HAYDEN MEIKLE
Sports Editor
Favourite moments
1. It happened miles away, and in a sport in which my knowledge is... a little on the lean side. But there was something magical about Alexis Owen becoming the first Dunedin surfer to win the New Zealand open men’s surfing title. The 16-year-old had to take down a field stacked with stars of the waves, all while looking - no offence, young man - like an intermediate school pupil. He was a delight to interview, too.
2. Fabian Holland provided me with about 20 favourite moments this year. The story of the Highlanders hero who became the first Dutch-born All Black will never get old. But, as impressive as he was in his first 12 tests in the black jersey, there was one memory that will stick with me. After Holland made his debut at Forsyth Barr Stadium, he came to be interviewed by members of the media, and he shook everybody’s hand with a warm "gidday mate". Just a class act.
3. Liverpool gave me both the best and the worst moments of the sporting year. The best was easy: somehow, unexpectedly, they won their 20th title and ran away with the Premier League crown. Nobody saw that coming after the departure of revered manager Juergen Klopp. Then, tragedy. Popular striker Diogo Jota was killed in a car crash in July. Puts into perspective Liverpool’s struggles this season.
Best game
Not a game, as such, but New Zealand celebrated two incredible days at the world athletics championships in Tokyo in September. Geordie Beamish provided a sensational story when he won the 3000m steeplechase, becoming the first Kiwi to win track gold at the world championships. He was followed by high jump maestro Hamish Kerr, who added the world title to his Olympic gold medal. Nothing like seeing the black singlet dominating in track and field.
Stars of 2026
Otago
This is almost certainly recency bias, and we must give the lad time to develop. But there was something truly special about 14-year-old golfer Raphael Anderson’s performance at the New Zealand interprovincial. He and the other Otago men will be desperate to win the title at Balmacewen next year.
National
It is a Winter Olympics year and any number of dashing New Zealand athletes are lining up to rule the world at Milano Cortina. My pick is Luca Harrington, the insanely talented 21-year-old Wanaka freeskier. He won X Games gold as a late-call-up before winning the big air title at the world championships. Hard not to see him contending for a medal in Italy.
International
There are many world cups, but there really is only one World Cup. A record 48 teams gather in the United States (and Mexico and Canada) for the quadrennial glut of football. Kylian Mbappe and France will be keen to go one better than last time, and Harry Kane will be elevated to royal status if he can lead England to their first title since 1966. But Spain are my favourites, and teen sensation Lamine Yamal will be front and centre.
ADRIAN SECONI
Sports reporter
Favourite moments
1. Otago Sparks spinner Eden Carson battled through a chest infection to swat an undefeated 59 off 43 balls to help her side clinch a dramatic last-ball win over Auckland in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield final in Dunedin. She could barely get out two words without coughing during the post-match interview. Heroic.
2. Otago openside Lucas Casey announced himself on the national scene with two stunning tries in a dramatic 38-36 win over Canterbury to claim the Ranfurly Shield. He beat the fullback early in the second half and repeated the dose a little later. He brushed off two tackles and embarrassed the cover defender with an in-out on a 40m dash to the line.
3. Black Caps and Otago right-armer Jacob Duffy has been a constant highlight reel this year. He probably started 2025 as a marginal pick for the first-string lineup in all three formats, but how could you possibly leave him out now?
Otago seamer Jacob Duffy has had a remarkable year in international cricket. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
Favourite game
The Otago Sparks dominated the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield, but their campaign threatened to unravel in the final. They suffered a series of injury setbacks, including an injury to star all-rounder Hayley Jensen during the warm-up. Auckland smashed 291 and grabbed two early wickets. But Polly Inglis clubbed 86 before PJ Watkins (47 not out) and Eden Carson (59 not out) teamed up in an unbroken stand of 102 to win the game in a last-ball thriller.
Stars of 2026
Otago
Otago halfback Dylan Pledger has been earmarked as a future star since he was at King’s. In 2025, he rolled all that potential into some stunning performances to help Otago win the Ranfurly Shield and make the final of the NPC. He transformed their game with his snappy clearances. The challenge now is to make a similar impact for the Highlanders in his debut Super Rugby season.
National
Schoolboy prodigy Sam Ruthe rewrote the record books with some truly astonishing times in 2025. The 16-year-old smashed both the national secondary school boys’ 1500m and 800m records. His 800m time would have been quick enough to win a gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Maybe he will get a chance to stand on the podium at 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. He has a bit of Peter Snell about him.
International
Indian top-order batter Shubman Gill was prolific in 2025 and there is more to come, starting with the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka beginning in February.
KAYLA HODGE
Sports reporter
Favourite moments
1. Everything and anything that had to do with the Otago Spirit this year made my heart sing. Seeing the joy on hooker Tegan Hollows’ face as she raced towards me after winning the Farah Palmer Cup Championship is something I will never forget. They remind you time and time again of everything that is great about rugby.
2. Hamish Kerr, Tom Walsh, Zoe Hobbs, Eliza McCartney, Anna Grimaldi, Maddi Wesche and more treated the city to some magic at the national athletics championships earlier this year. Dunedin was lucky to host the championships in a non-pinnacle event year - allowing top athletes to compete at home - and there was a brilliant buzz across the three days at the Caledonian.
3. Not my team, but one of the great netball quotes of the year came from Melbourne Vixens captain Kate Moloney. Her team came from nowhere to finish the Super Netball regular season as fourth seeds. Earlier in the season, the struggling Vixens were accused of only having a plan A and their outgoing coach Simone McKinnis told reporters "maybe we just need to go to the pub" to fix their slump. So, when the Vixens went through the playoffs unbeaten and won the Super Netball title, Moloney collected the trophy and screamed down the microphone, "How good’s plan A - we’re going to the pub." Priceless.
Best game
That opening half of the Otago Spirit’s 37-12 victory over the Northland Kauri in the FPC final was an absolute beauty. After defending their line for the opening 10 minutes, young winger Hannah Norris kickstarted the Spirit’s game as they piled on 25 answered points to lead 25-0 at halftime. Makes me furious and beggars belief that they will not be elevated to the Premiership next season.
Stars of 2026
Otago
Might seem crazy to put Kate Heffernan in this list considering she has earned more than 100 caps for the Southern Steel and 50 caps for the Silver Ferns. But it is scary to think just how much better her game can get after a season with the Adelaide Thunderbirds. Always steps up at the pinnacle events and the Silver Ferns will need that at the Commonwealth Games.
Alpine skier Alice Robinson has had, as she calls it, a dream start to the 2025-26 season and you can only see it going up from here. Looking forward to seeing what she can do at her third Winter Olympics.
International
Saint Lucian sprinter Julien Alfred stunned everyone in Paris when she won her country’s first Olympic Games medal, scorching to gold in the 100m. She won bronze at the world championships this year and gold at the Diamond League - could she better her Birmingham silver at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2026?
