Double Olympic shotput champion Valerie Adams and K1 Olympic champion Lisa Carrington, who claimed her third straight K1 200m world sprint title in Moscow in August, are world champions in relatively minor sports alongside single sculls world champion Emma Twigg.
On the other hand 17-year-old golfing sensation Lydia Ko has soared to become the second ranked women's player in the world in what is a truly global game.
The 2013 Halberg Supreme Award winner won three LPGA Tour Events in 2014 - including picking up the biggest payday in the history of women's golf at the season ending CME Group Tour Championship - and will likely start as the favourite for the award for a number of years to come.
Burling and Tuke also have their work cut out in pursuit of the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation Team of the Year award in a stacked category including Auckland City FC, the Kiwis, the men's rowing pair of Hamish Bond and Eric Murray and cycling's men's sprint team.
Notable omissions in this category are the All Blacks and Black Caps.
Steve Hansen has been named as a finalist for Coach of the Year, along with Kiwis mentor Stephen Kearney, canoeing's Gordon Walker, rowing's Gary Hay and cycling's Anthony Peden.
Halberg Disability Sport Foundation chief executive Geoff Burgess said the nominees make up some of the best athletes and teams in the world.
A total of 27 finalists have been named in six categories in the country's pre-eminent event to honour sporting excellence.
Cycling has six athletes on the shortlist - the most of any of the 13 sports featured.
Of the finalists 18 are in the running for the Supreme Halberg Award, with the winners of the Sportsman, Sportswoman, Disabled Sportsperson and Team of the Year award categories eligible for the top honour.
The award winners will be announced at the 52nd Halberg Awards at Vector Arena, Auckland, on Wednesday, February 11.
Halberg Awards Voting Academy:
Adine Wilson, Andy Hay, Awen Guttenbiel, Andrew Mulligan, Alison Shanks, Brendan Telfer, Dana Johannsen, David Leggat, Duane Kale, Eddie Kohlhase, Farah Palmer, Fred Woodcock, Graeme Crosby, Hamish Carter, Jayne Kiely, Jonathan Millmow, Marc Hinton, Mark Richardson, Michael Jones, Michelle Pickles, Mike Stanley, Phil Tataurangi, Ramesh Patel, Rikki Swannell, Ron Cheatley, Ron Palenski, Susie Simcock, Te Arahi Maipi.
Finalists
High Performance Sport New Zealand Sportswoman of the Year:
Emma Twigg (Rowing),
Lisa Carrington (Canoeing),
Lydia Ko (Golf),
Valerie Adams (Athletics).
High Performance Sport New Zealand Sportsman of the Year:
Brendon McCullum (Cricket),
Brodie Retallick (Rugby),
Richie McCaw (Rugby),
Sam Webster (Cycling),
Steven Adams (Basketball).
Halberg Disability Sport Foundation Disabled Sportsperson of the Year:
Corey Peters (Para-Skiing),
Emma Foy and Laura Fairweather - pilot (Para-Cycling),
Mary Fisher (Para-Swimming),
Sophie Pascoe (Para-Swimming).
Halberg Disability Sport Foundation Team of the Year:
Auckland City FC (Football),
Kiwis (Rugby League),
Men's Pair - Hamish Bond, Eric Murray (Rowing),
Men's Team Sprint - Ethan Mitchell, Eddie Dawkins and Sam Webster (Cycling),
NZ Men's 49er Class Team - Peter Burling, Blair Tuke (Yachting).
Emerging Talent:
Eliza McCartney (Athletics),
Regan Gough (Cycling),
Sam Gaze (Mountain Biking),
Zoe McBride (Rowing).
Coach of the Year:
Anthony Peden (Cycling),
Gary Hay (Rowing),
Gordon Walker (Canoeing),
Stephen Kearney (Rugby League),
Steve Hansen (Rugby).
