Editorial: McCaw my pick for Kiwi of year

All Black captain Richie McCaw announcing his retirement from rugby during a media conference at New Zealand Rugby headquarters in Wellington. 19 November 2015. New Zealand Herald Photograph by Mark

I DON'T know about you, but I couldn't help having a look through the New Year Honours list.

Actually, I checked it a couple of times but still couldn't find my name in there. Never mind, there's always next year ...

However, congratulations must go to Richard Hugh McCaw - not just on becoming the 19th (and by far the youngest) Member of the Order of New Zealand, but for eschewing a knighthood and politely declining to become "Sir Richie McCaw".

That prestigious appendage was his for the taking - indeed, those keen to earn a bit of political capital by quick-stepping into the limelight of the All Blacks' most successful captain seemed eager to push him that way.

But he has said he is uncomfortable with the idea of a title, and I think most of New Zealand would have been a little uncomfortable with him having one. It just would not have sat quite right on his broad shoulders.

McCaw is so much the ordinary Joe, the humble grafter whose focus is doing his job well rather than the baubles that success might bring.

He is Mr Down-to-Earth - even when he is up flying his helicopter.

So "elevation to the peerage" and the aggrandisement that inevitably goes with it, is not for him. He can be satisfied with an "ONZ", the most illustrious honour this country can bestow.

And another honour may be on its way to him as he is on the shortlist for the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year award, whose line-up of 10 worthies was announced this week.

Having skimmed through the other candidates, I think he should win it.

The CVs of the likes of public policy innovator Dame Margaret Bazley, biologist Professor Michael Berridge, Maori academic Dr Ranginui Walker, artist Dick Frizzell, victims advocate Louise Nicholas, lawyer Mai Chen and the others are impressive.

But while they can point to past decades of admirable work, they don't seem to have done too much of note in the past 12 months - surely a fundamental criteria for New Zealander of the Year.

Okay, McCaw is only a rugby player.

But he has had to live the past year in a goldfish bowl of global attention, under huge public pressure and expectation, with a swarm of opponents, media and pundits seeking to somehow undermine him, and perform at peak professionalism with the eyes of the world on him.

None of the other nine contenders can say that.

Quite remarkable that he did not falter.