Wellington, June 21 NZPA - The It's Not Ok family violence campaign won the top award at the Institute of Public Administration New Zealand (IPANZ) Public Sector Excellence Awards.

The campaign, from the Ministry of Social Development and Families Commission, won for the simplicity of its core message and it helped bring discussion about family violence into the open.

Commission chief executive Paul Curry said 'it's not ok' was now "part of the Kiwi vernacular".

"This award recognises that the campaign has given people the language and confidence to mobilise for change."

Other winners at the awards included:

* Improving Public Value through Business Transformation -- joint winners -- Counties Manukau District Health Board for the Six Hours Can be Ours initiative and Land Information New Zealand for the Landonline 100% Electronic Lodgement project.

* Working Together for Better Services - Department of Conservation and Horizons Regional Council for the Kia Wharite projects

* Crown-Maori Relationships - Taupo District Council for the Joint Management Agreement.

* Networked Government - New Zealand Police, New Zealand Fire Service Commission, Central Emergency Communications and St John emergency communications for the InterCAD project.

* Public Sector Communications - Ministry of Social Development and the Families Commission for the campaign for action on family violence, called It's not OK.

* Improving Performance through Leadership Excellence - Ministry of Social Development for the Ministry of Social Development leadership cascade project.

* Excellence in public sector media coverage - Radio New Zealand's Morning Report.

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