Sailors buoyant as order conferred
A pair of top Kiwi sailors were “humbled” to be honoured among the country’s best and brightest yesterday.
Olympic gold medallists and America’s Cup-winning pair Peter Burling and Blair Tuke were made Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to sailing, during an investiture ceremony at Government House in Auckland.
Tuke, 29, said it was an “amazingly proud day”.
“These sorts of days are very humbling, with amazing New Zealanders around us, hearing what they have done.”
The pair acknowledged the other New Zealanders recognised, including Emeritus Professor Dame Charmian O’Connor, of Auckland, for services to education and chemistry.
“For us, it is just about going sailing, and doing the best we can.
“With our closest family around it is a really proud one for Pete and I, especially for our grandparents, they will be stoked.”
The pair have enjoyed great success on the water, winning four consecutive 49er class World Championships (2013-2016) — the first to do so — and every major 49er regatta between the London 2012 Olympics and Rio 2016 Olympics, culminating in a gold medal.
They were also captains of the New Zealand Olympic team that went to Rio and came back as our most successful Olympic team.
Tuke said yesterday’s recognition was up there with all of their achievements so far.
Since Rio they have dedicated themselves to helping Team NZ win the 35th America’s Cup in 2017, and more recently completed the 2017/18 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race. They were included in the Queen’s New Year Honours List in 2016, but this was the first investiture ceremony they could make.
Burling, 27, said they hoped to inspire young New Zealanders to pursue their own big dreams.
“It is pretty cool seeing what our country manages to achieve, hopefully we can inspire more young people to continue that legacy.”