LAC Hayley Hutana takes out NZDF Individual Sportsperson of the Year Award
Leading Aircraftman Hayley Hutana is the NZDF Individual Sportsperson of the Year.
The honour came at the NZDF Sports Awards and recognised her talents in rugby, touch rugby, rugby sevens, volleyball and basketball. Her nomination said she was the “ultimate team player” and demonstrated comradeship both on and off the field.
LAC Hutana said she was humbled to receive the award “among so many outstanding athletes”, and surprised to learn it meant she would be put forward for the Person of the Year.
She acknowledged the support of her chain of command, saying their support had allowed her to participate in numerous tournaments.
“Their support means a lot,” she said.
LAC Hutana’s rugby sevens team won Sports Team of the Year, with their 2018 achievements including winning the eight-country Pacific Military Rugby Sevens Tournament. The team met the Australian Defence Force in the final, which they won 14–12.
Former Naval rating Tasmyn Benny received the Outstanding Sports Achievement Award, in recognition of her Commonwealth Games boxing bronze; she was the first New Zealand woman to win a medal in Commonwealth Games boxing.
Miss Benny joined the RNZN in 2017 but left after about a year due to the amount of time, diet management and training commitments required to continue boxing. She hopes to realise her ambition of serving her country at a later date.
Aircraftman Isaac Murphy was named Emerging Sportsperson of the Year for his successes on the track, cross-country and road throughout the year. This included winning the Wellington Regional Cross-Country Championships and the Wellington Round the Bays (6.6km), coming third in the National Half-Marathon Championships and fifth in the NZ Track Championships 5000m.
Many of Isaac’s successes were achieved while he was undergoing his Avionics Advanced Course at Base Woodbourne.
Basketball referee Ryan Jones is the NZDF Official of the Year, in recognition of his considerable talents, including refereeing at the Brisbane Commonwealth Games and controlling games in FIBA 2019 World Cup qualifiers.
Mr Jones is one of only four Federation of International Basketball Association (FIBA) accredited referees in New Zealand, and the first NZ licensed referee for the 3X3 game format.
Basketball is also the code for Coach of the Year Warrant Officer Class 2 Jason Kuru, who is in charge of the Army and NZDF men’s basketball teams.
WO2 Kuru was responsible for delivering the 2018 Army inter-regional tournament and, supported by a dedicated team, produced a well-run event. During the tournament he was also the 2018 Army team senior selector.
Two NZDF Colours were also presented at the Awards, to Squadron Leader David Wray for Golf and Sergeant Johnnie (crct) Hickman for Softball and Football.
