Halberg Awards
The Halberg Awards are a set of awards, given annually since 1949, recognising New Zealand's top sporting achievements. They are named for New Zealand former middle-distance runner and Olympic gold medalist Sir Murray Halberg. The initial award was handed out in 1949, and continued until 1960 under the auspices of the "NZ Sportsman" magazine. Since 1963, the awards have been organised by the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation, and the number of award categories has grown to eight. History. The annual award was started in 1949 by "NZ Sportsman" magazine founder Jack Fairburn. The original inscription on  the trophy was Fairburn's words: "The New Zealand Sportsman's Trophy to be awarded annually to the New Zealand athlete whose personal performances or example, has had the most beneficial effect on the advancement of sport in the country". Awarding of the New Zealand Sportsman's Trophy ceased along with publication of "NZ Sportsman" in 1960. After a two-year hiatus, Murray Halberg revived the event in 1963 through the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation. The rules were altered in 1971 to allow teams to win the award, which that year went to the New Zealand eight. The Awards are  presented at a dinner which traditionally rotates between the New Zealand cities of Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland, and which in recent years has been broadcast live on television. Over time, the award was expanded to include New Zealand Sportswoman of the year, New Zealand Team of the year, Sky Sport Coach of the year, Emerging Talent and Halberg Disability Sport Foundation Disabled Sportsperson of the Year awards, as well as the Lion Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award, the Sport New Zealand Leadership Award and an award for New Zealand's Favourite Sporting Moment. The award was eventually renamed in Murray  Halberg's honour, and since then the supreme award has been known as the Halberg award. The Awards help the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation to raise funds, which are then used to enhance the lives of physically disabled young people, their families and communities, by enabling them to participate in sport. The awards for 2019 were held on 13 February 2020, prior to COVID-19 pandemic halting large events. With international sporting events during 2020 affected by COVID-19 pandemic, it was decided to award a decade championship at the 2021 ceremony. The previous winners between 2010 and 2019 across the eight  award categories are eligible. The decade awards were scheduled for 18 February 2021 to be held in Auckland. After the Auckland region went to COVID-19 Level 3 on 15 February 2021, the Halberg Awards were postponed. The 59th awards were held on February 23 2022 with audience restrictions because of the COVID-19 red alert level. Winners. Supreme Award. The annual award was started in 1949 by "NZ Sportsman" magazine founder Jack Fairburn as a marketing venture for his business. At the time, the title was "Sportsman of the Year Award". In 1958, Fairburn sold his magazine, and the award ran  for two more years before it was discontinued. A charity set up by the 1958 winner, Murray Halberg, continued the event from 1963 onwards. The Halberg Disability Sport Foundation renamed the award in 1987 to the Halberg Award, and started having gender-specific awards, introducing the Supreme Award as a new category chosen from all other award categories. Hence, the table below shows the (gender-neutral) Sportsman of the Year Award winners as determined by "NZ Sportsman" (1949–1960), the Sportsman of the Year Award winners as determined by the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation (1963–1986), and the Halberg Award from 1987  onwards. Favourite Sporting Moment. The Favourite Sporting Moment is decided by a public vote, unlike the other awards which are decided by a judging panel. Category finalists and winners. Category winners are in bold 2020s. 2021. The finalists were announced on 12 January 2022, except for the favourite sporting moment, for which the finalists were announced two days later, and cover achievements in both 2020 and 2021. The winners were announced on 23 February 2022. 2020. The 2020 awards were deferred because of the COVID-10 pandemic, with performances during 2020 eligible for inclusion in the 2021 Halberg Awards. 2010s. The  winners for the decade awards were announced on 24 March 2021. 2019. The finalists were announced on 14 January 2020 except for the favourite sporting moment, which was announced on 16 January. The awards ceremony was held on 13 February at the Spark Arena in Auckland. 2018. The finalists were announced on 10 January 2019, with the awards ceremony being held on 21 February. 2017. The finalists were announced on 11 January 2018, with the awards ceremony being held on 8 February. 2016. The finalists were announced on 11 January 2017 and the awards ceremony was held on 9 February . 2015. The finalists for the 2015 awards were announced on 14 January 2016, and the awards ceremony was held on 18 February. 2014. The finalists were announced on 7 January 2015. The winners were announced at the awards ceremony on 11 February 2015. 2013. The winners were announced at the awards ceremony on 13 February 2014 at Vector Arena, Auckland. 2012. The finalists for the 2012 Halberg Awards were announced on 31 December 2012. The winners were announced at the awards ceremony on 14 February 2013 at Vector Arena, Auckland.