DECEMBER
1
Former Olympic 5000m champion Sir Murray Halberg dies, aged 89
New Zealand athletics legend Sir Murray Halberg has died, aged 89.
A disciple of reknowned Kiwi coach Arthur Lydiard, Halberg and Peter Snell dominated international middle distance through the 1960s, famously achieving gold medals at the 1960 Rome Olympics within an hour of each other.
He also won gold medals over 3 miles at the 1958 (Cardiff) and 1962 (Perth) Commonwealth Games, setting world records for 2 miles and 3 miles, and was the first Kiwi to break four minutes for the mile in 1958.
Off the track, he transformed the lives of children with a disability through sport, as founder of the Halberg Foundation, sponsoring the annual Halberg Awards for New Zealand's top sporting performers.
3
Silver Ferns great Katrina Rore confirms international retirement
Silver Ferns defender Katrina Rore has confirmed her retirement from international netball, after more than 100 tests in the black dress.
Taking to Instagram, former Silver Ferns captain Rore, 35, has announced her decision to leave the international arena behind her, putting her young family first.
"My life and priorities have changed a bucketload over the past 18 months," she wrote.
"I'm ready to leave my career where it is and find my new path. I can't wait to see what my future holds away from the court."
4
All Blacks Sevens cult hero Kurt Baker steps down after Dubai tournament
The All Blacks Sevens seem to have lost the services of cult hero Kurt Baker, after finishing third in the 2022 world series tournament at Dubai.
Baker, 34, has been a key contributor to the NZ men's international success for more than a decade, since debuting in 2008, but is probably best known for his double thumbs-up try celebrations and naked photo-bombing, whenever they capture a major title.
Social media has featured him stripping down with a variety of teams and trophies over his career, including the Ranfurly Shield and Mitre 10 Cup with Hawke's Bay, and Commonwealth Games gold medal and World Cup silverware with the national sevens side.
In 2019, he kindly switched places with veteran Sam Dickson, carrying him naked on his shoulders to mark his 50th world series tournament at Cape Town.
"It was just for a bit of a laugh," he told Newshub, after New Zealand's 2018 Sevens World Cup victory at San Franciso. "I have always sort of done something like that if we win something, so thought I better keep up the tradition, given it was a World Cup."
4
NZ Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson wary of losing Crusaders coach Scott Robertson to foreign rivals
NZ Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson admits the risk of losing successful Crusaders coach Scott Robertson to offshore rivals is very real, but won't be drawn on the likelihood of a pre-emptive strike.
Robertson, who has guided the Christchurch-based franchise to six Super Rugby crowns since 2017, looms as a successor to incumbent All Blacks coach Ian Foster, but has been the subject of foreign interest that may seem him lured away before that transition can take place.
Foster barely survived with his job intact this year, after a horror stretch of results that saw the national side lose six of eight games, but was eventually confirmed through next year's World Cup and turned the programme around with an unbeaten run of seven tests to end the 2022 campaign.
Meanwhile, Robertson guided the UK-based Barbarians to victory over the All Blacks XV last month and has emerged as a candidate to take over the reins of England from Australian mastermind Eddie Jones, either before or after the World Cup.
5
Hamilton tournament becomes casualty of World Rugby's 're-imagining' of world sevens series
World Rugby is poised to scrap the New Zealand sevens tournament, as part of its revamp of the shortened format's world series.
Next month's Hamilton event will be the first since 2020, after the COVID-19 pandemic forced a two-year hiatus - but it will now also be the last in the foreseeable future, as the international body cuts the number of tournaments on its calendar.
The decision will end New Zealand's 23-year presence on the world circuit, dating back to the Wellington tournament that formed part of the inaugural edition in 2000.
The All Blacks Sevens have won their home event 10 times, while the Black Ferns Sevens took out the inaugural women's title two years ago.
8
Brazen Kiwi 'bikini girl' makes unscheduled appearance on Italian TV from Football World Cup
With the All Whites missing qualification, New Zealand's profile at the Football World Cup in Qatar has been fairly low key - but one brazen Kiwi visitor has kept the flag flying by crashing Italian TV coverage of the event.
Colourful football correspondent Tanc Palmeri was interrupted during a live cross from Doha Beach, when a woman passed behind him, pinching his butt on the way.
Palmeri ushered his assailant back on camera, joined by her companion, where they revealed they were from New Zealand and UK respectively.
"Nothing to see here," Palmeri later tweeted. "Only a New Zealander bikini girl in Doha squeezing my bum, while I'm on air, then asking for support to her Welsh girlfriend... and finally ending segment by sipping beer."
10
Sir John Key mobbed by fans after sinking stellar hole-in-one in Ryan Fox's charity golf event
Former NZ Prime Minister Sir John Key has been swamped by fans, after scoring a stunning hole-in-one in a charity golf event.
Sir John was attending the Auckland tournament, when he was caught on camera sinking the magnificent shot.
The crowd was silent, as Sir John took his swing.
As the ball flew across the course, the crowd yelled, "Oh, Johnny!" before the ball landed nicely in the hole.
The crowd erupted in cheers, as they mobbed the former Prime Minister with hugs and high-fives, while they jumped up and down in celebration.
11
England captain Harry Kane speaks out on heartbreaking penalty miss in World Cup quarter-final defeat to France
England skipper Harry Kane says he will have to live with the penalty miss that condemned his team to a World Cup quarter-final exit against reigning champions France.
The striker had drawn his side level in the Al Bayt Stadium with a successful spot-kick that saw him match Wayne Rooney's record haul of 53 goals for England.
He then had the chance to make it 2-2 late, after Mason Mount was barged over by Theo Hernandez in the area, but this time, he blazed his effort high over the crossbar.
After the final whistle, Kane dropped to his haunches and stared at the ground, before walking tearfully away to be comforted by England manager Gareth Southgate.
12
Team NZ better wind-powered landspeed record at Lake Gairdner, South Australia
Emirates Team NZ have shattered the wind-powered landspeed record with their specially designed craft Horonuku at Lake Gairdner, South Australia.
Aiming for a previous mark of 202.9kph, set by Briton Richard Jenkins in the Mojave Desert in 2009, pilot Glenn Ashby has propelled his land yacht to 222.4kph in 20 knots of wind - but insists there is plenty more to come.
"Pretty stoked," Ashby told AM. "It was a fantastic day.
"I'm pretty rinsed, to be honest. It's been a big couple of days, up to 40 degrees of temperature outside and probably close to 70 degrees inside the cockpit.
"Personally satisfied with getting above the current record, but deep down knowing the craft can definitely do more and if we get some really nice conditions, we can showcase what the craft and the design is capable of doing."
15
Kane Williamson stands down as Blackcaps test captain, Tim Southee named successor
Blackcaps talisman Kane Williamson won't have the 'C' next to his name, when the squad to tour Pakistan is named on Thursday.
Williamson, 32, will relinquish his captaincy, with veteran bowler Tim Southee to step up as his successor for the two-test trip. Tom Latham has been named vice-captain.
Under Williamson, New Zealand have ascended to heights they never have before, highlighted by winning the inaugural World Test Championship against India last year.
The top-order batter has a 55 percent winning record from his 40 test matches in charge - 22 wins, 10 losses, eight draws - since replacing Brendon McCullum in 2016.
"Kane's guided the test team through an immensely successful period, which is testament to his ability to bring people together and work towards a common goal," said coach Gary Stead.
19
Lionel Messi inspires Argentina to Football World Cup victory in thriller against France
Lionel Messi had the decisive say, inspiring Argentina to win the 2022 Football World Cup and removing any doubt over his status as the best player the game has ever seen.
At 35, and in his last chance to emulate countryman Diego Maradona with a World Cup title, Messi scored two goals, as Argentina defeated France in a penalty shootout to lift the Jules Rimet trophy for the third time.
Argentina's talisman scored the opening goal from the penalty spot, and later doubled their lead through Angel Di Maria, only for France to come back into the contest through a superstar of their own, Kylian Mbappe.
But with extra time ticking away, Messi looked to have bundled in the winner, only for Mbappe to complete his hat-trick, and send the game to a shootout.
Successful spot kicks from Messi, Paulo Dybala, and Leandro Paredes saw Argentina hold their nerve, as Kingsley Coman and Aurelien Tchouameni both missed to surrender match point.
When Gonzalo Montiel scored the fourth penalty, Qatar 2022 was Argentina's.
The victory is Argentina's third Football World Cup title, adding to those won in 1978 and 1986.
