Since 2019, Te Tohu Manawaroa a Te Kawa Mataaho | the Public Service Commissioner's Commendation for Service recognises public servants who have served 30, 40, and 50 years in the Public Service. As of May 2023, it also recognises those who have served 45 and 55 years in the Public Service. These individuals have committed their careers to serving New Zealanders.

Nominations

Eligible nominees are employees and chief executives of: 

Nominations can be made at any time. There are four nomination deadlines each year, with certificates printed and sent to agencies approximately one month after each round closing.  

Criteria

Nominees must: 

  • Have completed 30, 40, 45, 50 or 55 years of service 
  • Be currently employed by a Public Service department, departmental agency or Crown agent 
  • Have their nomination endorsed by their chief executive or Board chair 
  • Have no known integrity issues that could bring the Public Service into disrepute 
  • Have reached their service milestone on or after 10 December 2019 (when the award was introduced). 

Retrospective certificates are only issued in special circumstances, e.g. an employee with 32 years’ service who is about to retire may be issued a 30-year certificate at the chief executive’s request.  

Process

  • Submit completed nomination forms by email to awards@publicservice.govt.nz before the deadline.  
  • The four deadlines for printing are published on our website.  
  • Please plan ahead for any upcoming anniversaries, e.g. retirement, special occasions.  
  • We will confirm receipt of nominations 
  • Notify awards@publicservice.govt.nz if any nomination details change. 

Delivery

  • We will deliver a printed certificate, signed by the Public Service Commissioner, to your Head Office
  • The certificate will be delivered in a presentation folder
  • Agencies are responsible for framing and presenting the certificate.

Dates

Closing dates for 2026 print runs are:

  • 13 February 2026
  • 15 May 2026
  • 14 August 2026
  • 13 November 2026

Forms

Below is the nomination form and guidelines for Te Tohu Manawaroa a Te Kawa Mataaho | the Public Service Commissioner’s Commendation for Service.

Nomination form (206 KB | PDF)(PDF, 96 KB)

FAQ

  • Are Autonomous Crown Entities and Independent Crown Entities eligible for the Public Service Commissioner’s Commendation for Service?

    Eligible organisations for the commendation are those agencies of the Public Service as defined in the Public Service Act 2020. That is: 

    • Departments 
    • Departmental agencies 
    • Interdepartmental executive boards 
    • Interdepartmental ventures, and 
    • Crown agents. 

    Generally, this eligibility aligns with recognition of service provisions in Public Service employment arrangements. Some agencies may have a broader scope in their recognition of service provisions, and we accept those exceptions as they arise.  

    If your agency is not eligible for this programme, we would recommend that you mark milestones in meaningful ways, such as: 

    • A personalised letter or certificate signed by your Chief Executive or Board Chair – this is likely to be more personal and heartfelt as they can speak to specific achievements and value the person has brought to the organisation. 
    • A farewell gathering to highlight the individual’s impact and achievements. 
    • A profile or story shared internally to celebrate their contribution and inspire others. 

  • Does service need to be continuous?

    Service can be broken, allowing for career breaks, parental leave, or sabbaticals. There is no limit on how long service can be broken, as long as the cumulative total meets the milestone. 

  • Can we make a bulk nomination for multiple staff at once?

    Yes. There is no limit on the number of staff you can nominate. Agencies can submit a spreadsheet with the required details and Chief Executive approval instead of individual forms. A template spreadsheet is available on request.  

  • Can certificates be issued retrospectively?

    Retrospective nominations are considered on a case-by-case basis. Common reasons include: 

    • Retirement 
    • Role disestablishment or redundancy 
    • Agency restructuring 

    Please note that the employee still needs to reach the relevant milestone.  

  • What if an employee is retiring or close to their next milestone?

    Official certificates are only issued for specific milestones: 30, 40, 45, 50, and 55 years. 
    If someone is near a higher milestone (e.g. 38 years approaching 40), it’s better to wait for the next milestone rather than issue a lower one retrospectively.

    If an employee is retiring and has not reached the next milestone, they will receive a certificate for the previous milestone achieved. For example, someone with 36 years of service will receive a 30-year certificate, dated to when they reached that milestone—not their retirement date. 
    Agencies are welcome to acknowledge full service internally. 

  • Can we request a certificate for 60 years of service?

    Yes, 60-year certificates can be arranged on request. 

  • Can we request a letter signed by the Commissioner instead of a certificate?

    No. Providing letters of commendation instead of certificates would create inconsistency with the awards programme.  

  • Can you provide a list of employees from my agency who have received commendations since the programme started?

    Yes, please get in touch at awards@publicservice.govt.nz to request this.