Vaka Tautua Awards Recognise Outstanding Staff Service
Our Vaka Tautua Service Award champions 2020/21 (L to R) Les Atoni, Mary Makita and Sefa Lafaiali'i. Absent: Kaiongo Tupou.
Four staff were awarded the inaugural “Vaka Tautua Service Award” at Vaka Tautua’s national fono in Auckland this week in recognition of their outstanding service.
Mary Makita, Les Atoni, Kaiongo Tupou and Sefa Lafaiaali’i were selected by Chief Executive Officer, Dr Amanda-Lanuola Dunlop and the management team as the inaugural winners of the award. The popular winners were chosen not only because they perform their work to a consistently high level, but also demonstrate the organisation’s values of manakitanga, kohitahitanga, whanaungatanga and courage (Pacific terms a work in progress) on a daily basis.
“Mary, Les, Sefa and Kai are wonderful ambassadors for Vaka Tautua,” says Dr Dunlop.
“They work tirelessly for our organisation and our communities… and by their words and actions, embody what we are about and are aiming to achieve… We are very fortunate having them as part of our team.”
Sefa Lafaiali’i, winner of the Vaka Tautua Business Administration Service Award, was surprised and overcome by the award.
“I am humbled and honoured to receive this award along with my peers… and grateful to be on this vaka journey with such wonderful people,” says Mr Lafaiali’i.
The awards will be awarded annually at the national fono. The winners for 2020/21 are:
Vaka Tautua Business Administration Service Award – Sefa Lafaiali’I, Business Lead
Vaka Tautua Auckland Service Award – Mary Makita, Community Social Worker
Vaka Tautua Wellington Service Award – Les Atoni, Acting Regional Manager
Vaka Tautua Canterbury Award – Kaiongo Tupou, Team Leader
Dr Dunlop was also recognised by staff for her tireless work over the past year. She was presented a piece of artwork and flowers by management to express staff’s gratitude for her hard work and commitment to strengthening and growing the organisation and them personally.
Vaka Tautua is a national Pacific health and disability and social services provider with a strong regional presence in the greater Auckland, Wellington, and Canterbury regions. It delivers disability, mental health, older peoples, social services, and financial capability services.
For all enquiries, please email: comms@vakatautua.co.nz