Earlier this month, two Corrections staff were recognised for their extraordinary contribution to New Zealand at the Public Service Day Awards ceremony in Wellington.

Dog Handler Moses Toeke received The New Zealand Public Service Medal/Te Tohu Ratonga Tūmatanui and Lead Service Manager Tina Peel was awarded The Public Service Commissioner’s Commendation for Excellence/Te Tohu Amorangi a Te Kawa Mataaho. This is a massive achievement for Moses, Tina, and the rest of our staff.

“I’m so proud of Mo and Tina,” says Chief Executive Jeremy Lightfoot. “They are both outstanding public servants who have made a huge contribution to Corrections and the community. It’s great to see their hard work recognised through these important awards.”

Moses (Mo) Toeke – Dog Handler, Mount Eden Corrections Facility (MECF)

Te Tohu Ratonga Tūmatanui | New Zealand Public Service Medal is conferred to public servants who have given meritorious service, demonstrate an outstanding commitment to New Zealand, and are a role model for others.

Mo is one of two people who founded the dog unit at Corrections in 1991. With a background in training dogs for Obedience Competition and Tracking Dog Competition, he saw an opportunity to make our prisons safer and took annual leave to train a detector dog (Pedro) with the New Zealand Airforce.

He trained Pedro in his own time and fed him at his own cost. In his 36 years at Corrections, he’s been dedicated and passionate, mentoring many dog handlers over the years and remaining a steady pulse in an often difficult and occasionally hectic role.

Mo says the medal “validates my passion and commitment I have for Corrections and the Dog Section.”

“It hasn’t always been easy, but I enjoy working with people and dogs. I’ve developed leadership skills to enable me to teach others and share my knowledge. I’ve fulfilled a vision I had years ago to keep drugs out of our prisons and I’m still living it.

“It’s helping others: prisoners, their families, staff, and members of the public. It means keeping our communities safe.”

Tina Peel – Lead Service Manager, supporting Northland, Auckland, Manukau, Waikato, and Bay of Plenty

Te Tohu Amorangi a Te Kawa Mataaho | Public Service Commissioner’s Commendation for Excellence is awarded for outstanding service shown by a public servant, who demonstrates exceptional care and commitment to New Zealanders, the highest standard of integrity, kaitiakitanga, and generates pride in the Public Service.

Tina has significantly contributed to an enduring Community Work Strategy, with a vision to create opportunities and pathways affecting positive change and strengthening our communities. Tina has contributed on a national scale, leading key pieces of work in the community work (CW) space, including a national training package.

In the seven years Tina Peel has been a Lead Service Manager, she has developed and implemented a community work strategy that has improved practice and driven meaningful outcomes for those on CW sentences.

Tina says the Commendation “means a lot, not just for me but acknowledges all the amazing people I get to work with every day. I’ve had the privilege of being led and supported by many managers and colleagues that have been great mentors during my career in the Department".

“My purpose/my why is my whānau, my tamariki, my mokopuna. With what I do here in my role, I know I will contribute to them living in a safe and thriving community. I’ve been raised in a loving and supportive whānau with my grandparents and parents guiding me to be the best I can be, and to always strive for excellence in anything that I do. Our whānau values have helped to shape who I am as a wahine.”

“Public service gives me an opportunity to give back and to make positive change for our people and our communities.”