The IIA NZ Gala Awards Dinner on November 5 celebrated excellence in internal auditing, spotlighting Uta Moeaki and Maika Haupeakui for their exceptional contributions.
Uta Moeaki received the Emerging Auditor of the Year award, a recognition for her “promising contributions” to the field.
Her dedication to advancing internal auditing standards was celebrated on Day 2 of the conference, where she received her award surrounded by peers.
In a highlight of the evening, Maika Haupeakui was presented with the prestigious Richard Ratliff Award – the first time in over a decade that the award has been given.
In a recorded message, Richard Ratliff himself praised Haupeakui’s commitment.
Haupeakui, who also served as the keynote speaker on November 6, shared insights on Tonga’s audit landscape in his session, “Navigating Change: Insights from Tonga’s Audit Landscape,” focusing on how cultural and technological shifts impact internal auditing.
A meeting hosted by New Zealand Auditor General John Ryan and the IIA NZ Board further highlighted the regional focus on integrity.
Discussions centered on hosting a South Pacific training in Tonga, addressing internal auditing fundamentals and fraud prevention.