As New Zealand celebrates an incredible year for women’s sport, some of the country’s most influential women in sport have been recognised for their efforts.
After a mammoth push to back the Black Ferns and women’s rugby for the Rugby World Cup, Dame Professor Farah Palmer receives the highest honour in the 2023 New Year Honours list.
Eleven Kiwi women in sport, including Olympic champion Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, have been celebrated on this year’s list.
Dame Professor Farah Palmer, Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
To the casual observer, it may have seemed like the surge in interest in women’s rugby came overnight, as the Black Ferns sold out Eden Park and lifted the Rugby World Cup trophy in front of 42,000 adoring fans in November.
But it’s all thanks to some of the pioneers of the sport, including Dame Professor Farah Palmer.
Palmer captained the Black Ferns to three World Cup titles – in 1998, 2002 and 2006, with 35 appearances in the black jersey over 10 years.
But it’s also her work after her retirement in 2006 that make her worthy of this recognition for her services to sport, particularly rugby.
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In 2016, she became the first woman to be appointed to the New Zealand Rugby Board, and will be deputy chair next year, as Dame Patsy Reddy takes the reins as the first female chair.
Palmer (Ngāti Maniapoto, Waikato) is passionate about women’s rugby and Māori rugby and is a senior lecturer at Massey University, spreading her expertise to the next generation of leaders.
Leigh Gibbs, Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
Leigh Gibbs was the sixth Silver Ferns coach, leading the team from 1994-1997, a mere seven years after her retirement from the side.
Amassing 61 test caps, Gibbs spent two years as captain of the Ferns, including leading the team to Netball World Cup victory in 1987.
A dynamo at wing defence, the Cantabrian is a legend of her region, coaching the Canterbury Flames and Tactix, and now works as the general manager of Nelson Netball Centre.
Kereyn Smith, Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
The CEO of the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) for 11 years, Kereyn Smith had a goal to increase women in leadership positions across sport in New Zealand.
Working with NZOC for three Summer Olympics, two Winter, two Commonwealth Games and a pandemic, Smith’s influence saw New Zealand slowly but steadily increase the percentage of women athletes competing on the global scale. Her legacy continues, with 53 percent of Kiwi athletes at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games being women.
Smith stepped down at the end of 2021, and in May became the transformation director at Cycling New Zealand, charged with driving change in a sport shaken by the report into its culture and athlete wellbeing. She was also a driving force for Auckland to host the IWG World Conference on Women and Sport in November.
Pānia Papa, Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
Papa receives her honour for services to Māori language education and broadcasting, but also was a talented netballer, playing two games for the Silver Ferns in 1990.
A champion for the revitalisation of te reo Māori, Papa (Ngāti Korokī-Kahukura, Ngāti Mahuta) has worked as a television presenter, translator, and lectured at the University of Waikato for 10 years. Te Wānanga o Aotearoa is running a two year master’s degree for te reo, of which Papa is a faculty member for, a course with very high demand, as interest in learning the language increases.
Anna Harrison, Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit
After 20 years, Anna Harrison retired from domestic netball this year, the rangy Silver Ferns defender finishing a stellar career with a World Cup gold and two Commonwealth Games gold medals. The 39-year-old still is involved in sport, playing both indoor and beach volleyball – sports she started as a teenager.
Dayle Jackson, Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit
Dayle Jackson’s 40 years in education, including as principal of Kelson School in Lower Hutt, involved coaching various sports. Jackson was also the manager of the Black Sticks hockey team, as well as a player and coach for Hockey New Zealand, and a bowls umpire and coach at Bowls Wellington.
Melony O’Connor, Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit
O’Connor is one of the leading basketball referees in New Zealand, and was the first woman to officiate 400 men’s National Basketball League (NBL) games, putting her third on the most games refereed list. O’Connor (Ngāti Porou) was NBL Referee of the Year for the last three years, and works with Māori Basketball New Zealand to develop referees.
Melony O'Connor was the NBL referee of the year.
Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit
The first Kiwi to win a Winter Olympic gold medal, Zoi Sadowski-Synnott made history twice in Beijing this year when she collected a silver – the first New Zealand athlete to win two medals at a Games. A role model to young Wānaka athletes, the 21-year-old also received the Lonsdale Cup this year, the NZOC’s most prestigious award to an athlete who has made the most outstanding contribution to an Olympic or Commonwealth sport.
Cheryl Smith, Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit
Cheryl Smith (Ngāpuhi) has given thousands of children the opportunity to be involved in sports in Northland over the past 25 years. The community connector for Sport Northland, Smith also won two Rugby World Cups as a Black Fern, and coached both men’s and women’s teams in Northland, including Northland Kauri team in the Farah Palmer Cup.
Noeline Jeffries, Queen’s Service Medal
An advocate for safety in the equestrian community, Noeline Jeffries is a rider, instructor and judge. She also volunteers and is a leader of efforts to commemorate the war horses of New Zealand.
Carol Martin, Queen’s Service Medal
Carol Martin has been involved with Hokitika Netball for almost 40 years, in a variety of roles. She also has worked in education, helping construct facilities for schools and sports teams.
