Halberg is proud to announce 32 finalists across six categories for the 63rd ISPS HANDA Halberg Awards, in a year that has celebrated passion, determination and inspiring moments in New Zealand sport.
Selected by a panel of former elite athletes, coaches, sports administrators, and media representatives, the finalists were chosen from 59 nominations submitted by National and Recognised Sports Bodies and an independent Nominations Board, recognising outstanding achievements from 1 December 2024 to 30 November 2025.
The winners will be announced during a prestigious black-tie evening at Spark Arena, Auckland, on Monday 16 February 2026. The event will also crown the Sir Murray Halberg Legacy Award, Sport New Zealand’s Leadership Award and the only publicly voted Award – New Zealand’s Favourite Sporting Moment. The ceremony will be broadcast live on Sky Sport and free-to-air on Sky Open from 8:00pm.
Finalists for the Sportswoman, Sportsman, Para Athlete/Para Team, and Team categories are also eligible for the Supreme Halberg Award, the peak of sporting excellence in New Zealand.
Nine nominations were received for the 2degrees Sportswoman of the Year Award. Six finalists have been found including returning Supreme winner Zoi Sadowski-Synnott and fellow snow sports champion Alice Robinson. Other finalists include US Open Women’s Doubles Champion Erin Routliffe; UCI World Series mountain bike cross-country title holder Sammie Maxwell; road cycling world champion Niamh Fisher-Black and World Rugby’s Women’s Sevens Player of the Year Jorja Miller.
14 nominations from 11 diverse sports were received for ISPS HANDA Sportsman of the Year. Finalists include two athletics World Champions – Geordie Beamish and Hamish Kerr; Freeski Big Air World Champion Luca Harrington; Chris Wood for his stand out performances in 2025 and Ryan Fox rounds out the list for his two victories on the PGA Tour.
Five finalists have been shortlisted from a pool of 11 nominations for the ISPS HANDA Para Athlete/Para Team of the Year Award. Included is World Para shot put Champion Lisa Adams and fellow Para athletics team mate and two times world champion Danielle Aitchison; Para track cyclists Nicole Murray and Devon Briggs are also named for their achievements at the Para cycling Track World Championships; and Para swimmer Cameron Leslie rounds out the list.
Six outstanding teams have been named finalists for the ISPS HANDA Team of the Year Award. They include the Black Ferns Sevens, following a dominant year on the paddock; Auckland FC after a remarkable debut season; world champion men’s rowing pair Ben Taylor and Oliver Welch; and the men’s team pursuit track cycling squad of Nick Kergozou, Tom Sexton, Keegan Hornblow and Marshall Erwood. Rounding out this year’s finalists are the New Zealand Kiwis and the Black Sox.
A new coach will be crowned Buddle Findlay Coach of the Year, with five finalists recognised after standout seasons of success. Athletics coach James Sandilands guided Hamish Kerr to a phenomenal year, while Cory Sweeney led the Black Ferns Sevens to both the 2024–25 HSBC SVNS World Series title and the SVNS World Championship. Rowing coach Mike Rodger is also among this year’s finalists, alongside Hamish McDougall and Brendon Cameron.
Five rising stars round out the nominations for the Sky Sport Emerging Talent Award, including World Rugby’s Breakthrough Player of the Year Braxton Sorensen-McGee; UCI BMX Junior Elite World Champion Lily Greenough; Freeski Halfpipe World Champion Finley Melville Ives; Zoe Pedersen, recognised for an exceptional year across swimming and surf lifesaving; and Sam Ruthe, who became the youngest person in history to run a sub-four-minute mile.
Re-established in 1963 by Sir Murray Halberg ONZ, MBE the ISPS HANDA Halberg Awards celebrate New Zealand’s sporting success, while raising important funds for the Halberg Foundation’s vision: ensuring all young people with physical disabilities have access to sport and recreation opportunities.
Join us for the 63rd ISPS HANDA Halberg Awards by securing your tickets at https://halberg.co.nz/halberg-awards/ or contacting awards@halberg.co.nz
Full list of Nominees for the 63rd ISPS HANDA Halberg Awards:
2degrees Sportswoman of the Year (eligible for Supreme Halberg Award) (9)
Niamh Fisher-Black (cycling-road), Sammie Maxwell (cycling-mountain bike), Jorja Miller (rugby-union), Grace O’Hanlon (hockey), Alice Robinson (snow sports-alpine ski racing), Erin Routliffe (tennis), Zoi Sadowski-Synnott (snow sports-snowboarding), Emma Twigg (rowing-coastal), Maddison-Lee Wesche (athletics-field).
ISPS HANDA Sportsman of the Year (eligible for Supreme Halberg Award) (14)
Geordie Beamish (athletics-track), Dylan Brown (rugby-league), Erin Clark (rugby-league), Paul Coll (squash), Nick Collier (canoe slalom), Ryan Fox (golf), Luca Harrington (snow sports-freeskiing), Hamish Kerr (athletics-field), Charlie Morrison (hockey), Matthew Payne (motorsport), Liam Potts (softball), Oliver Puchner (canoe slalom), Joseph Tapine (rugby-league), Chris Wood (football).
ISPS HANDA Para Athlete/Para Team of the Year (eligible for Supreme Halberg Award) (11)
Lisa Adams (Para athletics-field), Danielle Aitchison (Para athletics), Devon Briggs (Para cycling-track), Emma Foy and Jessie Hodges (Para cycling-track), Anna Grimaldi (Para athletics-track), Adam Hall (Para snow sports–alpine ski racing), Cameron Leslie (swimming), Nicole Murray (Para cycling-track), Holly Robinson (Para athletics-field), William Stedman (Para athletics-track), Siobhan Terry (Para cycling-track).
ISPS HANDA Team of the Year (eligible for Supreme Halberg Award) (6)
Auckland FC (football), Black Ferns Sevens (rugby-sevens), New Zealand Black Sox (softball), New Zealand Kiwis (rugby-league), Men’s Team Pursuit: Nick Kergozou, Tom Sexton, Keegan Hornblow and Marshall Erwood (cycling-track), Ben Taylor and Oliver Welch (rowing).
Buddle Findlay Coach of the Year (9)
Darren Bazeley (football), Brendon Cameron (Para cycling-track), John Gatfield (swimming), Stacey Jones (rugby-league), Thomas Makea (softball), Hamish McDougall (snow sports-freeski), Mike Rodger (rowing), James Sandilands (athletics), Cory Sweeney (rugby-sevens).
Sky Sport Emerging Talent (10)
Luke Brooke-Smith (football), Lily Greenough (cycling-BMX), Lily Houben (mixed martial arts), Rocco Jamieson (snow sports-snowboarding), Ivana Lauitiiti (rugby-league), Yanhao (Dwayne) Li (ice figure skating), Finley Melville Ives (snow sports-freeski), Cooper Moore (golf), Zoe Pedersen (swimming and surf lifesaving), Sam Ruthe (athletics), Braxton Sorensen-McGee (rugby-union).
