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Sports Legends of Wellington
This category recognises icons of sport who have made an outstanding contribution as an athlete.
The induction of the 2025 Sports Legends of Wellington recognises Wellington icons of sport who have made an outstanding contribution as an athlete. Since 2003, over 60 athletes have received recognition as Sports Legends of Wellington. The criteria, as set out by the Academy, are that the Legend must:
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Have a close allegiance to the Greater Wellington Region (including the Wairarapa, Kapiti, Porirua, Hutt Valley and Wellington City)
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Be an athlete (as distinct from a coach or administrator)
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Be retired at least 10 years from top competition at the time of their induction
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Be acknowledged icons who have made an indelible impact on our community through their accomplishments.
Most importantly the Legends must be acknowledged icons who have made an indelible impact on our community through their accomplishments.
2025 Winner - Niniwa Roberts, Hockey
2025 Winner - Bill Byrne, Boxing
2025 Winner - Bruce Edgar, Cricket
2025 Winner - Toni Jeffs, Swimming
Niniwa Roberts played premier women’s hockey for the Hutt club when she was just 14 years old and was selected for the Wellington senior women’s representative team at the age of 17. She debuted for the New Zealand Black Sticks in 2001 and went on to play 146 international matches, scoring 47 goals. She attended the Commonwealth Games in 2002, helping
NZ to a fourth-place finish. She was also a
Bill Byrne was a 10-time national boxing champion between 1970-1977, often doubling up to compete in both the heavyweight and light-heavyweight divisions in the same year. He claimed silver at the 1974 Commonwealth Games, beating 1972 Olympic bronze medal winning Nigerian Isaac Ikhuoria in the semi-final. Unfortunately, he was unable to contest the final due to a cut to his eye
double Olympian, competing at the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008.
sustained in that bout. Throughout his career, he had 133 wins from 142 fights, including a 27-1 record against international opponents.
Bruce Edgar played fourteen summers of first-class cricket for Wellington between 1975/76 - 1989/90, scoring over 15-thousand runs as an opening batsman in nearly 300
matches across red-ball and 50-over formats, with 24 centuries. He played 39 tests for New Zealand, scoring 1958 runs with three centuries, as well as 1814 runs in 64 one-day internationals, including an unbeaten 102 in the “underarm match” against Australia in 1981.
Toni Jeffs was a 12-time national freestyle swimming champion and attended four Commonwealth Games; Auckland 1990,
Victoria 1994, Kuala Lumpur 1998, and Manchester 2002. She won bronze medals in the 50-metre freestyle at both the 1998 and 2002 Commonwealth Games, as well as securing bronze at the 1991 Pan-Pacific Championships in Edmonton. She also swam for New Zealand at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona.
Previous Sports Legends of Wellington
2024
Michael Campbell - Golf
Christian Cullen - Rugby
Chantel Brunner - Athletics
Rebecca Liua'ana - Rugby
Tania Tupu - Basketball
2022
Paula Tesoriero - Para Cycling
Grant Batty - Rugby
Sanda Edge - Netball
Grant Turner - Football
2019
Allan Hewson - Rugby
Michael Kenny - Boxing
Naomi Shaw - Softball
Trish McKelvey - Cricket
2023
Anna Smith nee O'Leary - Cricket
John Whittaker - Rugby League
Jill Westerna - Multi Sport Athlete
Rebecca Liua'ana - Rugby
Peter Horne - Para Bowls
2021
Duane Kale - Para Swimming
Lynnette Brooky - Golf
Olivia Baker - Weightlifting
Tana Umaga - Rugby
2018
Stuart Davenport – Squash
Kevin Herlihy (1948 – 2006) – Softball
Suzie Muirhead – Hockey
Melissa Moon – Athletics
2017
Jean Jarden (1907-1983) – Croquet
Bryan Rose – Athletics
Jeremy Coney – Cricket
2016
Murray Dunn (1935-2015) – Table Tennis
Belinda Cordwell – Tennis
Bernie Fraser – Rugby
Stu Wilson – Rugby
2014
Kenny McFadden – Basketball
Bevan Smith – Athletics
Mark Sorenson – Softball
Ron McKenzie (1922 – 2006) – Tennis
2012
Margharet Matenga- Netball
Kathleen Nunnely (1872-1956) – Tennis
Philip Rush – Distance Swimming
2015
John Durry (1936-2006) – Golf
Barry Sinclair – Cricket
Maureen Jacobson – Football
Murray Mexted – Rugby
2013
Bob Blair – Cricket
Judy Howat – Lawn Bowls
Peter Miskimmin – Hockey
Mark Nicholls (1901-1972) – Rugby
2011
Colin O’Neil – Rugby League
Graham Williams – Rugby
Ken Gray (1938 – 1992) – Rugby
2010
Waimarama Taumaunu – Netball
Wynton Rufer – Football
Stewie Dempster (1903 – 1974) – Cricket
2009
Ewen Chatfield – Cricket
Arthur Donald Duncan (1876 – 1951) – Golf
Meda McKenzie – Swimming
2008
Ted Morgan (1906 – 1952) – Boxing
Ross Collinge – Rowing
Trevor Manning – Hockey
Alan McIntyre – Hockey
2007
Ron Jarden (1929 – 1977) – Rugby
Jack Tynan – Hockey
Andy Leslie – Rugby
2006
Bill Massey – Softball
Harry Kent – Cycling
2005
Eric Tindill (1910 – 2010) – Rugby/Cricket
Billy Wallace (1878 – 1972) – Rugby
Dick Joyce – Rowing
Marilyn Marshall – Softball/Football
2004
Barrie Devenport (1935 – 2010) – Distance Swimming
Rebecca Perrott – Swimming
John Reid – Cricket
2003
Onny Parun – Tennis