Stars at the Halberg Awards

New Zealand’s top sports honours, the Halberg Awards, were held last night at Auckland’s Vector Arena. Many of the country’s biggest sporting stars stepped out on the red carpet at the event, including New Zealander of the Year Richie McCaw, Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum and Olympic gold medalist Lisa Carrington.

The All Blacks took home the Supreme Halberg Award and Team of the Year, while Steve Hansen won Coach of the Year. Brendon McCullum was honoured with the Halberg Leadership Award, while Kane Williamson and Lydia Ko won Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year, respectively.

Champion Paralympic swimmer Sophie Pascoe was named Disabled Athlete of the Year, while Grant Elliott’s match-clinching efforts against South Africa won him Sporting Moment of the Year.

“To win the Halberg Supreme Award, it doesn’t get any better than that in New Zealand sport,” Richie said after the team accepted their awards.

“A night like tonight is not about making one win better than the other. The calibre of the men and women in the room tonight was pretty awesome. Just to be able to celebrate that, but also to take a moment to reflect, which as sportsmen we don’t do that well, the success that you have had, all of the hard work has paid off.”

See more photos from the night here.