Two Ministry for Pacific Peoples team members have been awarded prestigious Te Rā Ratonga Tūmatanui Public Service Day Awards, which recognise public servants who exemplify the spirit of service.
At the Ministry for Pacific Peoples, service stands for commitment to people, culture, and community. Recently, two of our leaders were recognised nationally for the impact they’ve made over decades of dedicated work.
Ropeta Mene-Tuila, Director of Southern Commissioning and Partnerships, was awarded Te Tohu Ratonga Tūmatanui o Aotearoa – The New Zealand Public Service Medal.
Leutele Levaogogo Seabee Tulilo (Leutele), Partnerships Lead, Northern, received Te Tohu Amorangi a Te Kawa Mataaho – the Public Service Commissioner’s Commendation for Excellence.
“These awards are a powerful reminder of the heart and soul of our public service; people who serve with humility, integrity, and deep care for communities,” says the Secretary for Pacific Peoples, Gerardine Clifford-Lidstone.
“Ropeta and Leutele live these values every day, often behind the scenes, quietly making a difference where it matters most.”
These honours recognise the dedication, integrity, and care that public servants quietly deliver. Ropeta and Leutele exemplify this through humble leadership and unwavering service to communities across the country.
Ropeta: believing in service, not status
When the phone call came from the Public Service Commission, Ropeta’s first thought was that there had been a mistake.
“I think you’ve contacted the wrong person,” she said. “I never expected anything like this.”
Those who work alongside her and the communities she serves see it differently. Her leadership is grounded in service, not status, and is consistently calm, assured, and focused on lifting Pacific voices, reflecting the values of tautua (service), alofa (love), and fa‘aaloalo (respect).
Ropeta’s work often takes her into remote South Island communities, where Pacific whānau are few but closely connected. She builds trust with local and government agencies alike, helping everyone understand and respond to the lived realities of Pacific families. Her efforts ensure Pacific voices are reflected in decisions that directly affect their communities.
Her commitment to the wellbeing of Pacific communities is especially evident in times of crisis. During the Dunedin storm and local state of emergency in May 2025, Ropeta worked alongside Civil Defence and regional agencies to support flood-affected Pacific families. She attended coordination meetings and ensured vital welfare updates from agencies were clearly communicated to Pacific providers on the ground, enabling them to deliver timely and culturally responsive support to their communities.
In December 2024, when the Smithfield meat processing plant in Timaru suddenly closed, impacting hundreds of workers — including many from Pacific communities — Ropeta supported the lead agency on the ground to mobilise the response. She worked alongside agencies and providers to ensure Pacific families were connected to key services and had access to the support they needed for their wellbeing.
Beyond crisis response, Ropeta is dedicated to strengthening the public service from within. Having had the privilege to serve with SPACPAC earlier in her career, she continues to champion the network as a space where Pacific public servants are empowered to grow, lead, and thrive — fostering cultural capability and Pacific leadership across government.
During the COVID-19 disruptions and post-pandemic recovery, her leadership remained grounded in humility, integrity, and care for people.
Ropeta Mene-Tuila
Leutele: service through presence and care
Leutele’s leadership is shaped by his roles as a chief and orator chief and by the protocols of fa‘a Samoa. Over two decades of public service, from frontline roles in youth and employment to national leadership in Pacific engagement, he has consistently demonstrated kaitiakitanga, long-term care, and service to others.
He is particularly effective in connecting with Pacific NEETs (youth not in employment, education, or training), engaging through honest, values-based talanoa about purpose, work ethic, and identity. His relational approach builds trust and inspires change, often helping young people re-engage with education or work.
Leutele’s leadership comes alive in moments that matter most. During the 2023 Auckland floods and Cyclone Gabrielle, he went straight to evacuation centres, checking on families, connecting with elders, and ensuring Pacific voices were heard. His calm presence brought reassurance and helped agencies respond with culturally grounded care.
In 2024, when the Samoan Citizenship (Western Samoa) Amendment Bill reopened long-held wounds, Leutele led national talanoa across Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, and Te Tai Tokerau. He created safe spaces where families could share grief, ask questions, and be listened to. His guidance helped communities navigate a complex and emotional moment with dignity, ensuring their stories, perspectives, and hopes were heard at every level.
Beyond these moments, Leutele shares his cultural knowledge across government through workshops and advisory groups, quietly helping colleagues understand Pacific perspectives and strengthen connections with the communities they serve.
Leutele Levaogogo Seabee Tulilo
Service that inspires
Ropeta and Leutele exemplify what public service looks like when it is led by heart: steady, relational, and guided by care, humility, and integrity.
The Ministry thanks them for their exceptional contribution and celebrates them as examples of the many staff who tirelessly show up for communities, often without fanfare, day after day. Their recognition reflects not only individual excellence but also the extraordinary calibre of the wider Ministry team, whose commitment underpins everything the organisation achieves”, says Gerardine.