Having previously won a Sportswoman of the Year award, Riana Pho has continued to raise the bar with another outstanding year in international hockey. Representing the Vantage Black Sticks Women, she played a key role in New Zealand’s successful Fédération Internationale de Hockey (FIH) Nations Cup campaign, earning the tournament’s Junior Player of the Tournament award.
Later she was selected to represent New Zealand at the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup the pinnacle event of international hockey. Through her continued success on the world stage, Riana has cemented her place among New Zealand’s leading athletes and is a deserving recipient of this year’s Sportsperson of the Year award.
This year’s Sportsman of the Year was awarded to Johnny Falloon. Johnny has been representing New Zealand Under 20 at both the U20 Rugby Championship and the World Rugby U20 Championship, where he helped the team secure a third-place finish. He has also continued his development with the Wellington Lions, making six NPC appearances in 2026.
Māori Sportsperson of the Year went to Lace Tangianau, who continues to represent Aotearoa as a member of the New Zealand White Sox. During an outstanding season, Lace earned Female Player of the Year honours and was selected to play at the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup in Oklahoma City.
Disabled Sportsperson of the Year was awarded to Corran, who enjoyed an outstanding season in para-athletics. He claimed gold in the discus and bronze in the shot put at the New Zealand Athletics Championships, and was also named Athletics Wellington Athlete with a Disability, recognising him as one of the country's leading para field athletes.
The Sporting and Academic Excellence Award was presented to Alison Power. Alison is a member of the New Zealand University Orienteering Team. She represented NZ at the World University Orienteering Championship in Portugal. On top of that, she is a Bachelor of Science student with an outstanding academic record, having achieved 13 A+ grades since beginning her studies in 2025. Her consistent dedication, hard work, and commitment to excellence have made her a deserving recipient of this year's award.
Administrator of the Year was awarded to Sophia Haynes from the Taekwondo Club, recognising her outstanding contribution to the sport both on and off the mat. As a Vice President of Taekwondo NZ, she has played a key role in the growth and governance of the sport.
Sports Club of the Year was awarded to the Victoria University of Wellington Taekwondo Club. Athletes achieved medal-winning performances at major international events, including the Australian Open, President's Cup, and Oceania Championships, while the club continued to make a significant contribution to the growth of taekwondo in New Zealand through its leadership, event hosting, and athlete development.
As we celebrate another year of sporting success at Te Herenga Waka, we congratulate all our award winners and nominees on their incredible achievements. From the playing field to behind the scenes, each has helped make our sporting community stronger, and we look forward to seeing what they accomplish next.
Blues Awards
Premier Winners
Sportsperson of the Year—Riana Pho (Hockey)
Sportswoman of the Year—Riana Pho (Hockey)
Sportsman of the Year—Johnny Falloon (Rugby)
Māori Sportsperson of the Year—Lace Tangianau (Softball)
Disabled Sportsperson of the Year—Corran Hanning (Athletics)
Sporting and Academic Excellence Award—Alison Power (Orienteering)
Sports Administrator of the Year—Sophia Haynes (Taekwondo)
Sports Club of the Year—Victoria University Taekwondo Club
Individual
Ollie Bowmar—Hockey
Jamie Campbell—Floorball
Alex Collett—Archery
Logan Curtis—Gymnastics
Anthony Di Mattina-Hale—Futsal
Max Doherty—Cross Country and Running
Jack Drage—Cycling
John Falloon—Rugby
Hannah Francis—Cricket & Indoor Cricket
Phoebe Gray—Football & Futsal
Emma Hampson-Tindale—Gymnastics
Corran Hanning—Athletics
Harrison Irving—Rugby
Sophie Irving—Rugby League
Bree James—Indoor Cricket
Dory Kemp—Kayaking
Hunter Kennedy—Rugby
Lahni Kuklinski—Bodybuilding
Kushal Kumar—Table Tennis
Harry Lamont—Futsal
Max Lee—Kendo
Victoria Li—Taekwondo
Keelan Magalogo—Basketball
Matangihau Nuku—Softball
Riana Pho—Hockey
Alison Power—Orienteering
Keiana Roffey—Rugby
Sophia Ropeti—Rugby
Nilah Savage—Powerlifting
Lace Tangianau—Softball
Te Arani Te Puni—Rugby
Samuel Thomson—Rugby
Naomi Waite—Athletics
Yufeng Wang—Table Tennis
Abby Wheeler—Taekwondo
Freeman Yu—Futsal
Sports Coaches
Sophia Haynes—Taekwondo
Sports Administrators
Sophia Haynes—Taekwondo
Abby Wheeler—Taekwondo
Sports Clubs
Victoria University Taekwondo Club
Victoria University Snow Sports Club