Te Hāpai Hapori Spirit of Service Awards 2021

Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern announced the Te Tohu a te Pirimia | 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.

The 2021 Te Tohu a te Pirimia | Prime Minister’s Award was presented to the joint winners of the Te Tohu mō ngā Hua E Pai Ake Ana | Better Outcomes category.

Joint winners

Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health

The health sector response to COVID-19

The overall health sector response to the COVID-19 pandemic delivered exceptional outcomes for New Zealanders under extraordinarily challenging circumstances. This was an outstanding example of team effort across the health sector, delivered at pace and under immense pressure.

COVID-19 Border Response Group

COVID-19 Border Response

The overall border response to COVID-19 truly exemplifies a unified Public Service. Tens of thousands of public servants across multiple agencies went above and beyond the expectations of their everyday roles to stand up the border response and keep New Zealanders safe.

The COVID-19 Border Response Group is Kaiwhakamaru Rererangi | Aviation Security Services, Te Mana Rererangi Tūmatanui o Aotearoa | Civil Aviation Authority, Te Mana Ārai o Aotearoa | New Zealand Customs Service, Te Ope Kātua o Aotearoa | New Zealand Defence Force, Nō te Rere Moana Aotearoa | Maritime New Zealand, Hīkina Whakatutuki | Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Manatū Aorere | Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health, Manatū Ahu Matua | Ministry for Primary Industries, and Te Manatū Waka | Ministry of Transport.

Joint winners

Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health

The health sector response to COVID-19

The overall health sector response to the COVID-19 pandemic delivered exceptional outcomes for New Zealanders under extraordinarily challenging circumstances. This was an outstanding example of team effort across the health sector, delivered at pace and under immense pressure. 

COVID-19 Border Response Group

COVID-19 Border Response

The overall border response to COVID-19 truly exemplifies a unified Public Service. Tens of thousands of public servants across multiple agencies went above and beyond the expectations of their everyday roles to stand up the border response and keep New Zealanders safe.

The COVID-19 Border Response Group is Kaiwhakamaru Rererangi | Aviation Security Services, Te Mana Rererangi Tūmatanui o Aotearoa | Civil Aviation Authority, Te Mana Ārai o Aotearoa | New Zealand Customs Service, Te Ope Kātua o Aotearoa | New Zealand Defence Force, Nō te Rere Moana Aotearoa | Maritime New Zealand, Hīkina Whakatutuki | Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Manatū Aorere | Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health, Manatū Ahu Matua | Ministry for Primary Industries, and Te Manatū Waka | Ministry of Transport.

Finalists

• Te Kaitiaki Take Kōwhiri | Electoral Commission and Te Tāhū o te Ture | Ministry of Justice for 2020 General Election and Referendums – Redesigning and delivering services to enable 2.9 million New Zealanders to vote safely and with confidence during the COVID-19 pandemic and providing impartial public information including for two high-profile referendums.
• Ngā Pirihimana o Aotearoa | New Zealand Police for Te Pae Oranga – A Māori-led, Police and Justice Sector supported initiative using tikanga Māori and restorative justice practices to reduce re-offending and improve social wellbeing outcomes.
• Te Manatū mō ngā Iwi ō te Moana-nui-ā-Kiwa | Ministry for Pacific Peoples for ‘We got your back Aotearoa’ campaign – Ensuring essential messages and information reached Pacific communities to reduce the impact of COVID-19.

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, Principal Advisor Regional Development, Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora | Ministry of Social Development

Proudly sponsored by Deloitte

Winner

MBIE Small Business Collective

MBIE Small Business Collective, including the Digital Boost programme and Business Connect.

The MBIE Small Business Collective – Hīkina Whakatutuki | Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health, Te Mana Ārai o Aotearoa | New Zealand Customs Service and Manawatū District Council – provided outstanding support for New Zealand’s small businesses. They helped to lift the digital capabilities of these businesses throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

The agencies leading this initiative successfully joined together to address some of the main pain points identified by small businesses in managing licences and permits from across government. They did this by using a customer-first approach and demonstrating a real understanding of small businesses and the people running them.

Finalists

• Te Tari Taake | Inland Revenue for Transforming New Zealand’s revenue system – Investing in new technology and tools, focusing on simplifying policies and processes and introducing new ways of working to deliver better experiences for customers.

• Manatū Taonga | Ministry for Culture and Heritage for Te Urungi: Cultural Sector Innovation Fund – A new approach to arts funding that is supporting the innovative arts, culture and heritage projects in Aotearoa with a strong focus on mātauranga Māori.
• Te Tāhū o te Ture | Ministry of Justice for Enhancing Justice – A new approach to justice for young adults in the Porirua District Court. This approach builds community connections to help identify underlying drivers of offending and barriers to understanding, and influences improvements to procedural and substantive fairness across the District Court.

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, Principal Advisor Regional Development, Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora | Ministry of Social Development
• Catherine Simpson, Head of Change and People Technology, Te Tari Tiaki Iwi | Public Trust

Proudly sponsored by Westpac

Winner

Te Papa Tongarewa | Museum of New Zealand

Te Papa Tongarewa is an excellent example of governance that is reinvigorating bicultural kaupapa. They truly embody a co-leadership model. They understand their role as the forum for the nation – creating a place where Aotearoa New Zealand can understand its past, enrich its present and meet the challenges of the future.

Finalists 

• Te Taurapa Tūhono | New Zealand Trade and Enterprise – Fostering an inclusive workplace and achieving gender equality in leadership across the organisation.
• Gisborne District Council Mayor’s Regional Leadership Forum for the Tairāwhiti Economic Support Package – Collaborative regional governance approach to employing people who lost their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The forum is Eastland Group Ltd, Te Runanga o Turanganui a Kiwa, Te Runanganui o Ngāti Porou, Eastland Wood Council Trust Tairāwhiti,Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora | Ministry of Social Development, Hīkina Whakatutuki | Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Te Puni Kōkiri and Te Uru Rākau.

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
• Julia Hoare, Vice President, National Council, Institute of Directors
• Kirsten Patterson, Chief Executive, Institute of Directors

Proudly sponsored by ANZSOG

Winner

Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga | Archives New Zealand & Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu

The Ngāi Tahu Archive and Archives New Zealand Partnership

Te Rūnanga Ngāi Tahu and Archives New Zealand started their collaborative partnership over a decade ago with dedication and commitment to preserve, protect and make accessible taonga of significance for Ngāi Tahu through digital initiatives.

Finalists

• Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora | Ministry of Social Development co-location teams – Approach to supporting the co-location of eight independent Māori organisations across the Auckland region, now achieving end to end real-time service delivery results. The co-location team is Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora | Ministry of Social Development, Te Puea Memorial Marae Manaaki Tangata e Rua, Te Whānau o Waipareira, Ngāti Whātua: Whai Māia, Turuki Healthcare, Ngā Whare Waatea: MUMA, Manurewa Marae, Papakura Marae, Huakina Development Trust.
• Manatū Mō Te Taiao | Ministry for the Environment for Te Ao Hurihuri – A transformational strategy which provides a kaupapa Māori framework to develop a Māori Crown relations capable workforce.
• Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga | Education Review Office, Te Rūnanga Nui o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori, Ngā Kura ā-Iwi, Te Kōhanga Reo Trust, Te Tāhuhu o Te Mātauranga | Ministry of Education for Te Kura Huanui: The treasures of successful pathways and Poutiria te Reo Maurioria: Māori language as a lifelong educational pathway and Whāia Ngā Painga Kia Angitu: Pathways to Success – A multimedia, kaupapa Māori research project highlighting the Māori-medium education pathway. The co-designed project resulted in Te Kura Huanui: The treasures of successful pathways – a national report – and a series of short documentaries which capture the lived experiences and common conditions for success in Māori-led education.

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
• Eru Lyndon (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Wai, and Ngati Toa), Regional Commissioner, and Regional Public Service Lead, Northland, Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora | Ministry of Social Development
• Ezra Schuster, Director of Education and Regional Public Service Lead, Bay of Plenty-Waiariki, Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga | Ministry of Education
• Grace Smit (Ngāti Rakaipaaka, Ngāti Matangirau), Deputy Secretary Organisational Support, Te Puni Kōkiri

Proudly sponsored by DXC Technology

Joint winners

April Kwak

Policy Analyst at Te Mana Ārai o Aotearoa | New Zealand Customs Service

April is recognised for being a strong example for young people in public service and for her commitment, her drive to bring forward new ideas, and not being afraid to challenge the status quo. She proudly celebrates her ethnic and cultural diversity as a Korean New Zealander.

Isaiah Apiata

Governmental Relationships Manager – Te Rūnanga-Ā-Iwi-Ō-Ngāpuhi at Oranga Tamariki | Ministry for Children

Isaiah works with a vision and passion to deliver better outcomes for taitamariki | young people. In his Government Relationships Manager role, he guides many young people towards positive life pathways through strengthening their cultural identity and reconnecting them with their whakapapa.

Finalists

• Jacqueline Bell, Area Manager at Kāinga Ora | Homes and Communities – Jacqueline (Jacs) is of Ngāti Maniapoto and Irish descent and leads a team of 15 Tenancy Managers and Senior Tenancy Managers at the Henderson Neighbourhood unit. Jacs is recognised for her commitment to doing her best every day to make a difference in her community.
• Jacob McGregor, Principal Engagement Advisor – Ngā Rauru, Ngāti Raukawa, Te Whānau a Apanui at Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health – In both his personal and working lives, Jacob demonstrates a commitment to strengthening te reo and tikanga Māori, supporting Māori communities to ensure their needs are met, and supporting the crown to deliver its obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Jacob’s leadership during COVID-19 resulted in Ministry of Health’s most successful communication campaign targeted towards Māori and youth audiences.
• Chetna Pancha, Cyber Security Architect at Hīkina Whakatutuki | Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment – Chetna provided outstanding leadership in a demanding environment to ensure MIQ could respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, providing assurance that the data and information of travellers was secure and reliable. She’s recognised for her clarity and calmness under pressure.

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
• Hashmatullah Lafraie, Solicitor, Office of Legal Counsel at Tāhū o te Ture | Ministry of Justice
• Ngarimu Pere, Service Manager, Contact Centre Services at Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora | Ministry of Social Development

Proudly sponsored by Victoria University of Wellington

Tā Wira Gardiner

Tā Wira Gardiner embodies the spirit of service. In his many years of public service, Tā Wira always left a mark. He has enjoyed a long and highly distinguished career. This includes roles as the founding Director of the Waitangi Tribunal, founding General Manager of the Iwi Transition Authority, founding Chief Executive of Te Puni Kōkiri, and Lieutenant Colonel in the New Zealand Army.

Tā Wira is motivated by a higher calling to serve his community. His contributions go above and beyond this dedication to the Public Service. He’s a Māori leader and an educator, scholar, historian, and author.

With whakapapa links to Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Te Whakatōhea, Ngāti Awa, and Ngāti Pikiao, Tā Wira built relationships between Māori and the Crown around Te Tiriti o Waitangi | Treaty of Waitangi settlement issues, fisheries, broadcasting, local and regional government, and tertiary education. In his decades of leadership, he has supported the development of Māori social, cultural and economic outcomes.

Tā Wira has influenced generations of public servants through his authenticity and steadfast commitment to serving the people of New Zealand. His spirit of service is an inspiration to all.

Even after he initially left the Public Service, Tā Wira continued to serve the public, holding governance roles on several boards, including Te Māngai Pāho, Te Papa, and the Tertiary Education Commission.

In 2008 he was made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his contributions and services to Māori. This was a fitting honour for such an outstanding leader. Tā Wira was called on time and time again to assist in the resolution of major Māori Crown relationship issues, and his dedication came from desire to make a difference in this country. This was very clear to see when he answered the call to serve and came out of retirement to lead Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children.

Tā Wira’s spirit of service is exceptional, and he’s an extremely worthy recipient of the Spirit of Service Lifetime Achievement Award.