New Zealander of the year: Cricket captain gathering pace

Herald readers have only a short time left to nominate their candidate for the Herald's Man and Woman of the Year for 2000.

More than 2100 people have faxed, e-mailed or written to the Herald with their nominations for the man and woman who they think have made a big difference over the past 12 months.

Supporters of Emily Drumm, captain of the victorious women's cricket team, have been busy in the past week firing off nominations, suggesting she take the honour.

Their dedication has seen the number of nominations for Drumm jump from one to 65.

But it will take more than her impressive cricketing skills to outstrip the two top women in the race, Women's Refuge head Merepeka Raukawa-Tait and Xena star Lucy Lawless.

These two have been vying for the most support since nominations were first called for a month ago.

Among the politicians, Act MP Muriel Newman, Prime Minister Helen Clark and Green MPs Jeanette Fitzsimons and Nandor Tanczos have been the favourites.

The support for Muriel Newman has been boosted by an e-mail campaign by members of a "Father Friendly Database," who were urged to vote for the list MP after being told that nominations for Ms Raukawa-Tait were part of a ploy by the Women's Refuge organisation.

National Party leader Jenny Shipley is likely to avoid using the nomination table as a way of rallying party support behind her leadership, after garnering only five expressions of support.

This compares with 134 for the Prime Minister.

Labour MP Tariana Turia also has five nominations.

Voting closes at noon tomorrow, so any e-mails, letters or faxes received after that time will not be included.

The Herald Man and Woman of the Year for 2000 will be announced in Monday's newspaper.

The voting


WOMEN


Merepeka Raukawa-Tait 506

Actor Lucy Lawless 467

Act MP Muriel Newman 182

Prime Minister Helen Clark 134

Green MP Jeanette Fitzsimons 74

Cricket captain Emily Drumm 67

Winz boss Christine Rankin 58

Green MP Sue Bradford 12

Hockey player Mandy Smith 11

Broadcaster Kim Hill 9

Cyclist Sarah Ulmer 8

Cancer patient Colleen Poutsma 8

Labour MP Tariana Turia 5

Opposition leader Jenny Shipley 5

Squash champion Leilani Joyce 5

Actor and producer Anna Wilding 3

Boardsailer Barbara Kendall 3

Alliance MP Laila Harre 3

Broadcaster Maggie Barry 2

Squash champion Susan Devoy 2


MEN


Olympic rower Rob Waddell 211

Film-maker Peter Jackson 58

Health chief David Clarke 50

Green MP Nandor Tanczos 47

Boxer David Tua 30

Chemist Alan MacDiarmid 23

Men's Rights' Bruce Cheriton 22

Mad Butcher Peter Leitch 19

Yachtsman Russell Coutts 17

Businessman Stephen Tindall 13

Commissioner Roger McClay 12

All Black coach Wayne Smith 12

Broadcaster John Campbell 10

Yachtsman Peter Blake 9

Actor Russell Crowe 8

Christian leader Graham Capill 8

Jockey Michael Walker 7

Alliance MP Grant Gillon 7

Yachtsman Dean Barker 6

Cereal-maker Dick Hubbard 5

Deputy PM Jim Anderton 4

Writer Joe Bennett 4

Race conciliator Rajen Prasad 3

Minister Michael Cullen 2

Weatherman Augie Auer 2

Broadcaster Lindsay Perigo 2

Horseman Mark Todd 2

Act MP Rodney Hide 2

Labour MP John Tamihere 2

Speaker Jonathan Hunt 2

All Black Doug Howlett 2


Send your nominations to:

Your Vote

NZ Herald Editorial

PO Box 3290, Auckland

Fax: 373-6421

E-mail: yourvote@nzherald.co.nz