MSD Service Awards - Kotahitanga - December 2020

We work hard to provide services to our clients and stakeholders all year. Each year the Public Service Commission (PSC), in the Public Service Day Awards and the Spirit of Service Awards, recognises those public servants who perform above and beyond the call of duty. MSD was nominated and won a series of awards this year, including:

The New Zealand Public Service Medal

The Public Service Medal was established by Royal Warrant in 2018 to recognise exceptional service and it forms part of the New Zealand Royal Honours system. The medal is awarded for meritorious service - those who receive it are not only role models for all public service employees, they have shown an outstanding commitment to New Zealand and New Zealanders. This year, Annie Aranui, Regional Commissioner, East Coast and Keti Tipene, Case Manager, Kawakawa Community Link, won Public Service medals.

Frontline excellence

We believe our clients should get the highest standard of service and so we were pleased that five of our people won a Public Service Commissioner’s Commendation for Frontline Excellence:

• Sally Araipu, Case Manager - Waipukurau Service Centre
• Isaac Carnegie, Assistant Service Centre Manager, Nelson
• Lynne Hinton, Office Administrator, DCE’s Office, Service Delivery
• Pania Houkamau-Ngaheu, Assistant Service Centre Manager, Wellington Housing Team
• Denise Jackson, Social Development Manager, Christchurch

Spirit of Service awards

The PSC also recognises in the Spirt of Service awards, how our wider programmes support the people of New Zealand.. We won the Better Outcomes award, Te Tohu mō ngā Hua E Pai Ake Ana - for two entries:

• the whole of MSD response to COVID-19
• jointly with Inland Revenue and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, for the multi-agency support of New Zealand businesses during lockdown.

The judges were impressed by the way MSD – and our partners - stepped up during one of the most difficult periods in this country’s recent history and made sure the people of New Zealand had food on the table, a safe, warm place to stay, money in their pocket – even masks.

MSD, along with Kāinga Ora Homes and Communities, Te Runanga O Toa Rangitira (Ngāti Toa) and HUD (the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development) also came away with Te Tohu mō te Tūhonotanga a Ngāi Māori me te Karauna - Māori Crown Relationships Award. These agencies have worked together to renew public housing in Porirua and support iwi into homes.