New Zealand Public Service Medal Explained

New Zealand Public Service Medal Te Tohu Ratonga Tūmatanui o Aotearoa
Presenter:	Minister of State Services
Country:	New Zealand
Eligibility:	Personnel of the New Zealand Public Service
Awarded For:	Meritorious exceptional performance, commitment, or innovation.
Status:	Currently awarded
Established:	19 July 2018
Firstawarded:	6 November 2018
Precedence Label:	Order of Wear
Higher:	New Zealand Police Meritorious Service Medal^[1]
Lower:	New Zealand Armed Forces Award

The New Zealand Public Service Medal (Māori:Te Tohu Ratonga Tūmatanui o Aotearoa) is a meritorious service award of the New Zealand Royal Honours System. The NZPSM may be awarded to members of public service who serve in a department under the State Services Commission. Established by royal warrant on 19 July 2018, it was first awarded on 6 November 2018 to five recipients.^[2] In 2019, 10 PSM commendations were awarded,^[3] and in 2020, 10 medals were conferred in November 2020 to exceptional public servants who have given meritorious service.^[4]

Eligibility

A person is eligible for the medal if they perform meritorious service in their capacity as a Public Service employee who, in the opinion of the State Services Commissioner:
a) demonstrates an outstanding commitment to New Zealand and New Zealanders; or
b) is exemplary, or a model for other employees of the Public Service; or
c) brings significant benefit to New Zealand or the Public Service; or
d) is exceptional and otherwise worthy of recognition.^[5]

Non-New Zealand citizens are eligible for the medal. It can be awarded posthumously.

Description

It is a circular silver medal, 36mm in diameter. It is worn on the left breast from a ribbon by way of a ring, and has the following design:^[6]

• The obverse has the effigy of Elizabeth II designed by Ian Rank-Broadley,^[7] surrounded by the legend ELIZABETH II QUEEN OF NEW ZEALAND.
• The reverse, designed by the New Zealand Herald Extraordinary Phillip O’Shea,^[7] shows a representation of a Māori poutama, or step design, bearing the wording in English and Māori FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE and HE TOHU HIRANGA, surrounded by the inscriptions THE NEW ZEALAND PUBLIC SERVICE MEDAL and TOHU RATONGA TŪMATANUI O AOTEAROA.
• The name of the recipient is engraved on the rim of the medal.
• The 32 mm wide ribbon is of red ochre with a wide central blue stripe and a narrow white stripe at both edges. The NZPSM design is based on the ribbon of the British Imperial Service Order and Medal which were awarded to public servants in New Zealand from 1904 to 1974.^[7]

Recipients

2018

The inaugural recipients of the New Zealand Public Services Medal were announced on 6 November 2018.^[2]

• Isabel Irene Evans, of Auckland.
• Miriama Evans – of Wellington.
• Kyle Justin Kuiti – of Foxton.
• Malia Matalena Tusiga Leaupepe – of Wellington.
• Brodie John Stubbs – of Wellington.

2019

Recipients in 2019 were announced on 4 November.^[8]

• Diane Siua Fenika – of Christchurch.
• Mabel Flight – of Tūrangi.
• Ann Maree Hayes – of Invercargill.
• John Patrick Henderson – of Christchurch.
• Kaye MacDonald – of Blenheim.
• Dr Craig Malcolm Trotter – of Lower Hutt.

2020

Recipients in 2020 were announced on 2 November.^[9]

• Christine Tapa’aufa’asisina Aiolupotea-Aiono – of Auckland.
• Annette Karina Aranui – of Napier.
• Paula Maree Attrill – of Wellington.
• Shona Mavis Carr – of Auckland.
• Margaret Clare Dotchin – of Auckland.
• Roy Thomas Grose – of Blenheim.
• Dr Nicholas Francis Jones – of Heretaunga.
• Keti Tipene – of Motatau.
• Hugo Vitalis – of Wellington.
• Duane Andrew Wilkins – of Wellington.

2021

Recipients in 2021 were announced on 26 January^[10] and 9 November.^[11]

• Jan Elizabeth Breakwell – of Wellington.
• Hinemoa Maraea Dixon – of Hamilton.
• Ann Dysart – Te Rarawa, of Wellington.
• Steve Hori Patrick Haami – of Whanganui.
• Renee Lee Higgison – of Wellington.
• Elizabeth Jones – of Wellington.
• Mamakoula Tuitupou Kutu – of Wellington.
• Jeffrey Ronald Montgomery – of Wellington.
• Dr Gerardus Johannes Rys – of Wellington.
• Dr Sripriya Somasekhar – of Wellington.
• Dr Prudence Helen Williams – of Wellington.

2022

Recipients in 2022 were announced on 8 November^[12] and 15 December.^[13]

• Cheryl Elisabeth Barnes – of Wellington.
• Terry Graeme Brown – of Auckland.
• Christopher John Bunny – of Wellington.
• John Francis Cavanagh – of Auckland.
• Bryan Roger Chapple – of Wellington.
• Carl Antony Crafar – of Wellington.
• Serena Madeline Curtis – of Wellington.
• Annique Krystyna Tepaeru-Oanoa Davis – of Ngāti Tangiiau, Ngāti Teaia, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Kurī.
• Michael Paul Dreyer – of Wellington.
• Kelly Maree Dunn – of Wellington.
• Mārama Sharelle Edwards Hohaia – of Wellington.
• Ruth May Fairhall – of Wellington.
• Abba Siale Fidow – of Auckland.
• Suzanne Isobel Gordon – of Wellington.
• Jessica Kate Gorman – of Wellington.
• Andrew James Hagan – of Wellington.
• Stephen Alexander Ham – of Napier.
• Shayne Alan Hunter – of Wellington.
• Rosalina Jamieson – of Wellington.
• Keiran Marie Kennedy – of Wellington.
• Jean Maurice Marie Le Roux – of France.
• Ellen Margaret MacGregor-Reid – of Wellington.
• Andrew Graham Milne – of Wellington.
• Christina Margaret Paterson – of Wellington.
• Heather Anne Louise Peacocke – of Wellington.
• Dr Humphrey Weir Hamilton Pullon – of Hamilton.
• Vivian George Herbert Rickard – of Wellington.
• Joanna Rachel Rogers – of Wellington.
• Geoffrey Paul Short – of Wellington.
• Michael John Slater – of Hokitika.
• Grace Smit – of Wellington.
• Robert Wayne Smith Jr – of Auckland.
• Suzanne Stew – of Wellington.
• Paul Gerard George Stocks – of Wellington.
• Shelley Tucker – of Wellington.
• John David Walsh – of Hāwera.
• Stephen Blair Waugh – of Auckland

2023

Recipients in 2023 were announced on 14 February,^[14] 8 March,^[15] and 9 November.^[16]

• Rita Sauniuni Ale – of Hawkes Bay.
• Diane Catherine Anderson – of Wellington.
• Dr William Michael Arnold – of Wellington.
• Karla Shirley Beazley – Ngāti Te Ata Waiohua, Ngāti Rēhua.
• Christina Ann Connolly – of Wellington.
• Angela Kate Coyle – of Wellington.
• Bruce Ellis – of Auckland.
• Judith Anne Forman – of Petone.
• Dr Michael Anthony Hurrell – of Christchurch.
• Terence William Lynch – of Tai Tokerau Northland.
• Beverley Anne Markham – of New Plymouth.
• Christine Barbara McKenna – of Christchurch.
• Elspeth Margaret McNeile – of Auckland.
• Wiki Michelle Mulholland – of Palmerston North.
• Qemajl Murati – of Auckland.
• Michael Patrick O'Rourke – of Wellington.
• Tania Ott – of Wellington.
• Jon Dennis Peacock – of Island Bay.
• Dr Hugh Alexander Robertson – of Wellington.
• Penelope Wendy Rounthwaite – of Westport.
• Mark John Steel – of Wellington.
• Christopher Charles Szekely – of Wellington.
• Easter Harriet Fialogo Tagaloa-Pauga – of Samoa.
• Russell James Thomas – Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Tama and Te Ātiawa, of Te Tauihu.
• Catherine Anne Thompson – of Wairarapa.
• Alan William Wilson – of Rotorua.

External links

• Web site: Prime Minister presents first public service medals . Scoop Parliament . Scoop Media . 29 December 2018 . 5 November 2018.
• Web site: New Zealand Public Service Medal Regulations 2018 . New Zealand Legislation . Parliamentary Counsel Office . 29 December 2018.
• Web site: The New Zealand Public Service Medal Royal Warrant . New Zealand Regulations . NZLII . 29 December 2018.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Order of Wear: Orders, Decorations and Medals in New Zealand. 23 August 2018 . Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 29 December 2018.
2. News: Public Service Day Awards List . 29 December 2018 . New Zealand Gazette . 2018–go5542 . New Zealand Gazette Office, Government Information Services, Department of Internal Affairs . 6 November 2018.
3. Web site: Public Service Day Honours 2019 Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission. 2021-01-07. www.publicservice.govt.nz.
4. Web site: Public Service Day Awards Recipients 2020 Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission. 2021-01-07. www.publicservice.govt.nz.
5. http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2018/0151/latest/whole.html New Zealand Public Service Medal Regulations 2018
6. http://www.nzlii.org/nz/legis/consol_reg/tnzpsm286/ The New Zealand Public Service Medal Royal Warrant, 19 July 2018
7. The New Zealand Public Service Medal, Phillip O'Shea. Orders & Medals Research Society Journal, Vol 58 No 2, June 2019, pp 140-141
8. News: Public Service Day Awards List . 5 November 2019 . . 28 December 2022.
9. News: Te Rā Ratonga Tūmatanui Public Service Day Awards 2020 . 3 November 2020 . . 28 December 2022.
10. News: Te Tohu Ratonga Tūmatanui o Aotearoa The New Zealand Public Service Medal 2021 . 27 January 2021 . . 28 December 2022.
11. News: Te Rā Ratonga Tūmatanui Public Service Day Awards 2021 . 9 November 2021 . . 28 December 2022.
12. News: Te Rā Ratonga Tūmatanui Public Service Day Awards 2022 . 8 November 2022 . . 28 December 2022.
13. News: Te Rā Ratonga Tūmatanui Public Service Day Awards 2022 . 16 December 2022 . . 28 December 2022.
14. News: Te Tohu Ratonga Tūmatanui o Aotearoa – The New Zealand Public Service Medal 2022 . 15 February 2023 . . 14 November 2023.
15. News: Te Tohu Ratonga Tūmatanui o Aotearoa – The New Zealand Public Service Medal 2022 . 9 March 2023 . . 14 November 2023.
16. News: Te Rā Ratonga Tūmatanui – Public Service Day Awards 2023 . 9 November 2023 . . 14 November 2023.