New Year 2026 Honours: Del Whyte, teacher and sports coach, awarded KSM

With news he had been awarded a King’s Service Medal for services to sport and the community in the New Year 2026 Honours List, career teacher Del Whyte could have been fulfilled with the recognition of his commitment to the pupils and their sport.

But as he watched from the boundary as Napier Boys’ High School chased national schools’ cricket supremacy in Christchurch, something was still not requited.

The school from which he retired four years ago, after 39 years as a teacher, had never won it, and was runner-up last year, so he just had to go when they qualified for the tournament again.

Alas, NBHS was fifth in the tournament a week before Christmas, leaving Whyte to return home to Taradale where he sits as president of the Hawke’s Bay Cricket Association.

Having helped run several New Zealand under-17 tournaments in Napier, he’s a life member of the association, the HB Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association and Napier OBM Cricket Club.

He was also well known as a rugby coach at the school.

A Freemason for 28 years, he became Worshipful Master of The United Lodge of Napier, and is a trustee of the Napier District Masonic Trust.

Of both Ngāti Kahungunu and Whakatōhea, he also helped organise the restoration of the wharekai and wharenui at Ruahāpia Marae and St Matthew’s Church at Waipatu Marae, around where he grew up.