Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission (previously State Services Commission) welcomed their first Pacific Deputy Commissioner Tania Ott.
Tania is the Deputy Commissioner for the new Public Service Fale, a unit recently established within the Te Kawa Mataaho that serves Public Service Commissioners from across the Pacific region.
Tania is of Samoan and Māori descent with her family based in New Zealand, Apia and Falealupo. Her iwi affiliations are Te Iwi o Ngātiwai.
She has a demonstrated heart for the Pacific and a proven track record of building and maintaining strong relationships, which will be critical in this role.
Previously an Assistant Commissioner at the State Services Commission, Tania is a Lawyer by training.
In addition to another first, the Public Service Commission officially welcomed Tania in a Pacific ceremony commencing with a fa’alupega and attended by three Church Ministers who provided blessings for the ceremony and representation of the sub-regions of the Pacific – Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia.
Other guests at the welcome included Ministry for Pacific Peoples Chief Executive Laulu Mac Leauanae.
Tania’s current priority is marking the shift from the interim team, to a fully functioning Fale.