The former All Blacks coach - who stood down from his role following the All Blacks third place finish at this year's Rugby World Cup - guided the team to World Cup victories in 2015 as a head coach and 2011 as an assistant. He is now set to be made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to rugby as part of the New Year Honours list.
As head coach, Hansen took charge of 107 All Blacks test matches since 2012, winning 93, losing 10, with four draws at and 87 per cent win ratio. The record puts him amongst the greatest coaches of all time. Sir Graham Henry - who was knighted after guiding the All Blacks to the 2011 World Cup title - won 88 of his 103 tests as head coach for an 85.4 per cent return.
Hansen’s record is also the greatest as an All Blacks coach in the professional era, ahead of Henry, John Mitchell 82 per cent, Wayne Smith 70, John Hart 75, Laurie Mains 68.
Under Hansen the All Blacks then went undefeated in 2013, winning 14 of 14 matches and retaining the Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup - the first team to accomplish this in the professional era. He led the All Blacks to win the 2015 Rugby World Cup, becoming the first ever team to retain the Webb Ellis Cup.
In 2017 he led the team into their first test series against the British and Irish Lions since 2005, ultimately ending the series in a draw. Hansen was named IRB Coach of the Year in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016.
Hansen began his coaching career with Canterbury from 1996 to 2001. During his tenure the side won NPC titles in 1997 and 2001. From 1999 to 2001 he was also assistant coach to Wayne Smith and Robbie Deans.
In 2002 Hansen became head coach of Wales. This period marked the lowest point on his coaching resume. In 2003 Wales lost every match in the Six Nations Championship for the first-time in history and went on a streak of 11 consecutive test defeats.
After stepping down as Wales coach in 2004 Hansen returned to New Zealand and was appointed as an assistant under Henry at the All Blacks.
He was also made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2012 Queen’s Birthday Honours.
Other Cantabrians recognised in the New Year Honours list are:
Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
Anna Crighton, central city, becomes a Dame Companion for her services to arts, culture and heritage. She established the Christchurch Heritage Trust in 1996 and has been the Christchurch Heritage Awards Charitable Trust chairwoman since 2009.
She was a board member of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust from 2003 to 2010, President of Historic Places Aotearoa from 2010 to 2013, and the chairperson of the Canterbury Earthquake Heritage Buildings Fund Trust from 2010 to 2014.
Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
Jane Clark, Merivale, for services to gymnastics.
She has provided 28 years of service to gymnastics at local and national levels. Mrs Clark was the vice president and chairwoman of the for the Christchurch School of Gymnastics building committee from 1995 to 1997. During this time, she led the committee to secure the allocation by Christchurch City Council of a site at QEII Park and the construction of a facility to deliver gymnastics programmes to the wider community.
Ranui Ngarimu, North New Brighton, for services to Māori art and culture, particularly weaving.
Ms Ngarimu is a past chairwoman of Te Roopu Rarangi Whatu o Aotearoa—Māori Weavers New Zealand and is a member of the New Zealand Olympic Committee’s Māori Advisory Committee.
She is the designer and one of the weavers of Mahutonga, the Olympic Kākahu worn by the New Zealand flag-bearer at the Olympic Games.
Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit
Patrick O'Connor, Merivale, for services to migrant communities and education.
He has contributed to helping migrant populations settle into New Zealand society. Mr O’Connor helped found the Pasifika Education and Employment Training Organisation (PEETO) in 1991, and has been its director for the past 28 years.
Mr O'Connor helps to organise and operate numerous English language classes for new Christchurch arrivals.
Yvonne Palmer, Papanui, for services to seniors and the community.
She established the Confident Driving Programme in 2007 involving police, Canterbury Land Transport Authority and Age Concern. She personally facilitates up to 45 workshops each year, helping thousands of older people to make informed decisions about their driving. She is recognised as a leader in road safety in New Zealand and was appointed to the University of Otago's older driver study.
Hadleigh Pierson, Sockburn, for services to paralympic sport.
He has contributed to the para sports community since 2001. Mr Pierson has had several positions at ParaFed Canterbury. In spite of being born with osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bones), he has had an active sports career and was selected for the paralympic teams for both the 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Paralympic Games.
Mr Pierson has played a significant role in identifying talented athletes as well as establishing and maintaining athlete development squads in the lead up to the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
The Queen's Service Medal
Kathleen Burford, Westmorland, for services to migrant and refugee women and crafts.
She established a quilting class for migrant and former refugee women in Christchurch 20 years ago. The group began with four women and now more than 400 women have attended from more than 30 different ethnic groups.
Steve Bush, Richmond, for services to environmental rejuvenation.
He has Trees for Canterbury Nursery manager since 1992 and has contributed to the establishment, growth and support of planting programmes throughout Canterbury, particularly the Port Hills.
Mr Bush has made significant contributions to the rejuvenation of these areas following the Christchurch earthquakes and Port Hills fires with various donations of plants and fundraising.
More than a million native trees have been planted in Canterbury as a result of his activities.
David Denton, Yaldhurst, for services to outdoor recreation and youth.
He established the New Zealand Future Fishing Foundation in 1988, with the objective of giving children a sense of confidence and self-worth by involving them in a healthy outdoor pursuit. Mr Denton founded the Take a Kid Fishing (TAKF) programme in New Zealand, organising the event from 1988 to 2018.
Rex Kirk (deceased), New Brighton, for services to the community and sport.
He contributed to the New Brighton community for 37 years, and was a key figure in the New Zealand Meat Workers Union as national secretary for 12 years.
Mr Kirk served for 37 years as a St John first aid volunteer and administrator for the New Brighton Rugby Club. He was the President of the New Brighton Bowling Club in 2002 and again from 2010 to 2014.
Rosemary Stott, Upper Riccarton, for services to music.
A piano teacher, performer and composer, who in 1991 became one of the first New Zealanders to be appointed as an international examiner for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, London.
Mrs Stott was a tutor of piano and musicianship at the Canterbury School of Music for 20 years and has taught music for 50 years. She was largely responsible for the survival post-earthquake of the Clef Club, now Music Alive, an organisation providing valuable performing opportunities for amateur musicians.
Roger Gilbert, Leeston, for services to sport and historical research
He has served extensively in voluntary positions in the fields of sport, local history and agriculture for more than 40 years.
Mr Gilbert has been involved with the Killinchy Tennis Club, Ellesmere Tennis Sub-Association and played for the senior representative team, Ellesmere Golf Club and is a past President and Life Member of Canterbury Golf. He is also the patron of the Canterbury Eagles Golfing Society, and was the foundation president of the Ellesmere Historical Society from 1996 until 2018.
Stuart Jones, Kirwee, for services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand.
He joined the Cust Volunteer Fire Brigade in 1974 and transferred to the Kirwee Volunteer Fire Brigade in 1979, where he has remained to the present. Mr Jones was elected Station Officer of the Kirwee Brigade in 1984, became
Deputy Chief Fire Officer in 1996, and has held the role of Chief Fire Officer since 2000. He has been the driving force behind fundraising events to upgrade or replace equipment, replace operational support vehicles, and for the construction of a tanker shed.
Bruce Russell, West Melton, for services to the community.
He as contributed to the Canterbury region for more than 50 years in leadership roles across multiple community organisations.
Mr Russell has been an active member of the New Zealand and English Freemasons for 46 years, has been involved with the West Melton Residents Association committee and the West Melton Reserve committee for more than 20 years.
He has contributed to the Canterbury Country Rugby Referees Association for 38 years, the Canterbury A&P Association for more than 40 years, and the Lincoln University Conference Committee.
