NZOC Olympic Order Holders | New Zealand Olympic Team

Bernie has been involved in archery since the 1950s and has since been President, National Coaching Co-ordinator and National Coach of Archery New Zealand.

He first represented Archery NZ at the World Championships in York (UK) in 1971. He was the first person from New Zealand to hold a FITA (now World Archery) committee position when he was appointed to the newly created Field Competition Committee. It was his work on this committee which created field archery rules and competitions for which he was awarded the Bronze Plaquette. At the time he was the only person to hold such an award in this country.

Bernie later managed and/or coached New Zealand archery teams to one Olympic Games and several World Championships.

He represented Archery on the NZOC Board and was elected to the Executive on which he served for a number of years.

Bernie was also appointed to the NZOC selectors' panel and selected teams for three Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games. The NZOC recognised Bernie's major contribution to the Olympic movement in this country with the Olympic Order.

Now in his 80s Bernie remains an active coach of local archers who seek national representation.

Michael HOOPER

Former NZOC Secretary General Michael Hooper is a NZOC Olympic Order Holder.

Hooper was Chief Executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) for 13 years (2000-2014), spanning four Games from Manchester 2002 to Glasgow 2014. He summed up his tenure as the head of the CGF by saying “it was a huge development phase, putting the CGF on a professional footing as a modern global sports organisation."

Tony POPPLEWELL

Rower Tony Popplewell is a NZOC Olympic Order Holder for his outstanding service to the Olympic Movement.

Popplewell competed in rowing at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games.

He has held various managements positions in every New Zealand Olympic or Commonwealth Games team since the Auckland 1990 Commonwealth Games.

A life member of the New Zealand Rowing Association, Popplewell has had a strong influence on New Zealand’s most successful Olympic sport.

Trevor SHAILER

Boxer Trevor Shailer is Commonwealth Games bronze medallist and a NZOC Olympic Order Holder.

Shailer won bronze at the 1994 Victoria Commonwealth Games and also represented New Zealand at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games.

Soon after his retirement he became a member of the New Zealand Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission and has become a driving force behind our unique and highly valued team culture.

Shailer has also been a cultural advisor to the New Zealand Olympic Committee, helping to ensure the incorporation of tikanga Maori into the team has grown and will continue to be an integral part of our team environment.

Since 2004 he has been a leader within athlete support teams at Olympic Summer and Winter Games as well as Commonwealth Games. Shailer acted as deputy Chef de Mission in Glasgow and Rio.

His role has been vital in ensuring athletes are at the heart of what the NZOC sets out to achieve.

Shailer was the New Zealand team Chef de Mission for the Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa in 2015.

Gary HERMANSSON

For close to 20 years, spanning 10 games campaigns from the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games in 1998 to the Rio Olympic Games in 2016, Gary Hermansson has ensured New Zealand’s athletes have been prepared for competition.

As Team Psychologist, his focus has been on what it takes to be mentally ready.

He has also been an influential member of each games leadership team and contributed to the creation of our unique and athlete focused team environment.

Gary has also contributed to conflict resolution, guidance and advice, team building and lately, succession planning.

Core to his to this approach has been the philosophy that a team should create a sense of belonging in all its members.

During this period of sustained contribution, Gary has written books, mentored and advised many high performance athletes and leaders and been at the forefront of Sports Psychology, not only in New Zealand, but internationally as well.

Barry MAISTER

Barry Maister is recognised throughout the global Olympic Movement for his honesty, integrity, and absolute respect for athletes. An Olympian and IOC Olympic Order Holder and a former IOC Member and NZOC Secretary General, Maister embodies the Olympic values. He has made a significant contribution to New Zealand Olympic and Commonwealth Sport history.

Barry grew up with sport and was a passionate educator and advocate for young people. He was part of the 1976 New Zealand hockey team that took home gold from the Montreal Olympic Games and, following a 30-year career as a teacher, principal, and school rector, he took over the reins of the New Zealand Olympic Committee as Secretary General – a post which he held until 2011. He went on to sit at the top tables of global sport, being made an IOC Member in 2010 from where he was appointed to Commissions that enabled to focus on benefitting youth, athletes, and education through sport.

In 2012, Barry was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit and in 2020, was promoted to Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the sport and community.

He was formally acknowledged by the IOC President Thomas Bach with the IOC’s highest honour, the Olympic Order, in 2019.

The New Zealand Olympic Committee acknowledges the significant impact Barry has had on the Olympic and Commonwealth Sport movements in New Zealand, and his commitment to youth and the power of sport to make the world a better place.

Ranui NGARIMU

Ranui Ngarimu, Ngai Tahu, has been instrumental in the creation of the New Zealand Team culture of Manaaki and the additional cultures and traditions that provide athletes with a strong sense of national identity and the values that ground our teams.

A master weaver, Ngarimu created our most valued taonga – the kākahu Te Mahutonga. Te Mahutonga is worn by Nga Pou Hapai (the flag bearers) at each Olympic Games Opening Ceremony and it carries with it the mana of the New Zealand Team. The New Zealand Team’s valuable taonga and symbols were gifted with the support and foresight of Ngarimu, including the creation of pounamu pendants for flag bearers and members of the New Zealand Olympic Teams, and the Mauri stone which imparts its spirit and mana to our athletes.

Ngarimu has also guided the greater inclusion of Tikanga Māori into the New Zealand Olympic Committee organisational strategy and philosophy. Her ability to connect with athletes, dignitaries and those unfamiliar with Tikanga Māori has contributed to her significant and valued impact.

The New Zealand Team acknowledges Ngarimu’s significant impact and contribution to the culture and performance of the New Zealand Team and New Zealand Olympic Committee.

Simon WICKHAM

Simon Wickham is a strong advocate for Olympic and Commonwealth Sport in New Zealand. A natural leader with an in-depth knowledge of high performance and community sport, Wickham has added considerable value to the New Zealand Olympic Committee, Olympic and Commonwealth Games, and athletes for more than fifteen years.

Wickham was a member of the NZOC Board between 2005 – 2017 and sat on the High Performance Sport New Zealand Board between 2011-2018. He is a former Chair of Gymnastics New Zealand, former CEO of Yachting New Zealand and former CEO of The Trusts Stadium and Arena.

Wickham is also an Olympic and Commonwealth Games Selector – a role he has held since 2006. In this time his considerable experience has seen him sit on the NZOC Selection Panel for both Olympic and Olympic Winter Games as well as the Commonwealth and Commonwealth Youth Games. He has signalled that Paris 2024 will be his last games as a Selector.

The New Zealand Olympic Committee acknowledges Wickham’s contribution to sport and especially the Olympic and Commonwealth Games movements in New Zealand.