Todd Harper
Bachelor of Communication
Lani Wreaks
“Communication is such an essential part of most businesses. You can make such an impact,” says Lani.
Tauranga Student Engagement Lead at Waikato Students' Union (WSU)
Tauranga, New Zealand
As a student at Otūmoetai College in Tauranga, Lani Wreaks had always imagined her future in teaching. But after leaving high school, a casual job in event management sparked a new passion in her.
That led her to enrol in a Bachelor of Communication at the University of Waikato in Hamilton, majoring in Public Relations with a minor in Political Science.
“Communication is such an essential part of most businesses. You can make such an impact,” says Lani.
She chose Waikato for its strong mix of theory and practical, hands-on learning; and quickly found herself working on real projects with real organisations.
Lani describes her university experience as “epic”. A self-described kinaesthetic learner, Lani thrived in interactive classes where she could collaborate and problem-solve with others in person.
Waikato’s Public Relations programme is certified by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), making it one of only a few outside the United States.
As part of her degree, she completed a three-month internship with The Shine Collective, a Bay of Plenty-based communications agency, where she contributed to campaigns for renowned clients, working alongside senior consultants.
She also did a four-month internship with Waikato District Council’s communication and engagement team, with a focus on website content and online engagement. Lani even worked part-time as a member liaison for the Tauranga Business Chamber, sharpening her stakeholder engagement skills.
“These experiences really developed my leadership skills and confirmed that public relations was where I wanted to be,” she says.
Since January 2025, Lani has been working as the Tauranga Student Engagement and Experience Lead for the University of Waikato Students' Union (WSU).
In this fast-paced role, she delivers high-impact student initiatives such as Orientation Week, leads multimedia campaigns, and fosters a vibrant campus community by supporting Tauranga's student clubs and rōpū Māori.
“It combines creativity, strategy and relationship management all in one dynamic role,” says Lani.
