Te Hāpai Hapori Spirit of Service Awards 2020

Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern announced Te Tohu a te Pirimia | the Prime Minister’s Award, selected from the winners of the Te Tohu mō ngā Hua E Pai Ake Ana | Better Outcomes, Te Tohu mō te Ratonga Whakahirahira | Service Excellence, Te Tohu mō te Tūhonotanga a Ngāi Māori me te Karauna | Māori Crown Relationships and Te Tohu mō te Kaiārahi Mahi Whakahaere | Leadership in Governance categories. Te Tohu a te Pirimia | Prime Minister’s Award 2020 was presented to the winners of the Te Tohu mō te Kaiārahi Mahi Whakahaere  | Leadership in Governance category.

Winner

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, KiwiRail, North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery Alliance, Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura

The Moving Mountains Kaikōura infrastructure project

The winners of Te Tohu mō te Kaiārahi Mahi Whakahaere | the Leadership in Governance Award took a transparent and innovative approach to governance that delivered a hugely complex and challenging project. They introduced one governance structure that also brought in private sector partners. The Board adopted a kaupapa of people first, recognised local iwi as a Te Tiriti o Waitangi partner, integrated the project into the community and focused on results that delivered value for money and openly shared information and risk. This model of governance of large infrastructure projects is now being used across $6.8 million of work from Queenstown to Whangarei.

Winners

Tahū o te Ture | Ministry of Justice, Nga Pirihimana O Aotearoa | New Zealand Police and Ara Poutama Aotearoa | Department of Corrections

Delivering justice services in support of the Christchurch Mosques sentencing

The winners of Te Tohu mō te Ratonga Whakahirahira | the Service Excellence Award poured their hearts and souls into their work in an unprecedented response that demonstrated New Zealand’s court system at its finest. Their innovative, culturally informed, victim-focused efforts, which continued through changing COVID-19 alert levels, shows the huge difference that can be made for victims, without the need to change legislation. They exemplified what is possible when public servants work together with compassion, flexibility, and outstanding spirit of service.

Finalists

• Te Tari Taiwhenua | Department of Internal Affairs and Rīpeka Whero Aotearoa | NZ Red Cross for Foreign Nationals Programme – Rapidly establishing and delivering a programme to support more than 4,900 foreign nationals in Aotearoa New Zealand during COVID lockdown.
• Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga | Ministry of Education for Te Manawa Tahi – New Learning Support delivery model in Tai Tokerau, co-designed with whānau to provide fast, accessible and reliable services for tamariki through mobile service hubs based in their communities.
• New Zealand Food Safety, Manatū Ahu Matua | Ministry for Primary Industries for Food Act Implementation Programme “Kitchens don’t make safe food. People do” – Transforming the way food safety is regulated using customer centricity – making it easier and cheaper for 32,400+ businesses to follow food rules and protect customers from foodborne illnesses.
• Ngā Pirihimana o Aotearoa | New Zealand Police for the number’s 105 – making life easier for the public – More than 60 years on from the first 111 call, a new non-emergency number and online digital platform is delivering a step-change in the police service everyone expects and deserves.

Judging panel

• Lil Anderson (co-chair), Tumu Whakarae, Te Arawhiti | Office for Māori Crown Relations
• Hannah Cameron (co-chair), Kaikōmihana Tuarua, Te Tohutohu Rautaki me te Kaupapa Here | Deputy Commissioner, Strategy & Policy, Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission
• Isabel Evans, Director of Education, Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga | Ministry of Education
• John Henderson, Regional Commissioner for Social Development, Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora | Ministry of Social Development

Proudly sponsored by Westpac

Joint winners

Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora | Ministry of Social Development

Whole of MSD response to COVID-19

The judges chose the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) as joint winners for the spirit of service shown by staff who put people first and used technology to rapidly transform the way they work. Within three weeks of Level 4 lockdown MSD had moved their service to online and over the phone and achieved better response levels than before the COVID pandemic. More than 7500 New Zealanders were placed in work in June 2020, a 40% increase on the same month last year. At the same time, twice as many New Zealanders were placed into emergency housing and the MSD team checked in on 150,000 elderly New Zealanders. Rapid implementation of wrap around services, including counselling and sexual and family violence help, improved safety and wellbeing outcomes for 1.3 million New Zealanders.

Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora | Ministry of Social Development, Te Tari Taake | Inland Revenue, Hīkina Whakatutuki | Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and Te Tai Ōhanga | The Treasury

Supporting New Zealand businesses during the COVID-19 lockdown

The judges chose these agencies as joint winners for the collaborative spirit of service shown by the team in delivering the biggest change to the personal income tax system in a generation and providing support to half a million businesses to keep 1.8 million New Zealanders in work during the COVID-19 lockdown.

In just 18 days The Treasury and Inland Revenue designed and implemented a loan scheme that has helped more than 92,000 small business owners manage through the COVID-19 crisis. More than $1.5 billion has been lent, mostly within 24 hours of a business applying.

The MSD team worked with the Treasury, Inland Revenue and MBIE to pull off the near impossible: developing a proposal for the nation-wide Wage Subsidy Scheme in five days and rolling it out 48 hours later.

Finalists

• Te Tari Taiwhenua | Department of Internal Affairs for Keeping it Real Online – Public awareness campaign to create a safe digital environment for children and young people.
• Cross sector agency group for New Zealand's Space Regime – World leading regulatory framework which supports safe, responsible and secure use of space while permitting the development of a commercial space sector. This is a joint initiative led by Hīkina Whakatutuki | Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Te Tari o te Pirimia me te Komiti Matua | Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Manatū Kaupapa Waonga | Ministry of Defence, Te Ope Kātua o Aotearoa | The New Zealand Defence Force, Te Manatū Waka | Ministry of Transport, Te Mana Rererangi Tūmatanui o Aotearoa | Civil Aviation Authority, Te Rōpū Pārongo Tārehu o Aotearoa | New Zealand Intelligence Community.
• Cross sector agency group for supporting remote learning during the COVID-19 lockdown and beyond – Collaboration across the education sector to deliver breakthrough initiatives to support learning from home during the COVID-19 lockdown and beyond. This is a joint initiative led by Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga | Ministry of Education, Network for Learning, Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga | Education Review Office, Te Kura, Mana Tohu Mātauranga o Aotearoa | NZQA, Netsafe

Judging panel

• Lil Anderson (co-chair), Tumu Whakarae, Te Arawhiti | Office for Māori Crown Relations
• Hannah Cameron (co-chair), Kaikōmihana Tuarua, Te Tohutohu Rautaki me te Kaupapa Here | Deputy Commissioner, Strategy & Policy, Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission
• Isabel Evans, Director of Education, Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga | Ministry of Education
• John Henderson, Regional Commissioner for Social Development, Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora | Ministry of Social Development

Proudly sponsored by Deloitte

Winner

Kāinga Ora | Homes and Communities, Te Rūnanga O Toa Rangatira (Ngāti Toa), Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga | Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, and Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora | Ministry of Social Development

Enabling iwi housing aspirations in Porirua

The winners of Te Tohu mō te Tūhonotanga a Ngāi Māori me te Karauna | the Māori Crown Relationships Award started with kōrero, cups of tea and building trust. They’ve developed a modern, future-focused partnership based on a shared vision of enabling a thriving community, that’s returning whenua to iwi and devolving management of assets to improve intergenerational wellbeing and the health of mokopuna.

Finalists

• Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora | Ministry of Social Development and Te Puea Memorial Marae for Te Puea Memorial Marae partnership – A true Treaty partnership enabling the marae to achieve results they could not have achieved on their own, accessing and supporting people who most needed support but were often the least likely to use MSD’s services.
• Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust and Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga | Ministry of Education for Te Kōhanga Reo Learning Support Awareness Campaign – Tamaariki: My abilities make me unique. Ko tā te kōhanga reo hei kumanu i ngā whānau kia mau tonu te korowai aroha mō ngā tamaariki ki te ake ake, ara rā kia mau tonu ai te rongomaiwhiti o te ahuru mōwai. Increasing awareness and improving access through co-design of resources for tamariki Māori with learning support needs.

Judging panel

• Lil Anderson (co-chair), Tumu Whakarae, Te Arawhiti | Office for Māori Crown Relations
• Hannah Cameron (co-chair), Kaikōmihana Tuarua, Te Tohutohu Rautaki me te Kaupapa Here | Deputy Commissioner, Strategy & Policy, Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission
• Annie Aranui, Regional Commissioner, East Coast, Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora | Ministry of Social Development
• Geoff Short, Manahautū Tuarua, Deputy Chief Executive, Policy Partnerships, Te Puni Kōkiri

Proudly sponsored by ANZSOG

Winner

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, KiwiRail, North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery Alliance and Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura

The Moving Mountains Kaikōura infrastructure project

The winners of Te Tohu mō te Kaiārahi Mahi Whakahaere | the Leadership in Governance Award took a transparent and innovative approach to governance that delivered a hugely complex and challenging project. They introduced one governance structure that also brought in private sector partners. The Board adopted a kaupapa of people first, recognised local iwi as a Treaty of Waitangi partner, integrated the project into the community and focused on results that delivered value for money and openly shared information and risk. This model of governance of large infrastructure projects is now being used across $6.8 million of work from Queenstown to Whangarei.

Finalists

• Cross sector agency group for achieving 50 percent representation for women and promoting diversity and inclusion on state sector boards – Over the last year, the 50 Percent Group has driven cross-sector work on diversity and inclusion involving over twenty agencies. This has resulted in the achievement of the goal of 50 percent representation for women on state sector boards and the first ever Māori and ethnicity stocktake. This is a joint initiative led by these agencies: Manatū Wāhine | Ministry for Women, Te Tai Ōhanga | The Treasury, Hīkina Whakatutuki | Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Te Tari o te Pirimia me te Komiti Matua | Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Te Papa Atawhai | Department of Conservation, Te Manatū Waka | Ministry of Transport, Te Manatū mō ngā iwi ō te Moana-nui-ā-Kiwa | Ministry for Pacific Peoples, Te Tari Matawaka | Office of Ethnic Communities and Te Amorangi Mātauranga Matua | Tertiary Education Commission.
• Peke Waihanga | Artificial Limb Service for enabling independent and productive lives – Leadership in governance to provide amputees and those at risk of deteriorating health and disability conditions with services that help them live independent and productive lives.

Judging panel

• Lil Anderson (co-chair), Tumu Whakarae, Te Arawhiti | Office for Māori Crown Relations
• Hannah Cameron (co-chair), Kaikōmihana Tuarua, Te Tohutohu Rautaki me te Kaupapa Here | Deputy Commissioner, Strategy & Policy, Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission
• Professor Gregor Coster CNZM, Dean of Faculty Health, Te Herenga Waka | Victoria University of Wellington
• Alan Isaac CNZM, Board Chair, Institute of Directors
• Kirsten Patterson, Chief Executive, Institute of Directors

Proudly sponsored by DXC Technology

Winner

Hashmatullah Lafraie

Junior Counsel – Specialist Advisor, Tāhū o te Ture | Ministry of Justice

Hashmat believes that “service is a spirit in itself”. He was instrumental in providing cultural advice to the Court and the Ministry of Justice in the wake of the Christchurch mosque attacks, exemplifying the highest standards of personal and professional integrity.

Finalists

• Rāwā Karetai, All of Government Communications Director – COVID-19 Disability Response, Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health –Rāwā’s spirit of service is exemplified in the way he serves the disabled community in New Zealand. His motivation to improve outcomes for disabled people shone through in April 2020 when he established and has since led the All of Government COVID19 Disability Response Team to ensure the needs of disabled New Zealanders are continued to be met during a time of crisis.
• Brodie Packer, Communications Advisor, Te Tari Taake | Inland Revenue – Brodie demonstrates great leadership by bringing initiative, curiosity and an inclusive approach to every aspect of their work. Brodie has earned the respect of a diverse range of people and leaders through building awareness of smarter ways of working and motivating Inland Revenue’s change champion network to support behavioural change across the organisation.
• Ngarimu Pere, Service Manager, Contact Centre Services, Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora | Ministry of Social Development – Authentic and courageous, Ngarimu is an instinctive and confident young leader with outstanding qualities. Her whānau and whakapapa have shaped her values and the way she encourages and inspires people with her can-do enthusiasm and focus on getting things done.
• Catherine Simpson, Head of Enterprise Change and People Technology, Te Tari Tiaki Iwi | Public Trust – Catherine is passionate about people – those she works with and those she serves. She exemplifies the spirit of service through her continued focus on creating a positive, inclusive working environment that mirrors what communities are asking for.

Judging panel

• Lil Anderson (co-chair), Tumu Whakarae, Te Arawhiti | Office for Māori Crown Relations
• Hannah Cameron (co-chair), Kaikōmihana Tuarua, Te Tohutohu Rautaki me te Kaupapa Here | Deputy Commissioner, Strategy & Policy, Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission
• Giovanni Fesuiai, Sector Manager, Parliamentary Group, Tumuaki o te Mana Arotake | Office of the Auditor General
• Victoria Girling, Regional Projects Manager, Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora | Ministry of Social Development

Proudly sponsored by Victoria University of Wellington

Betty Hauraki

He tuitui tangata
He tuitui korowai

Betty comes to work every day motivated by a spirit of service to the communities and whānau she serves. She has been at the forefront of revitalising, nurturing and preserving the Māori language.

This year, more than one million people came together to celebrate Te Wiki o te Reo Māori | Māori Language Week. The success of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori | Māori Language Week is largely due to Betty’s dedicated, persistent and passionate work.

A descendent of Rongowhakaata and Ngāti Porou, Betty’s public service career began more than 50 years ago at the National Airways Corporation in Gisborne. For the last 20 years she has been at Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori | the Māori Language Commission, where her drive and ability to weave people together has helped turn a small community event into one of our biggest celebrations.

From a young girl in Manutuke growing up in a country where te reo was banned at school, to a kuia helping design a virtual Māori Language Week, Betty has been instrumental in the revitalisation of te reo.

Betty is a public servant who has made extraordinary contributions to New Zealand and New Zealanders.