Creating positive change through new approaches and technologies

This year's Te Tohu Auaha Hou​ | Innovation Award winner and finalists at Te Hāpai Hapori | Spirit of Service Awards are creating positive change through new approaches and technologies. Read more about these innovative initiatives below.

Ministry for Primary Industries

Biosecurity New Zealand has led an innovative response to the incursion of the yellow-legged hornet in Auckland. The response combines AI-enabled detection, advanced surveillance, tracking technology, and large-scale field operations alongside partnerships with communities, industry, and international experts.

The programme has deployed over 2,300 traps, nearly 12,000 protein bait stations, 10 AI detection cameras, and 200 radio trackers. More than 18,300 notifications and support from more than 430 apiaries have helped extend the reach of the operation.

By combining technology, field delivery and community participation, the response demonstrates a new approach to biosecurity surveillance and response.

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora

HealthX, Health New Zealand's innovation programme, finds, assesses, and scales clinician-led digital and AI tools.

Since launching in September 2025, it has introduced twelve initiatives ranging from AI-assisted clinical documentation to remote patient monitoring, helping bring proven innovations into everyday care. AI scribe technology has been deployed across New Zealand's emergency departments, reaching 1,250 clinicians across 39 hospitals.

As a result, Clinicians at Middlemore Hospital have reported improvements in documentation and wellbeing, alongside more time for patient care. Through clinical leadership, governance, and assurance, HealthX demonstrates how proven solutions can be scaled safely and effectively across the health system.

Ministry of Justice

The Ministry of Justice Commercial Services team has used AI agents to transform a traditionally manual and document-heavy approach to contract management.

Working with Digital team colleagues, they developed a low-cost solution that automates the reconstruction of complex contract histories while retaining mandatory human validation and governance. The system retrieves and synthesises information from contracts, variations, statements of work and correspondence to create structured contract management plans.

Delivered using existing licences, the initiative has saved hundreds of hours across high-risk and high-value contracts while improving consistency, transparency and decision-making. It demonstrates a practical approach to responsible AI adoption in the public service.

Te Hāpai Hapori | Spirit of Service Awards are our annual awards that recognise initiatives and individuals delivering great outcomes for New Zealand and New Zealanders. The winners were announced on Thursday 1 October.

The awards are made possible thanks to the generous support of our sponsors Deloitte, ANZSOG – The Australia and New Zealand School of Government and DXC Technology Australia and New Zealand.