Health and Safety Project Wins Big at Awards

MEDIA RELEASE 8 May 2009
Pacific “Puataunofo” Health and Safety Project Wins Big at National Awards

The Puataunofo Manukau project – a health and safety programme – for Pacific workers has received the judges’ commendation award for the: best initiative to encourage engagement in health & safety at the National safeguard awards for 2009.

The project team, comprising staff from the Department of Labour (lead agency), the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs (MPIA), Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), Manukau City Council, Council of Trade Unions (CTU) Komiti Pasefika, Engineering Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU), headed off 130 nominations nationwide to take out the top prize.

The Puataunofo Manukau Project was developed to raise awareness of health and safety issues for Pacific workers and their employers, reduce workplace injuries and to inform the Pacific workforce on health and safety practices and standards in the region.

“We are delighted that industry leaders acknowledged that this project was carried out with very little funding, and we hope this award will now attract some financial support for the project,” said MPIA Director of Communications and Relationships, Magila Annandale.

“The project’s success is because of effective team collaboration in sharing knowledge and resources. Members offered commitment, skills, knowledge, Pacific values, experience and networks within the Auckland Pacific communities,” Ms Annandale said.

Puataunofo is a popular flower found in the Pacific and Samoan concept. It refers to the integral centre of flowers (which is generally threaded in order to make Leis). The project was given the name because it symbolised the collaborative approach by team members to improving workplace health and safety for Pacific workers in Manukau.

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