The ninth annual Te Rā Ratonga Tūmatanui | Public Service Day Awards have been held at Government House in Wellington.
The awards recognise public servants who exemplify the spirit of service and are making a real difference through their everyday work for New Zealanders.
Nine public servants were awarded Te Tohu Ratonga Tūmatanui o Aotearoa | New Zealand Public Service Medal and seven received Te Tohu Amorangi a Te Kawa Mataaho | Public Service Commissioner’s Commendation for Excellence.
This year’s 16 award recipients span 11 agencies and six regions from Northland to Otago.
Leauanae Laulu Mac Leauanae, Secretary for Culture and Heritage, presented the awards, saying: “Collectively, the recipients of these awards today are a symbol of the great work public servants do every day – often quietly and without recognition. We see that work here this afternoon. We see it in people helping others rebuild their lives, supporting vulnerable New Zealanders, protecting our natural environment, safeguarding our food and tax systems, strengthening our communities, and providing the infrastructure and advice that help New Zealand function.”
The New Zealand Public Service Medal is part of the New Zealand Royal Honours system and is awarded to public servants who have given service that’s worthy of merit.
The recipients of this year’s New Zealand Public Service Medal are:
- Hilary Aikman, Principal Advisor Biodiversity at Department of Conservation (Wellington)
- Dr John Crawshaw, Director of Mental Health and Addiction Services at Ministry of Health (Wellington)
- Cynthia Ellis, Learning & Interventions Delivery Manager at Department of Corrections (Waikato)
- Dierdre Fell, Manager Customer Information Requests at Oranga Tamariki (Manawatū-Whanganui)
- Stephen Hemara, Employment & Training Consultant at Department of Corrections (Auckland)
- Andrew Lockhart, National Manager, Refugee & Migrant Support at Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (Auckland)
- Susan Morris, Principal Advisor Residues Assurance at Ministry for Primary Industries (Wellington)
- John Nash, Strategic Advisor, International at Inland Revenue (Wellington)
- Steve Walshe, Senior Analyst, Data Integration at Stats NZ (Wellington)
The Public Service Commissioner’s Commendation for Excellence is awarded to people in Public Service delivery roles who demonstrate exceptional care and commitment to New Zealanders.
They also demonstrate a ‘higher purpose’ motivation, the highest standard of integrity and kaitiakitanga, and generate pride in the Public Service.
Congratulations to the recipients of this year’s Public Service Commissioner’s Commendation for Excellence:
- Kalem Blackley, Firefighter, at Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Otago)
- Mary Bythell, Network Engineer at Ministry of Social Development (Wellington)
- Andy Fulbrook, Chief Financial Officer at Ministry of Justice (Wellington)
- Heather Rogers, Case Manager at Ministry of Social Development (Northland)
- Jackie Watson, Business Services Coordinator at Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Auckland)
- Anne Williams, Community Compliance Officer at Inland Revenue (Canterbury)
- Bruce Williams, Principal Advisor, Criminal Law, Criminal Justice Policy at Ministry of Justice (Wellington)
See more: Public Service Day Awards 2026.
