Alumni Spotlight: Pursuing Opportunity in Forestry and Leadership
At Rochester and Rutherford Hall, one of our core values is Opportunities, and 2023 alumna Rakairoa Joyce embodies this value in every sense.
While living in Wilson House, Rakairoa served as a Sports Representative, bringing initiative, and encouragement to Hall life. Now, as a Bachelor of Forestry Engineering (Hons) student at the University of Canterbury, she continues to embrace every opportunity that comes her way - through internships, leadership positions and volunteering.
Over the summer, Rakairoa was selected for Fletcher Construction’s internship programme, where she was placed with Higgins on the Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) Alliance; a major recovery initiative formed in response to the devastation caused by Cyclone Gabrielle.
Working on the recovery of Devil’s Elbow on State Highway 2, she collaborated with site and project engineers and gained firsthand insight into the diverse responsibilities of engineers, from health and safety and quality assurance to iwi engagement and environmental compliance. Rakairoa came away with not just new technical skills but a stronger sense of confidence and purpose, along with connections she hopes to cross paths with again in the future.
Most recently, she took on a two-week forestry internship with Aratu Forests Limited in the Gisborne region, one of the most geographically challenging areas in the country. There, she operated drones, observed lime stabilisation in road construction, and learned about land rehabilitation following cyclone damage. “This opportunity was incredibly valuable,” she said, and she’s already looking forward to returning to the team next summer.
Outside of her academic and professional pursuits, Rakairoa is also heavily involved in student life. She currently serves as President of the UC Squash Club, fostering community and encouraging participation in the sport she loves. She also contributes to the Student Volunteer Army as an Events Marketer, helping to connect students with meaningful volunteer opportunities.
From her time at Rochester and Rutherford Hall to her current work across engineering, forestry, and student life, Rakairoa has shown how valuable it can be to make the most of every opportunity. Her journey reflects the wide-ranging impact students can have when they stay open, proactive, and engaged, both during and after their time at R&R.