Top Sportspeople Recognised With Honours
Minister for Sport and Recreation
The King's Birthday 2025 Honours List recognises the outstanding depth of talent, dedication, and leadership across New Zealand's sport sector, says Sport and Recreation Minister, Mark Mitchell.
'I would like to particularly acknowledge the appointment of Catriona Williams as a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. As a former top equestrian rider, she became a tetraplegic after a riding accident in 2002. She has since turned adversity into advocacy, founding The CatWalk Spinal Cord Injury Trust in 2005 and raising significant funds and awareness for spinal cord injury research.
Two of our cricketing greats, Sophie Devine and Timothy Southee, have also been recognised as Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
'Sophie Devine has led the White Ferns through international campaigns, including a T20 World Cup win in 2024 and a bronze medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. She is a cricket icon and powerful role model for the next generation.
'Tim Southee's legacy in cricket is vast. He became the only player to have achieved 300 Test, 200 ODI, and 100 T20I wickets. His influence goes beyond the pitch, as a mentor and leader whose impact on the sport will be felt for years to come.'
Sarah Walker has also been appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to BMX and sport governance.
'Sarah's success spans from Olympic podiums to global sports leadership. As an Olympic silver medallist and now a member of the International Olympic Committee, she has championed athlete rights and inspired countless young New Zealanders.'
Murray Mexted for his services to rugby, is another notable recipient.
'As a legend of the game, both on the field as a formidable All Black, and as a charismatic and influential voice in rugby commentary, his commitment to rugby in New Zealand is something we are all proud of.
'My congratulations to all our sportspeople honoured this year. Your contributions continue to shape New Zealand's sporting legacy and inspire us all,' says Mr Mitchell.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- Otago Daily Times
Bygone tour of media frenzies, fabled footy
Yesterday marked 20 years since the 2005 Lions tour of New Zealand began. Otago Daily Times sports editor Hayden Meikle, who followed the tour for all five weeks, reflects on a memorable experience. Honestly, it still all seems a little unreal. But the memories are fresh. My former boss, Craig Page, then the sports editor of the Otago Daily Times , made a bold pitch to the higher-ups that our newspaper needed to follow the Lions for the entirety of the 2005 tour of New Zealand, and that both young(ish) rugby writer Hayden Meikle and photographer Craig Baxter should be given a free pass to hit the road. It seems unthinkable in modern times, when newspaper reporters are lucky if the budget extends to a trip to Mosgiel, and we will forever be grateful for the opportunity we were given. We worked hard, to be fair. Craig snapped a million photos, I wrote match reports and columns and profiles and colour stories, and there was never really a second when we were not in work mode, because there was just so much happening. Oh, and we were walking advertisements for New Zealand's best newspaper, too. We were given ODT -branded winter jackets, a sack of 30 ODT beanies (still got one), and enormous magnetic signs for the sides of our rental car. Signs which, full confession, found their way into a rubbish bin rather early in the tour. There were unprecedented levels of hype around this tour, the Lions' first to New Zealand in the professional era. Tales of past tours dipped into romanticism but this one was more of a corporate affair with as much emphasis on marketing and communications — the Lions were accompanied by notorious spin doctor Alastair Campbell, who had been Tony Blair's man at 10 Downing St — as the rugby. Control-freak coach Clive Woodward, surfing on the glory of leading England to World Cup success two years earlier, enlisted an insanely large squad, and commissioned a ghastly tour anthem, The Power Of Four , that was met with rolled eyes whenever it was played. Yet, for all the hooha that surrounded it, the tour was immense fun. Our task was to capture as much of the off-field colour as rugby action, and we deliberately went off the beaten path at times. We caught up with lots of visiting fans — the real reason Lions tours are so wonderful — and accompanied the players on hospital visits and had a delightful day in Southbridge, near Christchurch, where we were invited in for tea and biscuits at the childhood home of a rising star called Dan Carter. I wrote a lot about our travel experiences and about the pre-match entertainment, the latter getting me into a little hot water when I was less than complimentary about an element of the Carisbrook show that did not particularly impress. Then there was the bombing. The July 7 London terrorist attack, targeting commuters on their way to work, cast a shadow on the tour. With our printing flexibility, the ODT was the only New Zealand newspaper to have reaction from the Lions in the next day's edition. New Zealand has never seen anything like the hordes of media that descended on these shores for the Lions tour. All of Britain's great rugby writers were here, along with television and radio crews sniffing out every story angle, and press conferences were a huge deal. It was an odd Lions squad, containing some of Woodward's old English soldiers and a bunch of players who were not really comparable to some of the great touring stars of the past. Jonny Wilkinson, Brian O'Driscoll, Lawrence Dallaglio, Gavin Henson and Jason Robinson were the big names, but for various reasons, none really made any impact. The Lions won all their provincial games but were beaten by New Zealand Māori and then whitewashed 3-0 by a very good All Blacks team. Christchurch hosted the first test. It poured with rain, and there was a flashpoint after just two minutes when the great O'Driscoll was invalided out of that tour after a clumsy clear-out. What followed was remarkable as Woodward called the media together for a forensic explanation of why perpetrators Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu should have been banned, and there were days of septic atmosphere as the Lions kept banging on about the transgression. Umaga, the All Blacks captain, finally spoke about the incident at a fever-pitch press conference during which team-mate Anton Oliver stood by as a sort of bodyguard. The second test, in Wellington, featured the All Blacks at their best, led by a divine performance from Dan Carter, and it was all rather anti-climactic when they wrapped up a 3-0 series win at Eden park. Many reflect on the 2005 tour as something of a fizzer because the Lions were so average. For my friend Baxter and I, well, it was a special time. The Lions returned to New Zealand in 2017 for a contentious 1-1 series draw and games against Super Rugby teams, not provinces, and are scheduled to tour in 2029. Their series in Australia starts against the Force in Perth on June 28. 2005 Lions tour Five big moments 1. Laurie's prediction. "We'll maul Clive's pussycats" was the wonderful headline on a pre-tour story I wrote with former All Blacks coach Laurie Mains. He was spot-on. 2. Woodward's largesse. Much of the discussion before the tour surrounded Lions coach Clive Woodward and his decision to bring 44 players — allowing him to run a separate midweek team — and 25 management to New Zealand. 3. Tū meke. New Zealand Māori showed unfathomable courage to beat the Lions in Hamilton. 4. The strife of Brian. The Lions suffered a terrible blow, and the tour got a discussion point that just would not quit, when star captain Brian O'Driscoll suffered a tour-ending injury just two minutes into the first test when he was tipped up by Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu. 5. Carter masterclass. Dan Carter scored 33 points in the second test in Wellington in arguably the greatest All Blacks individual performance of all time. Results Beat BOP 34-20, beat Taranaki 36-14, lost to NZ Māori 19-13, beat Wellington 23-6, beat Otago 30-19, beat Southland 26-16, lost to All Blacks 21-3, beat Manawatū 109-6, lost to All Blacks 48-18, beat Auckland 17-13, lost to All Blacks 38-19.
1News
a day ago
- 1News
'If I can't beat him, I should retire' - Nyika's next opponent named
David Nyika will make his comeback from his devastating knockout loss against Jai Opetaia six months ago against Nik Charalampous — an Aucklander who today described the Kiwi Olympian as "overrated". The man known within New Zealand boxing circles as "Nik the Greek" said that for effect in a press conference today but will almost certainly believe the opposite. The 32-year-old Charalampous, a fulltime boxing coach who has a 23-6-2 record as a professional and went the full 10 rounds against the now cruiserweight world champion Opetaia six years ago, is too experienced to truly think that. "I've known David for a long time," Charalampous told 1News. "We've done heaps of sparring over the years. We know each other very well. It would have been nice to have been given 10 weeks' notice for the fight, but I have been consistently training so my body is ready to go into that next gear." ADVERTISEMENT Charalampous, a father of a 12-year-old daughter and 17-month-old son, last week signed off on the fight, to be on the undercard of the Sonny Bill Williams v Paul Gallen main event grudge match in Sydney on July 16. His last fight in a high-profile event was on the undercard of the Nyika v Tommy Karpency main event in Auckland in September last year. Charalampous's opponent was former All Black Liam Messam and the result was a draw, but he arrived out of shape at 107kg and there is no doubt he will take this assignment against a former Commonwealth Games gold medallist far more seriously, albeit at catchweight. (He is likely to tip the scales at around 95kg, with Nyika likely to make the cruiserweight limit of 90.72kg.) Nik Charalampous knows the odds are against him. (Source: Photosport) His defeat by decision in Sydney to Australian-Samoan Opetaia — widely considered the best cruiserweight in the world — remains one of his best achievements in the ring. "I just remember before the fight watching the highlights of him knocking everyone out," Charalampous said. "I was pretty nervous… I'm happy I lasted the 10 rounds with him. I'm not going to be a world champion or anything but when I talk to my grandkids or people I train with, I can say I fought some of the best of my generation." ADVERTISEMENT For his part, Nyika, who was viciously knocked out in the fourth round by Opetaia on the Gold Coast in January after taking the world title fight on short notice, left no doubt about his goal. "If I can't get past Nik I should probably retire," Nyika, now 10-1 as a professional, said. "It won't be an easy fight. I know what Nik is capable of and how much trouble he's given the top guys. For me, it's very much an opportunity to prove what I can do. If I can't stop Nik, it won't be a success for me but, if I lose the fight, it makes it a very hard comeback. "My eyes are still set on the world title and that re-match with Jai… the setback is just another ingredient to the stew. We have so much further to go. "It's not easy to come back from a loss and this was a big loss. This is my livelihood and a big part of my identity today… it's a big step towards the ultimate goal of becoming a world champion." Charalampous, who recently took several of his boxers to Golden Gloves success, is a classic journeyman comeback opponent for a world-class fighter who has suffered a setback. His relatively late signing is also an indication that few potential opponents were willing to sign on for the money on offer, but promoter David Higgins today said he thought Charalampous would do his job well. ADVERTISEMENT The initial plan was for Nyika, who revealed recently to 1News that he couldn't remember being knocked out by Opetaia in the IBF world title fight, to make his comeback on the Gold Coast this month. "Nik is tough," Higgins said. "He's very durable – he's never been put down by a punch. He's very experienced and is used to being on the big stage." Nyika's trainer Noel Thornberry thought the same. "David needs rounds – he's never been past five rounds and Nik could be the one to provide them," he said. "There's no time like ring time."
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
'Always show the grit and determination': Stead steps down as Black Caps coach
Black Caps coach Gary Stead's successful seven years in charge of the men's national cricket side is over. Stead, who last month confirmed he would step away as coach of the white-ball formats, was effectively ruled out of contention for the head coach role after NZC opted for one head coach across all three formats. Stead oversaw the inaugural World Test Championship win in 2021, and an unprecedented 3-0 test series sweep of India on the sub-continent last year, alongside five out of six finals appearances in ICC white-ball World Cups. The Black Caps' consistency was a hallmark of the Stead era, with the side rising to number one in the ICC test and ODI rankings during his stint, as well as winning numerous bi-lateral series and breaking new ground with series wins at home and abroad. Stead can also be credited with rejuvenating the team during his time in charge with the selections of stars such as Daryl Mitchell, Kyle Jamieson, Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra and Will O'Rourke. "(Former captain) Brendon McCullum and (former coach) Mike Hesson had left the team with strong values and a style of play, and I've just tried to build and shape that further to grow our ability to be consistent in everything we do," Stead said. "It's been nice to be competitive across all three formats and I'd like to think that regardless of results, the opposition know the Black Caps are a team that won't fold and will always show the grit and determination to compete." Stead said the ICC World Test Championship victory and the 3-0 sweep of India were highlights of his tenure, alongside the way the team held themselves during and after the agonising 2019 World Cup final loss to England in the Super Over. "There's been some amazing memories over the past seven years based around a group of fantastic and talented people who have gone out to give their best for their country, each other and for the fans," he said. "For a country with five million people and limited resources, we comparatively perform outstandingly well against the other powerhouses of the game. "I am grateful to all those that have helped and supported me during my time, especially to my wife Rachel and children Alex and Libby who have sacrificed so much." Stead said he will now take some time to "refresh and recharge" but still intends to continue coaching. "I still have the coaching bug and will look to explore opportunities at home and abroad where I can look to share what I've learned from my 30 years of professional sport as a player and coach." All-time New Zealand test run scorer Kane Williamson hailed Stead's contribution, saying "'Steady' gave absolutely everything to the team. "There was no one more hardworking and passionate about seeing the Black Caps grow and succeed. He was always thorough in his planning and preparation and will go down as one of our best coaches, but an even better bloke." NZC chief executive Scott Weenink praised Stead's impact. "On behalf of NZC, I want to extend Gary our deepest gratitude for his dedication and commitment and wish him every success in his future endeavours." Stead's final few weeks in charge will see him at the Black Caps winter camps helping players prepare for July's tour to Zimbabwe. Black Caps achievements during Gary Stead's tenure, 2018 - 2025 Overall: Played: 268 | Won: 147 | Lost: 100 | Draw: 6 | Tied: 6 | NR: 9 Test: Played: 52 | Won: 27 | Lost: 19 | Draw: 6 ODI: Played: 97 | Won: 56 | Lost: 35 | Tied: 1 | NR: 5 T20I: Played: 119 | Won: 64 | Lost: 46 | Tied: 5 | NR: 4 2018 - First NZ Test series victory away to Pakistan since 1969 2019 - Runner-up on boundary countback in 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup in England and Wales 2021 - Inaugural ICC World Test Championship winners 2021 - Runner-up in ICC T20 World Cup in the UAE 2022 - First NZ white-ball series victories in West Indies 2022 - Semi-finalists in ICC T20 World Cup in Australia 2023 - Semi-finalists in ICC Cricket World Cup in India 2024 - First NZ Test series victory over South Africa 2025 - First team to clean-sweep India 3-0 in a Test series at home 2025 - Runner-up in ICC Champions Trophy ICC #1 ranked Test and ODI team at various times
