The New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame is an organisation commemorating New Zealand's greatest sporting triumphs. It was inaugurated as part of the New Zealand sesquicentenary celebrations in 1990.
Inductions and membership Some 160 members have been inducted into the hall of fame since its inception representing a wide variety of sports. Inductions are held regularly every second year.
Since 1999, it has been located in Dunedin, in the city's railway station building, where a museum is sited displaying mementos of New Zealand's sporting achievements. Prior to this time the Hall of Fame was based in Wellington.
Sports writer Joseph Romanos was the chief executive of the Hall of Fame from 1995 to 1998. From 1998 until shortly before his death in August 2023 the chief executive was sports writer Ron Palenski.
After September 2021 the museum could have to close or move to another city unless a new sponsor was found.
Inductees
Individuals The following individuals have been inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame:
Year Inductee Sporting field 1990 Aviation 1990 Administration 1990 Wrestling 1990 Yachting 1990 Shearing 1990 Motorsport 1990 Rugby union 1990 Swimming 1990 Golf 1990 Rugby union 1990 Administration 1990 Cricket 1990 Cricket 1990 Yachting 1990 Swimming 1990 Thoroughbred racing 1990 Rowing 1990 Athletics 1990 Jetboating 1990 Netball 1990 Mountaineering 1990 Harness racing 1990 Softball 1990 Swimming 1990 Yachting 1990 Rugby union 1990 Athletics 1990 Rugby union 1990 Athletics 1990 Athletics 1990 Sports broadcasting 1990 Billiards 1990 Motorsport 1990 Rugby union 1990 Athletics 1990 Boxing 1990 Rugby league 1990 Boxing 1990 Rugby union 1990 Weightlifting 1990 Tennis 1990 Swimming 1990 Athletics 1990 Athletics 1990 Athletics 1990 Cricket 1990 Disabled sport 1990 Rowing 1990 Badminton / tennis 1990 Rugby union 1990 Thoroughbred racing 1990 Lawn bowls 1990 Athletics 1990 Swimming 1990 Cricket 1990 Athletics 1990 Cricket 1990 Athletics 1990 Rugby union 1990 Rugby union 1990 Rugby league 1990 Tennis 1990 Lawn bowls 1990 Athletics 1990 Athletics 1990 Athletics 1993 Squash 1993 Canoeing 1993 Cricket 1993 Motorsport 1993 Netball 1993 Equestrian 1995 Rugby union 1995 Motorsport 1995 Motorsport 1995 Rowing 1995 Multisport 1995 Athletics 1995 Rugby union 1995 Motorsport 1995 Administration 1995 Swimming 1995 Boxing 1995 Rugby union 1995 Swimming 1995 Cricket 1995 Basketball 1995 Rugby union 1995 Golf 1995 Motorsport 1995 Swimming 1995 Tennis 1995 Athletics 1995 Thoroughbred racing 1995 Athletics / rugby league / rugby union 1995 Cricket / rugby union 1995 Rugby union 1995 Harness racing 1996 Rugby league 1996 Rugby league 1996 Thoroughbred racing 1996 Cricket 1996 Athletics 1996 Rugby league 1996 Boxing 1996 Golf 1996 Athletics 1996 Tennis 1996 Cricket 1996 Athletics 1996 Field hockey 1996 Swimming 1996 Rugby union 1996 Swimming 1996 Athletics 1996 Rugby union 1996 Woodchopping 1996 Rugby union 1996 Netball 1996 Canoeing 1996 Rugby union 1997 Harness racing 1997 Thoroughbred racing 1997 Cycling 1997 Canoeing 1997 Football / softball 1997 Softball 1997 Cricket 1997 Cricket 1997 Athletics 1997 Rugby union 1997 Cricket 1997 Rowing 1997 Lawn bowls 1999 Rugby union 1999 Netball 1999 Rugby union 1999 Motorsport 1999 Rugby union 2001 Cricket 2001 Netball 2003 Yachting 2003 Skiing 2003 Rugby union 2005 Swimming 2005 Swimming 2005 Football 2006 Cycling 2008 Athletics 2008 Athletics 2009 Athletics 2009 Squash 2010 Athletics 2010 Athletics 2011 Athletics 2011 Rugby union 2012 Rugby union 2013 Yachting 2013 Rugby union 2014 Rugby union 2014 Cycling 2015 Yachting 2015 Rugby league 2016 Thoroughbred racing 2016 Rowing 2016 Netball 2016 Softball 2017 Athletics 2017 Rowing 2017 Rugby league 2018 Athletics 2020 Rugby union 2022 Sports journalism 2026 Athletics 2026 Rugby union
Teams The following teams have been inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame:
Year Inductee Sporting field 1990 1905 All Blacks Rugby union 1990 1924 All Blacks Rugby union 1990 1968 New Zealand coxed four Rowing 1990 1971–1972 New Zealand eight Rowing 1990 1976 New Zealand men's hockey team Field hockey 1990 Peter Mander and Jack Cropp Yachting 1990 Helmer Pedersen and Earle Wells Yachting 1995 1982 New Zealand eight Rowing 1995 1987 All Blacks Rugby union 1996 1967 New Zealand netball team Netball 1996 1987 New Zealand netball team Netball 1997 1945–1946 2NZEF rugby team Rugby union 1999 1982 New Zealand women's softball team Softball 2005 1975 New Zealand men's crosscountry team Athletics 2012 Philippa Baker and Brenda Lawson Rowing
References
External links
Obituary of Ron Palenski in the Otago Daily Times including video of Palenski discussing the Sports Hall of Fame