Mrs Karen Bartlett, of Havelock North, MNZM for services to the community and social services
Karen Bartlett (Ngāti Tūwharetoa) is Regional Commissioner for the Ministry of Social Development East Coast and Regional Public Service Commissioner East Coast Region. She ensured community and individual needs were met throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and Cyclone Gabrielle. She has led and influenced joint outcomes involving employers, councils, agencies, iwi and community. She initiated a programme within the Hawke’s Bay community to upskill and provide a larger pool of locals to recruit from for the Whakarongorau Telehealth Lines at Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga Call Centre. Mrs Bartlett is providing leadership with the Tēnēi Tamaiti, Tēnēi Whānau project, to address the decline in student attendance and engagement in education.