22 September
Staff from Corrections National Office in Wellington had their long service to the Department recognised by Chief Executive Barry Matthews on Wednesday 22 September.
At a ceremony Mr Matthews acknowledged 16 staff: eight for service of seven years, six for service of 14 years, one for service of 21 years and one for service of 28 years.
“Having long serving staff means we are retaining invaluable organisational knowledge and experience and that needs to be acknowledged. In fact our staff turnover for the 2009/10 year is the lowest recorded in five years. I thank each and every one of today’s recipients for the work they do and also for the advice and guidance they provide to the staff we have joining the Department. Corrections offers a variety of rewarding careers; it is great to see that demonstrated first hand through the staff we are honoring today.
“The people in any organisation of this size are the key. Without the dedicated and diverse people we have here we could not operate. It shows extraordinary dedication that those we have recognised today have given so much of themselves to the Department, especially given the challenging nature of our work.
“Many of staff who are recognised today have come from operational backgrounds in community probation offices or prisons, actively managing offenders and helping shape the future paths their lives will take.
“Others of them have helped shape Corrections' path with strategic direction, policies or infrastructure, which has led us to where we are today.
“As a department we all have the responsibility of making daily decisions that impact on reducing an offender’s chances of reoffending - whether directly or indirectly - which in turn means we play an important role in making our communities safer.
“I am proud to work alongside staff who display such qualities, and in a place which brings out those qualities in people.
The Department acknowledges the long service of both custodial and non-custodial staff through these events each year around the country. Awards to custodial staff are issued under authority delegated by Her Majesty the Queen, under Royal Warrant. In 2005 it was decided to also recognise non-custodial long serving staff with Departmental badges.
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