Pacific stars in the running at NZ's top sport awards

A number of Pacific sports people are in the running for the Halberg awards this year.

The ISPS Handa Halberg Awards recognises the best of New Zealand’s sporting talents and pays tribute to athletes in the sporting community.

There have been 13 para-athletes and paralympians nominated for the 61st Halberg Awards, one of them being gold medal winner for shotput para-athlete, Lisa Adams.

Adams serves as a F37* shot putter and a F38 discus thrower. 

She is notable for winning the gold medal in shot put F37 at the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai.

She also won the gold in shot put F37 at 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo.

Other well-known sports stars who have been nominated, include Ardie Savea for the Sportsman of the Year and is a finalist for the World Rugby Player of the Year category.

Savea was also named the Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Player of the Year, the top prize in New Zealand rugby, and is well known for his No. 8 jersey for the All Blacks.

Other categories include Team of the Year, for which All Blacks, All Blacks Sevens, Black Ferns Sevens, and the Warriors are finalists.

The event is named after the late Murray Halberg, who became one of New Zealand's greatest athletes after a rugby injury that left his left arm paralysed.

Halberg also won Olympic and Empire Games gold medals, setting several world records.

The event will be held on 14 February 2024 at Auckland’s Spark Arena.