Instead of spending their time holidaying, the students picked for the programme found themselves undertaking activities such as sitting through lengthy annual plan meetings and working on Dunedin City Council policy.
While such activities might not be to every student's taste, for Will Cosgriff it has provided a useful view of possible career paths.
Of his time sitting in on the annual plan discussions, where councillors knuckle down to set the budget and the rates for the next financial year, Mr Cosgriff (22) said: ''I wouldn't call it boring. There's some interesting debate going on.''
Council corporate policy manager Maria Ioannou said that
the interns ''definitely bring things that we use''.
That was not just the work they did, but what Ms Ioannou described as ''fresh thinking''.
''In any big organisation if you've been there long enough you think in a certain way; it's human nature.
''Having people coming in and out helps keep our thinking fresh.''
The council this summer had ''formalised'' a programme that had been more ad hoc in the past.
From ''quite a few'' applications, the council interviewed students before placing successful applicants in areas based on their particular skills and interests.
That meant ''great quality interns'', Ms Ioannou said.
''That's worked really well.''
Ms Ioannou said the programme ran from November to mid-February.
The interns, who were paid for their work, spent time in areas including city development, resource consents, corporate policy and parks and recreation.
''Our interns complete key work for the city during their time with us, often pushing projects forward faster and bringing fresh perspectives to the table.
''In return, the interns can explore work in local government and gain valuable work experience to support their future careers.''
Mr Cosgriff, who was in his fifth year of university studies completing a BA in politics and economics, then an honours degree in law, said he had already done one internship with the council, working on a project on pesticide use.
He was working in the policy department over summer looking at ''significant forecasting assumptions'' for the long-term plan.
Of his plans post-university, he hoped to work ''in the government or consultancy''.
''I don't think I want to be a lawyer at this stage, but I certainly won't cross it off the list.''
He said the internship had sparked an interest in government, and in policy analysis.
''I didn't have too much understanding of what goes into it, so that's been interesting.''
