17 March 2008

Media Release - - Embargoed until 7.30pm, 17 March 2008

IPANZ Gen-i Public Sector Excellence Awards finalists announced

The finalists in a new awards programme, the IPANZ Gen-i Public Sector Awards, were announced today.

Hon. David Parker, Minister of State Services, announced the finalists at an evening event in Wellington. Public sector agencies from central and local government were recognised for their excellence in delivery of services to the public and in organisational management across a number of award categories. Media organisations were also celebrated for balanced, informative stories that raise the level of debate about public policy and management issues.

The IPANZ Gen-i Public Sector Excellence Awards celebrate and reward public sector excellence, says Ross Tanner, President of the Institute of Public Administration New Zealand (IPANZ). IPANZ is a voluntary, non-profit organisation which promotes improvements in and a wider understanding of public management and policy.

Mr Tanner said the independent judging panel looked for excellence in vision, innovation and results amongst the 37 entries for the Awards, as well as specific criteria relating to each category. The winners and the Prime Minister’s Award for Public Sector Excellence will be announced on 27 May 2008.

The finalists include:

People Capability (sponsored by the State Services Commission)
* Land Transport New Zealand: Fostering Leaders Strategy
New Zealand Police: Development and Implementation of the New Zealand Police Leadership and Management Development Framework

Managerial Leadership (sponsored by the Leadership Development Centre)
* Ministry of Women’s Affairs: Organisational Transformation
* Tertiary Education Commission: Re-creating an organisation

Crown-Māori Relationships (sponsored by Te Puni Kokiri)
* Far North District Council: Tai Tokerau Iwi Chief Executives and Local/ Regional Government Engagement Model
* New Plymouth District Council: The Rewa Rewa Agreement.

Joined-up Government (sponsored by Microsoft)
* Inland Revenue Department/ MED: Companies On-line Project, Phase 2
* Ministry of Justice: Electronic Filing of Infringement Notices
* Department of Building and Housing: Quality, Connected and Accessible Client Services (QCA).

Working together (sponsored by Russell McVeagh)
* Ministry of Social Development: Negotiations for the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Disabled Persons
* Ministry of Social Development: The Great Little Cookbook
* Ministry of Social Development/ Families Commission: Campaign for Action on Family Violence Phase one—Creating Social Change
* Ministry of Social Development: Improving Outcomes for Young people in Counties/ Manukau (Youth Gangs).

Media Award (sponsored by Talent2)
* Sunday Star Times for reporting on Kiwi Saver by Rob Stock: nominated by the Inland Revenue Department
* Waikato Times for an article on the work of the Child Youth and Families Service by Denise Irvine: nominated by the Ministry of Social Development.

The Awards programme is funded by sponsorship. ICT services provider, Gen-i, is the principal sponsor.

Chris Quin, General Manager of Gen-i, congratulated the finalists and said the decision to sponsor the awards stemmed from Gen-i’s close links to the public sector throughout New Zealand.

"Gen-i shares IPANZ’s passion for excellence. We are proud to support the Awards and have the opportunity to help promote and reward superior achievement in the public sector. ,” said Mr Quin.

ENDS

Background

About IPANZ
IPANZ is a voluntary, non-profit organisation committed to promoting improvements in public policy and in administration and management in the public sector in New Zealand, and to increasing public understanding of the work undertaken in the public sector.
www.ipanz.org.nz

About Gen-i
Gen-i is at the forefront of helping customers take advantage of the convergence of technology and telecommunications, and the new opportunities this makes possible.

Gen-i works alongside its 3,000 corporate, government and business customers to deliver seamless and integrated ICT solutions. A member of the Telecom New Zealand Group, Gen-i achieves this with the support of 2,000 highly skilled people in 17 locations across New Zealand and Australia. For more information on Gen-i, visit www.gen-i.co.nz

About the Awards
The IPANZ Public Sector Excellence Awards:
* Celebrate and reward public sector excellence
* Recognise and endorse those public sector agencies which demonstrate excellence and motivate others into making a difference
* Celebrate the diversity of achievement/excellence in public sector
* Highlight significant public sector achievements

Awards criteria:

People Capability (sponsored by the State Services Commission)
The extent to which the project or workplace:
* delivers outstanding performance
* is attractive to high performers who are committed to public service
* develops a strong culture of continuous learning
* encourages high standards of workplace health and safety management
* offers opportunities for personal development and work-life balance
* contributes to the organisation becoming an employer of choice.

Managerial Leadership (sponsored by the Leadership Development Centre)
The extent that the person or team:
* is responsible for dramatic or sustained improvements in performance, while building organisational capability; and/or
* sustains performance under prolonged pressure or stress, in a way that enhances organisational capability; and/or
* manages change beyond the first round effects through to a demonstrably higher level of performance and capability; and/or
* demonstrates strong adaptive ability to ensure effective performance in different contexts over time; and/or
* can point to positive impacts on organisational culture; and/or
* demonstrates commitment to a style of leadership that engages and empowers others, especially those with high potential for leadership; and/or
* fosters the development of leadership within the organisation.

Crown-Māori Relationships (sponsored by Te Puni Kokiri)
Excellence will be demonstrated through an example of a good relationship between an organisation and a specific Maori group, or with respect to the organisation’s relationships with Māori generally, in terms of:
* commitment to the relationship with Māori, undertaken in good faith and with good intent
* generating a high degree of trust and goodwill from Māori toward the organisation
* achieving a reciprocal relationship, with each party seeking to understand the viewpoint, circumstances, capability and operating environment of the other, and an ability to compromise when required
* employing staff with the requisite experience, skill and empathy to work with the organisation’s Māori stakeholders, and encouraging staff in their responsiveness to Māori.
* evaluating the organisation’s performance in its relationships with Māori and providing an avenue for disagreement and complaint.

Joined-up Government (sponsored by Microsoft)
The extent that the project or organisation:
* demonstrates the smart and cost-effective use of networks and information and communication technology to achieve government outcomes
* demonstrates improvement in the integration of information, service delivery and government processes across agencies to ensure that the organisation is responsive, and citizen-centric
* demonstrates the principle of ‘no wrong door’ – that is any New Zealander accessing government services will be referred appropriately to the organisation best able to address their concerns
* demonstrates access to service anywhere, anytime and any channel.

Working together (sponsored by Russell McVeagh)
The extent that the project or organisation:
* demonstrates joint outcomes and other shared accountabilities across clusters of agencies
* enhances government’s engagement with communities and citizens
* demonstrates the delivery of accessible and responsive services to New Zealanders.
* delivers accessible and responsive services to the diversity of ethnic and social groups in our communities.

Media Award (sponsored by Talent2)
The Media Award will be given to a media organisation or an individual reporter upon the nomination of a public sector organisation. The award will be judged on the extent to which the news article, programme or other media treatment:
* is balanced and informative
* raises the level of debate
* constitutes part of a consistent record of excellent coverage of public sector activity.

Prime Minister’s Award
The Prime Minister’s Award winner will be selected from the winners of the Awards above. The IPANZ Supreme Award will recognise:

* outstanding achievement in the project nominated
* a sustained commitment to excellence
* vision, innovation and results in public sector management
* continuous improvement in services to New Zealanders.

END

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