Healthy Homes Initiative wins Prime Minister’s ‘Spirit of Service’ Award

The Spirit of Service Awards celebrate outstanding public services delivering great outcomes for New Zealand.

The Prime Minister’s Award is the overall winner and is selected from the winners of the Better Outcomes, Service Excellence, Māori/Crown Relationships and Leadership in Governance categories.

The Healthy Homes Initiative was a collaborative effort led by the Ministry of Health with Housing New Zealand, Ministry of Social Development, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority and Auckland Council.

The initiative aims to help reduce hospitalisations by helping to create warm, dry, healthy homes for low-income families. It has helped to do this by delivering more than 46,000 housing interventions to 16,000 families.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the Healthy Homes Initiative is exactly what public service is all about; delivering great results with heart.

“Public servants do great work every day to make New Zealand better and improve the wellbeing of New Zealanders and this is a great example of identifying a role for government to find solutions,” said the Prime Minister.

“Whenever I work with public servants, I sense a common purpose and belonging. The Public Service values that spirit of service to the community that I have always believed in.”

Minister of State Services Chris Hipkins said the Awards celebrate world-class leadership, outstanding public services and cross-agency initiatives underpinned by a spirit of service.

Mr Hipkins said the Public Service is a place where a good idea can touch the lives of millions of New Zealanders.

“Public services protect the vulnerable and help to improve everyone’s quality of life,” said Mr Hipkins.

“They are essential to our economic development and prosperity. They strengthen our communities and bind us together as a society. Each recipient of these Spirit of Service Awards has demonstrated passion and commitment every day.”

State Services Commissioner Peter Hughes said it was important to acknowledge and reward excellence in the Public Service.

“I really believe in the power of awards and recognition,” said Mr Hughes.

“Public servants go about their work quietly without expecting any thanks. They work hard for New Zealanders. They come to work wanting to do the best job they can for their communities. The select few who go the extra mile and make a real difference to their country deserve recognition and reward.”

The Spirit of Service Awards

Note for editors: Please contact the winning agencies for more details.

Media queries: Grahame Armstrong 021 940 457 or grahame.armstrong@publicservice.govt.nz