The awards are open to any public servant currently employed in the New Zealand Public Service. The Public Service includes departments and departmental agencies listed in Schedule 2 of the Public Service Act 2020 and the Crown agents listed in Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Crown Entities Act 2004.

Nominations are now open for Te Rā Ratonga Tūmatanui Public Service Day Awards

Please note nominations are accepted all year round but are due by the date published here on our webpage. We encourage agencies to submit no more than two nominations for these awards each year.

Nomination Form

Ngā rā nui Important dates 2025

These dates are approximate and will be updated once confirmed.

  • Now – Nominations open
  • Early August – Nominations due
  • Early September – Selection panel meets
  • End September – Recipients and agencies notified
  • Early November – Awards ceremony

Ngā Pae Kaiwhakawā Selection Panel

  • Rebecca KitteridgeDeputy Public Service Commissioner

    Te Kawa Mataaho | Public Service Commission 

    Rebecca is Deputy Public Service Commissioner, working closely with the Public Service Commissioner to provide leadership and oversight of the Public Service. From March 2023 to April 2024, Rebecca stepped into the role of acting Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and Chief Executive from her substantive role at the Commission. Prior to this, Rebecca was Director-General of Security and Chief Executive, New Zealand Security Intelligence Service. 

  • Nicola Purvis Deputy Secretary of the Cabinet

    Te Tari o te Pirimia me te Komiti Matua | Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet 

    Nicola is the Deputy Secretary of the Cabinet (Constitutional and Honours) at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, taking up the role in February 2023. Prior to this role, she was the Legal and Insurance Lead, Three Waters National Transition Unit at Department of Internal Affairs. She has also previously held the role of Chief Legal Officer at Te Kawa Mataaho | Public Service Commission. 

  • Gerardine Clifford-LidstoneSecretary for Pacific Peoples

    Te Manatū mō ngā iwi ō te Moana-nui-ā-Kiwa | Ministry for Pacific Peoples 

    Gerardine became the Secretary for the Ministry for Pacific Peoples in February 2023. Gerardine brings a strong combination of public service and community networks, expertise, and experience. She joined the Ministry following her role as the Director of Pacific Health at the Ministry of Health. During her tenure, she led the cross-agency Pacific response to COVID-19 and the Pacific functions within Health New Zealand. Gerardine also held the role of General Manager of Child, Youth Commissioning and Localities at the Capital and Coast District Health Board.  

  • Mervin Singham Chief Executive

    Te Tari Mātāwaka | Ministry for Ethnic Communities  

    Mervin is the first Chief Executive of the Ministry for Ethnic Communities. Prior to this, he led the Office of Ethnic Affairs. He was the Executive Director at the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions. Mervin has held several executive leadership roles at the Department of Internal Affairs, including Deputy Chief Executive - Stewardship and Organisational Sustainability and Deputy Chief Executive - Strategy and Governance. 

  • Hoani Lambert Deputy Chief Executive, Enterprise Partnerships

    Te Tari Taiwhenua | Department of Internal Affairs 

    Hoani Lambert (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Porou) is Deputy Chief Executive for Enterprise Partnerships at Te Tari Taiwhenua – Department of Internal Affairs. In this role, Hoani oversees several functions and entities, including the National Library, Archives New Zealand and Ministerial Services. He is also responsible for the delivery of the new archives facility that will be connected to the National Library to create a new heritage campus. Prior to joining DIA, Hoani was Tamariki Advocate, Deputy Chief Executive Voices of Children at Oranga Tamariki – Ministry for Children. He has also held senior roles at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (now MPI). 

  • Andrew Hampton Director-General of Security

    Te Pā Whakamarumaru | New Zealand Security Intelligence Service 

    Andrew is the Director- General of Security and Chief Executive, New Zealand Security Intelligence Service. Prior to this role,  Andrew was Director-General of the Government Communications and Security Bureau (GCSB) for seven years. His previous roles include Director of the Office of Treaty Settlements, Deputy Secretary for Courts, and Deputy Chief Executive at the Crown Law Office. Andrew was also Deputy Secretary and Director of the Secretary’s Office at the Ministry of Education. As the first Government Chief Talent Officer at the Public Service Commission, Andrew was responsible for identifying talented people in state services and strategically developing their skills and experience. 

Ngā wāhanga tohu Award categories

  • Te Tohu Ratonga Tūmatanui o Aotearoa | The New Zealand Public Service Medal

    The New Zealand Public Service Medal 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
    • are exemplary, or a model for other Public Service employees
    • bring significant benefit to New Zealand or the Public Service
    • are exceptional and otherwise worthy of recognition.

    The New Zealand Public Service Medal was established by Royal Warrant in 2018 and is part of the New Zealand Royal Honours system.

  • Te Tohu Amorangi a Te Kawa Mataaho | Public Service Commissioner's Commendation for Excellence

    The Public Service Commissioner's Commendation for Excellence is awarded for outstanding spirit of service shown by a public servant. Nominees for this commendation will be those in Public Service delivery roles, such as frontline, operational, policy, corporate, technical or specialist. These people are responsible for the delivery of work rather than its management.

    Commendation recipients are people who:

    • demonstrate exceptional care and commitment to New Zealanders, and a ‘higher purpose' motivation
    • demonstrate the highest standard of integrity, kaitiakitanga, and the right attitude
    • generate pride in the Public Service.

Puka tapatanga me ngā aratohu Nomination forms and guidelines

  • Eligibility

    The awards are open to any public servant currently employed in the New Zealand Public Service. The Public Service includes departments and departmental agencies listed in Schedule 2 of the Public Service Act 2020 and the Crown agents listed in Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Crown Entities Act 2004.

  • Nomination Process

    Step 1. Nomination Form 

    Complete the nomination form and obtain endorsement from the chief executive or board chair. This nomination form is for both award categories. The Selection Panel will decide which award category is most suitable for each successful recipient.  

    PSDA Nomination Form(PDF, 213 KB)

    Step 2. Support Letters 

    Supply two to three letters of support for your nominee. 

    Step 3. Submit your nomination form

     awards@publicservice.govt.nz.

    We will be in touch!  

  • Supporting Information

    Please supply at two or three support letters for each person you are nominating. Letters of support can be from colleagues, stakeholders and/or members of the public. They should be from people who are familiar with the nominee’s service. Letters cannot be accepted from the chief executive or board chair that is nominating them.

    It is important to note ‘Positions held’ previously if known.

    Recipients of these awards will be asked to complete a sounding form to confirm their acceptance and consent to further integrity checks, including of their HR file and a Ministry of Justice criminal history check. The purpose of the integrity checks is to ensure the recipients demonstrate the highest standards of integrity and kaitiakitanga.

     

  • Selection Process

    The Public Service Day Awards Selection Panel recommends award recipients to the Public Service Commissioner. The panel has a minimum of six members and is chaired by a Statutory Public Service Commissioner. At least one member represents the Cabinet Office and the remaining members are Public Service chief executives, board chairs, or senior public servants.

Te hoahoa o ngā tohu Award design

Both the Public Service Medal and the Commendation lapel pin carry the design of the Māori Poutama or step design found in Tukutuku wall panels. These allude to the 'stairway to heaven' or in this instance the 'steps of service'.

The basic medal ribbon design is that of the Imperial Service Order (ISO) and associated Imperial Service Medal (ISM) with the addition of narrow white edges. The red or red ochre and white provides a link to the red ochre, like in the ribbon of the Queen's Service Order (QSO) and Queen's Service Medal (QSM). Overall there is a link to the historic distinctive civil or public service honours, the Imperial Service Order and associated Medal.

The Imperial Service Order was essentially a medal for public servants, so it's appropriate that the new medal ribbon is similar. Members of the administrative or clerical branches of the civil service were eligible for appointment to the Order after at least 25 years' meritorious service, if serving in the United Kingdom or 16 years if serving in Commonwealth countries, including New Zealand.

Whakapā mai Contact

Email: awards@publicservice.govt.nz

The Spirit of Service team is available to assist with any queries you have regarding public service awards and recognition.

We engage with key contacts at each government agency throughout the year about the awards programme. Please contact us if you have any questions.