JPA Daily Buzz - Edisi 52 2026

page 2 Upon arrival, I made sure everything was in order. I filled in the NZETA form honestly. I even cleaned my shoes until they looked brand new. Alhamdulillah, I was given access to a fast lane. All because of one thing, honesty. A small act but with a meaningful impact. The first thing I noticed was not the buildings. It was the air. Breathing there felt different. Clean. Light. As if every breath truly reached your lungs. I have my own little way of sensing air quality. It may sound a bit unusual, the colour of “tahi hidung”. In more polluted environments, it tends to be darker, a small reminder of what our body quietly filters every day. One unexpected but meaningful experience was travelling as a group. I never went to boarding school. So doing everything together was new for me. Waking up on schedule. Eating together. Moving together. At first, it felt slightly unfamiliar. But over time, I began to appreciate it. The small laughter. The spontaneous help. The unplanned connection and I realised sometimes, it is not the activity that matters most but the people you go through it with. Throughout the journey, I was accompanied by Puan Nur Sara Que Zana binti Abdullah from Bahagian Perkhidmatan, JPA, and Puan Afidah binti Arshad from Institut Tadbiran Awam Negara (INTAN). At first, I thought they looked quite serious. But getting to know them they were warm and kind. To my surprise, they are more than 10 years senior to me. That was where the learning happened. Experience brings a different kind of calm. A wider perspective. A deeper way of seeing things. One of the most meaningful experiences was visiting the Māori community in Rotorua. We were welcomed with singing and when we left we were sent off with singing. Almost like a prayer. Gentle. Meaningful. What touched me most was how they live their culture. For them, culture is not something kept in museums. It is lived, every day. The Māori language is everywhere. On signboards. In institutions. In daily conversations. They do not just preserve tradition, they ensure the next generation experiences it. Another moment that stayed with me was their traditional greeting known as the hongi. Instead of a handshake, they gently touch nose to nose. A simple gesture but deeply symbolic. It represents the sharing of the “breath of life”. A reminder that we are not just meeting as individuals but connecting as human beings. What I also found meaningful was how they honour and protect women within their cultural practices. From the moment we entered, women were invited to go first. When seated, there was a clear structure. During meals, women were given priority to be seated and begin first before others followed. It was not loud. It was not announced but it was consistent. A quiet form of respect. In a rapidly modern world they have not lost their identity. They have strengthened it. Perhaps that is their true strength, knowing who they are, and living it with intention. We also observed their TVET system. In New Zealand, particularly within Māori communities, education is not just about graduating. It is about ensuring employment. As long as a student has not secured a job, they continue to receive support. Even more inspiring they welcome learners aged 40 to 60. Giving second chances. Giving new hope.