Good on defence, and attack: Hawke’s Bay woman wins top Defence Force award

Deena-Ranginui Puketapu, from Hawke's Bay, pictured in action in a game of touch against Australia, has been named New Zealand Defence Force Sportsperson of the Year. Photo / NZDF

A former Hawke’s Bay schoolgirl has been named the New Zealand Defence Force Sportsperson of the Year for a second time.

Deena-Ranginui Puketapu, a former pupil of Hukarere Māori Girls College and now a physical training officer with 15 years’ experience in the Royal New Zealand Navy, was NZDF Young Sportsperson of the Year in 2014.

She claimed the top honour for the first time two years later, and has now repeated the feat in 2025.

Last year, she was in the New Zealand Open Mixed Touch Team and NZ Open Mixed Female MVP, played in the NZ Māori Open Women’s Touch Team in Sydney, and played for the NRL Māori All Stars, being named in the NRL All Stars Team of the Match.

In July 2024, Petty Officer Puketapu played for the New Zealand Touch Blacks, with the side winning the women’s silver medal at the Federation of International Touch World Cup in England.

Puketapu said: “Playing for the Māori All Stars … that was special. It wasn’t just sport. It was representing my iwi, my hapū – the whole kaupapa was amazing.”

With 33 caps playing for New Zealand Touch Blacks, she says she’s looking ahead with her eye on 50 caps, before she thinks about starting to hang up her boots.

Born in Napier, and raised between there and home at Patangata in Central Hawke’s Bay, she grew up with a ball in her hand and a multiple-sports passion.

At provincial level in the last year, she played for the Premier Touch League Northern Strikers and North Harbour Open Women’s Team, and has represented the Navy in touch, rugby, netball and basketball, captaining the touch and basketball teams.

“My koro always said as soon as I could walk, I was playing something,” she laughs.

At Hukarere Māori Girls College, she became head girl and sports prefect, representing Hawke’s Bay in basketball, netball and touch.

Deena-Ranginui Puketapu, Petty Officer and physical training officer with the Royal New Zealand Navy. Photo / NZDF

In 2011 after homesickness and injury guided her back to Aotearoa from a US basketball scholarship, she briefly considered the New Zealand Police, but was too young, so she joined the Navy seeking challenge, sport and adventure.

“I just wanted something different,” she said. “To play sport, travel, and challenge myself. Navy felt like throwing myself in the deep end – in a good way.”

Alongside her elite sporting achievements, she has developed and led an NZDF-wide “Wāhine Whakamarohirohi” strength and wellness programme, creating dedicated space to educate and empower women within the gym environment to live fitter, stronger, healthier lifestyles.

Her vision has already influenced planning for future women-focused physical capability training across the services.

Her dedication to mentorship, especially supporting junior athletes and first-time players, was highlighted in her nomination and strongly praised by the selection panel.