Te Hāpai Hapori/Spirit of Service awards honour public sector excellence in Aotearoa New Zealand
28 September 2022
● News and media
The tireless work of Aotearoa New Zealand’s public sector in caring for the community during COVID-19, resettling refugees from Afghanistan, a preventative health program, and establishing the inaugural Matariki (Māori new year) public holiday have been recognised in the annual Te Hāpai Hapori/ Spirit of Service awards.
Aotearoa New Zealand Public Service Commissioner and ANZSOG Board member and previous Chair, Peter Hughes said it was important to acknowledge public servants who were delivering for communities.
“Thousands of public servants go above and beyond to deliver essential services to the communities of Aotearoa New Zealand. These Awards are about recognising exemplary work that embodies the spirit of service. It is work like this that makes a real difference in our country,” Mr Hughes said.
ANZSOG is a sponsor of the Awards. ANZSOG Dean and CEO, Professor Ken Smith, presented the Māori Crown Relationships Award.
Lil Anderson, ANZSOG Teaching and Research Fellow on secondment from her role as CEO of Te Arawhiti/ Office for Māori Crown Relations, served as part of the judging panel. The ANZSOG contingent at the awards included The Australian high Commissioner to New Zealand, Her Excellency Harinder Sidhu, Sally Washington our Director in Aotearoa and Dr Chris Walker, EMPA Academic Director.
Image (L-R): Dr Chris Walker, Sally Washington, Harinder Sidhu (Australian High Commissioner to Aotearoa New Zealand) and Professor Ken Smith
Following the event Professor Smith said the award winners exemplified government departments working together towards a common goal and often in genuine collaboration with Māori and the not-for-profit sector.
“The word ‘heart’ came up a lot at the awards event – this shows that the spirit of service involves the hearts as well as the minds of public servants aimed at seamlessly serving the New Zealand community,” he said.
The five Spirit of Service award categories were:
- Te Tohu mō te Ratonga Whakahirahira | Service Excellence Award
- Te Tohu mō ngā Hua E Pai Ake Ana | Better Outcomes Award
- Te Tohu mō te Kaiārahi Mahi Whakahaere | Leadership in Governance Award
- Te Tohu mō te Tūhonotanga a Ngāi Māori me te Karauna | Māori Crown Relationships Award
- Te Tohu mō te Kaiārahi Rangatahi o te Tau | Young Leader of the Year Award
In addition, the awards included the Te Tohu Oranga Angitū | Lifetime Achievement Award, honouring an individual chosen by the Public Service Commissioner who has made an exceptional contribution to Aotearoa New Zealand or their community and who exemplifies a spirit of service.
The top overall award, Te Tohu a te Pirimia | The Prime Minister’s Award was jointly awarded to: Ministry of Social Development, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Ministry of Health, Department of Internal Affairs, Ministry for Pacific Peoples, Ministry of Education, Te Arawhiti, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Ministry for Ethnic Communities, Te Puni Kōkiri and Kāinga Ora for the unified response across the Public Service to keep communities safe during isolation with COVID-19, exemplifying a locally-led, nationally-supported model that ensured people had access to food, health, housing, and welfare services that enabled them to isolate at home when they needed to.
Mr Hughes said the work of these agencies was ‘the spirit of service in action’.
“All of them worked together to ensure people were supported when isolating from COVID-19 at home. This exercise required an absolute and total understanding of the needs of these individuals, their families and their communities. It required a commitment to partnership with communities and local providers who needed a range of support during a really challenging period,” he said.
The awards were announced in Wellington on 15 September. Winners of the awards are listed below, for a full list of nominees and more information on the awards, visit the Te Hāpai Hapori website.
Te Tohu mō te Ratonga Whakahirahira/ Service Excellence Award
Two finalists have been chosen as joint winners of the Service Excellence Award. They have both demonstrated outstanding dedication and commitment to the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders.
National Bowel Screening Programme
- Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health – National Screening Unit
The National Bowel Screening Programme is a service that continually adapts technology and outreach to ensure equitable health outcomes for all communities.
Aotearoa New Zealand has one of the highest bowel cancer rates in the world. The National Screening Unit worked tirelessly to establish this programme in 2017 to address this.
The screening programme is now accessible to over 835,000 New Zealanders. The team has created at home test kits, a nationwide register, and have ensured all health regions in Aotearoa New Zealand are well equipped to provide quality care to those impacted by Bowel Cancer.
This innovative programme saves lives and has a strong focus on increasing accessibility, early prevention, and detection.
Care in the Community Welfare Response
- Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora | Ministry of Social Development
- Hīkina Whakatutuki | Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
- Kāinga Ora | Homes and Communities
- Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health
- Te Arawhiti | The Office for Māori Crown Relations
- Te Manatū mō ngā Iwi ō te Moana-nui-ā-Kiwa | Ministry for Pacific Peoples
- Te Puni Kōkiri | Ministry of Māori Development
- Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga | Ministry of Education
- Te Tari Mātāwaka | Ministry for Ethnic Communities
- Te Tari Taiwhenua | Department of Internal Affairs
- Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga | Ministry of Housing and Urban Development
The Care in the Community Welfare joint agency response (CiC) was a unified response across the Public Service to keep communities safe while isolating from COVID-19. CiC supported New Zealanders with food, essential welfare, and health support.
Partnerships with suppliers and providers were established, and processes were set up to ensure they reflected the needs of the communities they served. This helped to identify potential barriers to isolating.
This collaboration demonstrated a locally led, nationally supported model that serves as an exemplar for future service delivery approaches.
Te Tohu mō ngā Hua E Pai Ake Ana/ Better Outcomes Award
Winner
Afghanistan Resettlement Response
- Hīkina Whakatutuki | Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
- Manatū Aorere | Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora | Ministry of Social Development
- Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga | Ministry of Housing and Urban Development
- Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health
- Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga | Ministry of Education
- Te Tari Mātāwaka | Ministry for Ethnic Communities
- Ngā Pirihimana o Aotearoa | New Zealand Police
- Oranga Tamariki | Ministry for Children
- Kāinga Ora | Homes and Communities
- Te Tai Ōhanga | The Treasury
- Rīpeka Whero Aotearoa | New Zealand Red Cross
- Waikato Refugee Forum
- Christchurch Resettlement Services
- New Settlers Family and Community Trust
- Manawatu Multicultural Council
- ChangeMakers Resettlement Forum
The Afghanistan Resettlement Response exemplifies adaptability, agility, and collaboration across the Public Service. This response was delivered at pace to ensure the safe arrival of over 1700 evacuees to Aotearoa New Zealand. Agencies and groups worked around the clock to provide on the ground support and unprecedented resettlement services.
This effort was informed by the voices of the communities impacted by this crisis. Through ambiguity and the challenges of COVID-19, this joint agency team provided critical support for families in need.
Te Tohu mō te Kaiārahi Mahi Whakahaere/ Leadership in Governance Award
Winner
Establishing a partnership: the Taumata Arowai Board and Te Puna
- Taumata Arowai
Taumata Arowai is a new Crown Entity that demonstrates a commitment to upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi through partnership with Te Puna, the Māori Advisory Group. This partnership serves as an exemplar of strategic, practical, and successful governance.
At the foundation of this partnership is collaboration, ensuring each decision and process is done in a transparent and open manner. Together, Taumata Arowai and Te Puna work towards their vision of ‘Safe water every day for everyone – Tiakina te wai, hei oranga te katoa.’
Te Tohu mō te Tūhonotanga a Ngāi Māori me te Karauna/ Māori Crown Relationships Award
Winner
Te Kāhui o Matariki – a Māori Crown journey from creating to celebrating a new public holiday
- Te Arawhiti | The Office for Māori Crown Relations
- Hīkina Whakatutuki | Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
- Manatū Taonga | Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Te Kāhui o Matariki – a Māori Crown journey from creating to celebrating a new public holiday, is an example of strengthening Māori Crown relationships in a way that empowers mātauranga Māori. This is an exemplar for Māori led, Crown supported legislation that centres the voices of tangata whenua and considers facets of regional and Māori cultural differences.
Through collaboration, this legislation outlines the importance of Matariki to Māori and the guiding principles and values that shape its celebration. Matariki is a taonga that strengthens Aotearoa’s nationhood and builds a deeper sense of appreciation for our history, tikanga Māori and te ao Māori.
Te Tohu mō te Kaiārahi Rangatahi o te Tau/ Young Leader of the Year Award
Winner
Mary Soonaoso Tiumalu (she/her)
- Te Manatū mō ngā Iwi ō te Moana-nui-ā-Kiwa | Ministry for Pacific Peoples
Mary is a selfless leader who works to create real and long-lasting change for Pacific communities in Aotearoa New Zealand. Mary led the development of the first ever Pacific Languages Strategy, a landmark policy that paves the way for future generations.
She has overseen the Leo Moana o Aotearoa Project to provide essential insight for effective and efficient language planning efforts. Her spirit of service is underpinned by the values of Alofa (compassion for others), Fa’aaloalo (building trust and respect), and Tauata’i (exemplary leadership). Mary is always willing to share her knowledge and advocate for other young leaders.
Te Tohu Oranga Angitū/ Lifetime Achievement Award
Peter Lorimer ONZM
Peter is a career public servant who truly embodies the spirit of service. His service has been dedicated to strengthening the institutions of constitutional and democratic government and working for the benefit of all New Zealanders.
At the heart of all Peter does is a desire to create a Public Service that delivers for all New Zealanders. His expertise is widely recognised and sought out within the Treasury, across the public service, and beyond. Peter demonstrates humility through the dedication of his time, and he lives the public service principles of political neutrality and free and frank advice every day. He has supported successive generations of officials to instil the intent of the financial management system.
Peter’s knowledge and leadership has been pivotal in the development of significant fiscal reform over more than three decades. He has been a guardian of public financial management, ensuring it remains relevant and supports New Zealand’s wellbeing, most recently, through the Canterbury Earthquakes and COVID-19 pandemic.
Peter is a strong advocate for financial stewardship, accountability, and the important role the public service plays in supporting Ministers and Parliament for the benefit of New Zealanders. His intellectual curiosity, personal integrity, and desire to help others exemplify the ethos of the public service. He is a worthy recipient of the Spirit of Service Lifetime Achievement Award.
Hei Tūtohu i te Hiranga o te Mahi Kaupapa Here/ Special Commendation for Policy Excellence
This commendation celebrates agile, comprehensive, and collaborative policy development that has contributed to the wellbeing of New Zealanders.
Strategy and Policy COVID-19 Group
- Te Tari o te Pirimia me te Komiti Matua | Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
The Strategy and Policy COVID-19 Group have shown unwavering commitment to New Zealanders by consistently providing robust system-level advice and delivering policy into legislation at pace. This group developed and advanced key strategic responses such as the Alert Level framework, COVID-19 Protection Framework, and the post-winter 2022 Strategy.
They have drafted over 250 briefings and Cabinet papers and 73 Legal Orders and Amendments. This agile response has made significant contributions to the economic, social, and fiscal outcomes for Aotearoa New Zealand, all achieved during a time of unprecedented challenges and rapidly changing circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.