20 April 2010
Warrant Officer Class One Rick Tai describes his work as “very much a back room job”.
That hasn’t stopped him being noticed however, and he is the proud recipient of the New Zealand Meritorious Service Medal (NZMSM), an award no more than 20 Regular Force senior non-commissioned officers (SNO) can hold at any given time. The NZMSM is awarded to SNCO who have served more than 21 years with distinction, displayed exemplary behaviour, and the highest standards of professionalism.
WO1 Tai is approaching his 27th year in the New Zealand Army, and is, he says, as enthusiastic as ever about his job. From Kawhia, a small seaside town to the west of Hamilton, he enlisted in 1984 as a Regular Force Cadet and graduated into the Royal New Zealand Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. He started his soldiering career as a clerk, and believes he only started to hit his straps when he was posted to the School of Army Administration as an instructor.
“My formative years were rather chequered and it is fair to say that I had my fair share of soldier issues. I played a bit of rugby and rugby league in my time and was, by all accounts, a pretty average player really. RNZEME corps tournaments were a particular highlight, and as Graham Henry was never going to call me I stayed put in the Army.
“I get a kick out of giving service–a lot of what I do is in the background. I facilitate and enable the administration process.”
“As time went by I matured, got married, and settled right into the Army lifestyle. My trade is concerned with ensuring our people are administratively ready to perform their core jobs. We support war fighters and all of the support arm elements. In recent years, I have been busy working at Army General Staff, HQ JFNZ, and HQNZDF on a range of military and civilian human resource initiatives. I get a kick out of being of service to others, so a lot of what I do is in the background.”
In 2007, WO1 Tai was appointed to the Military Remuneration Project Team as the Army representative. He was then posted to Personnel Branch, HQNZDF as the Deputy Director Military Remuneration Policy. During 2008, his team played a key role implementing the Military Remuneration System. “It was a privilege to deliver a $100M project on time and within budget. It was a great team effort–but as I say, we all did our business behind the scenes.”
In 2009, he was appointed the Defence Remuneration Manager following an internal restructure within Personnel Branch HQNZDF. It’s a LTCOL (E) sized position which reflects the complexity and breadth of the $840M remuneration portfolio. He and his team have re-written Defence remuneration conditions and continue to work on many major pieces of policy.
In addition to his core role, WO1 Tai also advises the Assistant Chief of Personnel on Human Resource Management Information System issues which affect the NZDF. “Critical thinking and agility is the key to staying ahead of the game especially in these times of tight resource constraint,” he said.
Continuing education has been an important theme throughout WO1 Tai’s career. In 1996, he was selected along with nine other soldiers and officers who studied for and gained a Diploma in Business Studies at Massey University. “We learned about Strategic, Service, Human Resource and Organisational management theories and practices, along with Accounting concepts and Business Communication. This experience broadened my horizons and expanded my thinking. I blended my tertiary learning with my military trade and skills training to become a more effective SNCO and Warrant Officer.” He completed a Bachelor in Administrative Leadership degree in 2002 through the University of New England. He graduated with a Masters in Public Management (with merit) from Victoria University in December 2009.
WO1 Tai is a speaker of Te Reo Maori and helped establish the Army Cultural Festival at Waiouru in 1998. “My work is always in the background, enabling, supporting, simplifying and streamlining practices to ensure the right HR services are delivered on time, within budget wherever they are needed. Our sailors, soldiers, airmen & women and civilian team members deserve the best conditions of service, policies and support systems that this organisation can deliver. My work has taken me away from the cultural side of the Army and one day, I hope I can return to tautoko, the waka.
“I am tremendously proud to be awarded the NZMSM, not for me personally, but for the Administration trade in general. I agree with my good friend, Ross Simpson, it is their commitment and their contribution to the NZ Army and the Defence Force that this award actually recognises. I am privileged and humbled to wear this award on their behalf. “No Reira Ki nga Kaiwhakahaere i Muri, Tenei Te Tuake, Tenei Te Mihi Kia Koutou, Tena Koutou Katoa!” “To all the Administrators, who continue to work diligently behind the scenes to support our people, well done, and keep up the good work, wherever you are, wherever you serve”.