Four greats take a bow
It’s not the reason you play but to be recognised for something like this is really humbling.
Four sporting greats were honoured at an investiture ceremony at Government House in Auckland yesterday. Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy presented former All Black Dan Carter, golfer Lydia Ko, Olympic windsurfer Barbara Kendall and America’s Cup skipper Glenn Ashby with gongs for their services to sport.
Dan Carter
Officer of NZ Order of Merit
Carter played 112 tests for the All Blacks from 2003 to 2015 during which he was named World Rugby player of the year three times. Carter, 37, was also named player of the match in the 2015 World Cup final win over Australia when the All Blacks won a second straight World Cup title.
Lydia Ko
Member of NZ Order of Merit
The 22-year-old Aucklander now based in Florida has a host of awards to her name — including the Halberg Supreme Award in 2013. But the achievement most sports fans would recognise is when the 17-year-old Ko became the youngest golfer of either gender to become world No 1, in 2015.
Barbara Kendall, Companion of NZ Order of Merit
Trailblazer Kendall ended a 40-year Olympic gold medal drought for New Zealand women in Barcelona in 1992 and later earned the full set of Games medals. The 51-year-old boardsailer is the only New Zealand woman to have competed at five Olympics — the last two as a mother. For the past 14 years, she has championed athletes and women within the International Olympic Committee.
Glenn Ashby Member of NZ Order of Merit
Poacher turned gamekeeper from a New Zealand point of view. The 41-year-old former Oracle coach, an Australian, joined Team New Zealand in 2010 and was skipper when they lifted the 2017 America’s Cup in Bermuda. A glittering sailing career — often under the Australian flag — includes a host of world titles.
Some of New Zealand’s sporting greats were celebrated during an investiture ceremony at Government House in Auckland yesterday.
Former All Black Dan Carter, golfer Lydia Ko, Olympic great Barbara Kendall and America’s Cup skipper Glenn Ashby were all honoured for their services in sport by the Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy after being named in the New Year and Queen’s Birthday honours lists.
Carter, who made his All Blacks debut in 2003, and helped the national side to consecutive Rugby World Cup triumphs, became an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to rugby.
Still wearing a neck brace following surgery, the 112-test veteran described receiving the award as a special moment among his many rugby achievements.
“It’s a huge honour to have played for the All Blacks and represent New Zealand for so long,” he said after the ceremony. “To be recognised with something like this is really special.
“It’s not the reason you play but now that I’ve retired from international rugby, to be recognised for something like this is really humbling. It’s something my children can grow up and be proud of.”
Carter said his recovery was going well, revealing he had even sought some advice from All Black Sam Cane — who fractured his neck playing against South Africa last year.
“I’m still recovering from neck surgery about five weeks ago,” he said. “It all went well, which was pleasing, and I just want it to heal well, hence the reason I still have the neck brace on.
Former All Black Dan Carter
“I’ve been talking pretty closely with Sam Cane and how he’s had to deal with it, so he’s been giving me some encouragement.”
Meanwhile, Ko took time off from her busy international golf schedule to return to New Zealand for the ceremony.
Awarded Member of New Zealand Order of Merit for services to golf in the New Year honours, Ko said it was beyond anything she could even dream.
“It’s a huge honour, I keep telling myself I don’t know that I deserve to be here,” she said. “It’s amazing that this investiture really celebrates not only athletes . . . it really celebrates New Zealand.
“It’s something you can’t even dream of so you can’t even say it’s a dream come true. It’s just an unbelievable thing for me not only as an athlete but as a person. I’m definitely proud to be standing here.”
Kendall, who contested in boardsailing at five Olympic Games and has served on the International Olympic Committee, was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to sport in the New Year honours.
The 51-year-old ended a 40-year Olympic gold medal drought for New Zealand females in 1992, winning gold, silver and bronze medals at consecutive Games.
Former Oracle coach and Australian, Ashby was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
The poacher turned gamekeeper from a New Zealand point of view, joined Emirates Team New Zealand in 2010 before skippering them to America’s Cup glory in 2017.