NZDF Sportsperson of the Year is recognised for sporting and professional achievements
NZDF Sportsperson of the Year Leading Steward Deena-ranginui Puketapu has some words of advice for young people: Never let anyone tell you you’re not good enough and always strive for excellence.
LSTD Puketapu should know; at 161cm tall she was constantly told growing up she wasn’t tall enough to play basketball yet she went on to represent New Zealand in the sport she considers her first love.
This year she added to her national sporting credentials as a member of the NZ Open Mixed Touch Blacks World Cup silver medal-winning team. She was also offered a contract to play rugby sevens in Japan, is in the NRL Warriors touch squad, the winning Auckland Women’s touch team and has represented the Navy and the NZDF in netball, basketball and touch.
Being named as the NZDF Sports Nominee for Person of the Year capped off a huge year for LSTD Puketapu, and one which has involved a lot of hard work and effort.
“My main focus this year was my career. I wanted to excel in it and give back to the Navy, because of how much they’ve given me,” she said.
“I’ve been in eight years now and they’ve let me excel in the sporting arena so I felt like this year I really wanted to focus on my career, putting all my time and effort into our newest recruits to help them build successful careers within the NZDF and pushing them to be the best they can be. I also wanted to use the opportunity of being an instructor at the recruit school to develop my leadership skills and personal abilities not only physically but mentally, as well as doing my best in sport.”
LSTD Puketapu said she is a passionate sportswoman who wanted to coach and train others to be better people, as well as sports people; that aim has led to her changing trade to become a Physical Training Instructor.
Sport Committee chair Colonel Trevor Walker said LSTD Puketapu was nominated for the Person of the Year for her significant and noteworthy sporting contribution to the NZDF and for her contribution and commitment to everything she did in the work place.
“She has reached attained levels of sporting prowess that most of us would be enviable of. Even more impressively, she has managed this while performing as a critical member of the Recruit Training Team at the Devonport Naval Base,” Col Walker said.
“She returned from a major injury, served on the front line at sea, played for her country, was offered a rugby sevens contract in Japan, became a recruit instructor and passed selection for the physical training trade. All of this combines to make her a very special Service woman, and she is therefore the NZDF Sport Committee’s choice for Person of the Year.”
