Live updates of the 63rd annual Halberg Awards, from Auckland’s Spark Arena.
All you need to know
The 63rd Halberg Awards take place in Auckland tonight with stars of the track and field and snow dominating the 32 finalists.
This year’s finalists across six categories were chosen from 59 nominations received, and voted by a panel of former elite athletes and coaches, sports administrators, and sports media.
The awards will be broadcast free-to-air from 8pm on Sky Open and Sky Sport.
Of the 32 finalists, 12 have connections to the track and field or the snow.
All finalists for sportswoman, sportsman, team and para-athlete/team are eligible for the supreme award. During the event, the leadership award and New Zealand’s favourite sporting moment will also be announced.
Golfer Dame Lydia Ko was awarded New Zealand’s supreme sporting honour in 2025, but she is not among the finalists for the 2026 prize.
Sportswoman of the Year
Niamh Fisher-Black (cycling - road), Sammie Maxwell (cycling - mountain bike), Jorja Miller (rugby union), Alice Robinson (snow sports - alpine ski racing), Erin Routliffe (tennis), Zoi Sadowski-Synnott (snow sports -snowboarding).
Sportsman of the Year
Geordie Beamish (athletics - track), Ryan Fox (golf), Luca Harrington (snow sports - freeskiing), Hamish Kerr (athletics - field), Chris Wood (football).
Para Athlete/Para Team of the Year
Lisa Adams (Para athletics - field), Danielle Aitchison (Para athletics), Devon Briggs (Para cycling - track), Cameron Leslie (swimming), Nicole Murray (Para cycling - track).
Team of the Year
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).
Coach of the Year
Brendon Cameron (Para cycling - track), Hamish McDougall (snow sports - freeski), Mike Rodger (rowing), James Sandilands (athletics), Cory Sweeney (rugby sevens).
Emerging Talent
Lily Greenough (cycling - BMX), Finley Melville Ives (snow sports - freeski), Zoe Pedersen (swimming and surf lifesaving), Sam Ruthe (athletics), Braxton Sorensen-McGee (rugby union), Cooper Moore (golf).
Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.