Hamish Kerr wins Supreme Halberg Award

Hamish Kerr was named Supreme winner at the 63rd Halberg Awards PHOTO: ATHLETICS NZ

High jump star Hamish Kerr has claimed the Supreme Award at the 63rd Halberg Awards in Auckland.

Kerr, who also secured the Sportsman of the Year title earlier in the evening, capped off an extraordinary year in which he dominated on the world stage and cemented his

place among New Zealand’s sporting greats.

Kerr, took the crown over athletics team mate Geordie Beamish; Freeski Big Air World Champion Luca Harrington; footballer Chris Wood nd golfer Ryan Fox.

Snow sports icon Zoi Sadowski-Synnott was named Sportswoman of the Year beating a highly competitive field including global champions across cycling – Sammie Maxwell and

Niamh Fisher-Black; tennis – Erin Routliffe, and rugby – Jorja Miller.

Paralympic sprint star Danielle Aitchison was awarded the Para Athlete/Para Team of the Year Award, recognised for her stellar results on the track at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships.

Other finalists included fellow Para athletics team mate Lisa Adams, Para track cyclists Nicole Murray and Devon Briggs and Para swimmer Cameron Leslie.

After a season of unmatched global success, the Black Ferns Sevens were crowned the Team of the Year.

Their achievements across the 2024–25 HSBC SVNS World Series and the SVNS World Championship saw them rise above an impressive lineup of team finalists including Auckland FC, world champion men’s rowing pair Ben Taylor and Oliver Welch; the men’s team pursuit track cycling squad of Nick Kergozou, Tom Sexton, Keegan Hornblow and Marshall Erwood; the New Zealand Kiwis and the New Zealand Black Sox.

Athletics coach James Sandilands, who guided Hamish Kerr through one of the best seasons

of his career, was named Buddle Findlay Coach of the Year - his first win in this category.

The Emerging Talent Award was presented to Sam Ruthe, who made history as

the youngest person ever to run a sub-four-minute mile, marking him as one of New

Zealand’s most exciting rising stars.

Other finalists in the Emerging Talent category included; World Rugby’s Breakthrough Player of the Year Braxton Sorensen-McGee; Junior golf champion Cooper Moore; UCI BMX Junior Elite World Champion Lily Greenough; Freeski Halfpipe World Champion Finley Melville Ives; Zoe Pedersen, for an exceptional year across swimming and surf lifesaving.

Sport administrator and international leader Katie Sadleir received the Sport New Zealand

Leadership Award, recognising her influential contributions to global sport and her

longstanding dedication to athlete wellbeing and equity.

In a special moment of the evening, Kat Mueller was honoured with the Sir Murray

Halberg Legacy Award in partnership with CityFitness, acknowledging her significant work

championing inclusive sport and recreation opportunities for people with disabilities across

Aotearoa.

New Zealand’s public voted Eroni Clark singing the National Anthem ahead of the All

Blacks match, moving son Caleb to tears as their favourite sporting moment of 2025, proudly

presented in partnership with Generate.

The evening also marked the return of the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame, celebrating two

outstanding inductees. Dame Valerie Adams and Richie McCaw were formally welcomed

into this prestigious group.

It recognises their extraordinary contributions, achievements, and

lasting impact on New Zealand sport. Their induction highlighted the rich history and legacy

of Kiwi sporting excellence, inspiring both current and future generations of athletes.

Full List of Winners – 63rd ISPS HANDA Halberg Awards:

 Supreme Halberg Award: Hamish Kerr (athletics – field)

 2degrees Sportswoman of the Year: Zoi Sadowski-Synnott (snow sports -

snowboarding)

 ISPS HANDA Sportsman of the Year: Hamish Kerr (athletics – field)

 ISPS HANDA Para Athlete of the Year: Danielle Aitchison (Para athletics - track)

 ISPS HANDA Team of the Year: Black Ferns Sevens (rugby sevens)

 Buddle Findlay Coach of the Year: James Sandilands (athletics -field)

 Sky Sport Emerging Talent: Sam Ruthe (athletics – track)

 Sport New Zealand Leadership Award: Katie Sadlier

 Sir Murray Halberg Legacy Award in partnership with CityFitness: Kat Mueller

 New Zealand’s Favourite Sporting Moment in partnership with Generate: Eroni Clark