerings, whilst simultaneously promoting a deeper understanding of diverse political systems and cultures.”
Dr Erik Lithander, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Strategic Engagement at the University of Auckland said “For New Zealand to successfully navigate the many economic and geopolitical challenges on the horizon, it is more important than ever that our young people are actively engaged in international opportunities such as the Mike Moore Congressional Internship Programme. Our Public Policy Institute, Law School and School of Politics and International Relations are doing phenomenal work in this regard. Together we will make sure that the next generation keeps New Zealand proactive and ambitious on the international stage.”
Victoria University of Wellington Director of the Centre for Strategic Studies Professor David Capie said: “Victoria University of Wellington is delighted to participate in the Mike Moore Congressional Internship Programme in 2025. I know the time the interns spend on Capitol Hill will give them a special appreciation of the breadth and complexity of American politics and further strengthen the people-to-people connections that underpin the New Zealand–United States relationship.”
The Congressional Internship Programme is one of the Council’s flagship programmes. It was originally established by Rt. Hon Mike Moore following the Christchurch earthquakes in 2010–11. The NZUS Council took on responsibility for administering the programme in 2014 and the programme has since been expanded to three universities. Since the first cohort of interns in 2012, more than 40 students have taken part.
This year’s cohort of five students is the largest to date. The interns will depart on 21st November 2025 and will return to New Zealand by February 2026.
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For more information contact:
Fiona Cooper, NZUS Council Executive Director
Email: [email protected] | Phone: +64 (0) 21 934 466