This afternoon, the ninth annual Te Rā Ratonga Tūmatanui | Public Service Day Awards were held at Government House in Wellington.
The awards recognise public servants who exemplify the spirit of service and are making a real difference through their everyday work for New Zealanders. They are held each year on or around Public Service Day which marks the day New Zealand’s first Public Service Act became law on 7 November 1912.
Nine public servants were awarded Te Tohu Ratonga Tūmatanui o Aotearoa | New Zealand Public Service Medal and seven received Te Tohu Amorangi a Te Kawa Mataaho | Public Service Commissioner's Commendation for Excellence. The 16 recipients span 11 agencies and six regions from Northland to Otago.
Leauanae Laulu Mac Leauanae, Secretary for Culture and Heritage, presented the awards and said “Collectively, the recipients of these awards today are a symbol of the great work public servants do every day – often quietly and without recognition. We see that work here this afternoon. We see it in people helping others rebuild their lives, supporting vulnerable New Zealanders, protecting our natural environment, safeguarding our food and tax systems, strengthening our communities, and providing the infrastructure and advice that help New Zealand function.”
Te Tohu Ratonga Tūmatanui o Aotearoa New Zealand Public Service Medal
The New Zealand Public Service Medal is part of the New Zealand Royal Honours system and is awarded to public servants who have given service that’s worthy of merit. Medal recipients are people who demonstrate an outstanding commitment to New Zealand and New Zealanders, they are exemplary Public Service employees and bring significant benefit to New Zealand or the Public Service.
Photo by Mark Tantrum Photography
Congratulations to the recipients of this year’s New Zealand Public Service Medal:
- Hilary Aikman, Principal Advisor Biodiversity at Department of Conservation (Wellington)
- Dr John Crawshaw, Director of Mental Health and Addiction Services at Ministry of Health (Wellington)
- Cynthia Ellis, Learning & Interventions Delivery Manager at Department of Corrections (Waikato)
- Dierdre Fell, Manager Customer Information Requests at Oranga Tamariki (Manawatū-Whanganui)
- Stephen Hemara, Employment & Training Consultant at Department of Corrections (Auckland)
- Andrew Lockhart, National Manager, Refugee & Migrant Support at Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (Auckland)
- Susan Morris, Principal Advisor Residues Assurance at Ministry for Primary Industries (Wellington)
- John Nash, Strategic Advisor, International at Inland Revenue (Wellington)
- Steve Walshe, Senior Analyst, Data Integration at Stats NZ (Wellington)
Te Tohu Amorangi a Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commissioner's Commendation for Excellence
The Public Service Commissioner's Commendation for Excellence is awarded to people in Public Service delivery roles who demonstrate exceptional care and commitment to New Zealanders. They also demonstrate a ‘higher purpose' motivation, the highest standard of integrity and kaitiakitanga, and generate pride in the Public Service.
Photo by Mark Tantrum Photography
Congratulations to the recipients of this year’s Public Service Commissioner's Commendation for Excellence:
- Kalem Blackley, Firefighter, at Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Otago)
- Mary Bythell, Network Engineer at Ministry of Social Development (Wellington)
- Andy Fulbrook, Chief Financial Officer at Ministry of Justice (Wellington)
- Heather Rogers, Case Manager at Ministry of Social Development (Northland)
- Jackie Watson, Business Services Coordinator at Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Auckland)
- Anne Williams, Community Compliance Officer at Inland Revenue (Canterbury)
- Bruce Williams, Principal Advisor, Criminal Law, Criminal Justice Policy at Ministry of Justice (Wellington)
