As part of the Herald’s On The Up series, we’ve been celebrating the top 100 Kiwi sporting moments of the millennium. Since 2000, there have been incredible achievements, but also the small one-off touches of brilliance that set our sporting souls alight – from match-defining catches and tries to gold-medal triumphs and impromptu haka and crowd singalongs.
We ran these stories in blocs of 20 over five days – here we’ve pulled together the full list of 100 great Kiwi sporting moments.
100) Black Sticks women finally strike gold, 2018
After six swings and misses at Commonwealth Games glory, the Black Sticks created history by securing gold in Gold Coast, the result made even better by denying the Aussies victory on their home turf. Hockey had debuted at Kuala Lumpur in 1998 and New Zealand had endured some devastating moments. The 4-2 penalty-stroke loss in Delhi after a 2-2 draw to Australia in the final was probably the worst.
Years of “almosts” and “so closes” were transplanted by a confidence which stunned their opponents into submission in 2018. Late in the third quarter, Split Enz’ History Never Repeats boomed over the public address system as New Zealand went 3-0 up. That proved a prophetic anthem. Australia, a team who had won the title on four of the five previous occasions, were bound for defeat. – AA
99) Mark Richardson beats Darren Lehmann in a 100m sprint race, 2004
No one remembers that Australia won the second cricket test at the Adelaide Oval by 213 runs. The New Zealand pace bowlers would certainly like to forget, after failing to take a wicket in the entire match as the Ricky Ponting-led Australian side secured a 2-0 series win.
But the true highlight of the entire series was the 100m sprint between the two sides’ slowest men – Mark Richardson in the beige corner and Lehmann in the canary yellow.
Both sported full body suits, though Darren Lehmann chose to wear a T-shirt over the top. Richardson navigated the keg hurdle near the end and ran away to victory by at least five metres. Sadly, the tradition didn’t live on as cricketers took nutrition and fitness more seriously as the century went on. – CM
98) Black Sox win World Championships, 2004
This result sealed the first three-peat in softball history. It was the twilight of the sport’s golden era in this country, with the tournament broadcast live on free-to-air television and attracting good crowds in Christchurch. Veteran Mark Sorensen provided the fairy-tale moment, with his three-run homer in the final against Canada setting the Black Sox on course for victory.
Sorensen had retired three years earlier – after three world titles – but the lure of a home World Championships prompted a comeback. The team also had to overcome the loss of star pitcher Marty Grant – then rated as the best in the world – just two days before the start of the tournament, as he suffered a freak calf injury in training. – MB
97) Team NZ get back on the foils, 2021
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli won three of the opening five races of the 2021 America’s Cup and Kiwis feared the Auld Mug and the regatta were to be stripped from their hands. But in a thrilling match, Team New Zealand took control, including a victory in race eight that was dubbed the “most bizarre race” in America’s Cup history.
Team New Zealand fell off the foils and trailed by more than four minutes, but they recovered and went on to win by four minutes when the Italians suffered the same fate. It was the turning point as Team New Zealand won the next two races to close out their successful defence, the first on New Zealand waters since 2000. Oh, how we cheered and then put away the red socks and looked forward to hosting another event in the near future. Sadly, it went to Barcelona. – CM
96) Tua v Cameron, 2009
It was dubbed The Fight of the Century and didn’t really live up to the hype, but it was still a huge occasion for the country, breaking pay-per-view records with a reported 88,000 households paying the fee to watch live. The bout barely lasted beyond the first round as the former heavyweight challenger David Tua knocked Shane Cameron out just seven seconds into the second round, after twice knocking him down in the opening round.
Cameron only revisited the fight for the first time in 2023, after having no recollection of the night. “I watched the fight last week for the very first time. [I thought] is that all I did, just move around? He caught me early and I never recovered.” – CM
95) John Carlaw seals Warriors’ place in first grand final, 2002
Locked at 10-10 with five minutes to play and a spot in the grand final on the line. Up steps Stacey Jones with a pinpoint grubber, rolling low before bouncing at hand-height for centre John Carlaw to run on to, just over the tryline.
It was fitting that the match-winning try was at the end in front of thousands of Kiwis who were given free tickets by Warriors owner Eric Watson and sponsor Vodafone after the side were denied a home semifinal, despite finishing as minor premiers. – CM
94) Greg Murphy’s Lap of the Gods, 2003
There’s no more iconic race (in this part of the world, at least) than Bathurst – and in 2003, for 2m 6.8594s, Australia’s legendary race circuit belonged to a Kiwi. Greg Murphy’s rivals stood to applaud as he got around the 6.213km circuit quicker than anyone else in history, giving him pole position that he would convert into victory the following day.
Even as evolving technology sees motorsport records continually broken, Murphy’s lap record stood for seven years. To make things even sweeter, in 2022, at 51 he returned to Mount Panorama and bettered his own time by 0.878s. – AP
93) Raducanu’s return goes long, 2024
A first Sunday appearance at Wimbledon became Lulu Sun’s day. Playing in the second week for the first time and making her maiden appearance on Centre Court, the 23-year-old Kiwi ace was cool and composed throughout in a 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 victory over British hometown favourite Emma Raducanu in a match that lasted almost three hours.
When a tiring Raducanu – a local fan favourite – wilted and sent a return of serve long, Sun had victory. She was the first qualifier to reach the final eight at Wimbledon since 2010 and the first New Zealand female to get as far as the quarter-finals on the famous grass courts. – CM
92) Nikki Hamblin helps Abbey D’Agostino towards finish line, 2016
The most memorable 15th placing in New Zealand Olympic history. In the second heat of the 5000m event at the Rio Games, Abbey D’Agostino accidentally clipped Nikki Hamblin’s foot, causing both of them to fall. It became one of the moments of the Games. The American initially helped Hamblin up, who was lying on the track. But then it became clear D’Agostino was injured as the Kiwi encouraged and helped her across the finish line. They were both awarded the International Fair Play Committee Award a day after the final. – CM
91) Lawson knocks Verstappen out of Singapore qualifying
When Daniel Ricciardo smashed into the wall at Zandvoort in 2023, a broken finger opened the door for Liam Lawson in Formula One. Finishing 13th in the Netherlands and 11th in Italy, it wasn’t until the third of his five races that the Kiwi made his biggest statement. As stablemate Max Verstappen stumbled in Singapore, Lawson rubbed salt into the wounds and took the last spot in the final qualifying session, at the world champion’s expense, and started as the best of Red Bull’s four affiliated cars.
Making the achievement all the better was the fact Lawson had learned he’d missed out on a fulltime seat at then AlphaTauri in the hours before that qualifying session. Come the Grand Prix, Lawson made up one place on track and drove home for ninth place and his first points in Formula One. They wouldn’t be his last points, either. – AP
90) Billy Stairmand beats Kelly Slater in WA, 2011
In the space of a 30-minute heat, Billy Stairmand established himself as one to watch in the world of professional surfing. Drawn against then 10-time and reigning world champion Kelly Slater, few expected the then 21-year-old Kiwi to progress from their Round of 24 heat in the ASP qualifying series event at Margaret River, south of Perth. The occasion called for something special and, with a couple of big hits off the lip of a left-hander, Stairmand delivered.
The pair traded scores of 7.50 on rights to open the heat, but when Slater found himself out of position on a promising left, Stairmand launched into it. The young Kiwi posted a near-perfect 9.0, leaving Slater – who had priority of wave selection when Stairmand got the nine-pointer – work to do late in the heat. He tried to hit back, but his 8.0 on another right wasn’t enough and the young Kiwi progressed with a 16.5-15.5 win. Slater would go on to win his 11th world title later that year. – CR
89) Auckland FC’s opening goal, 2025
A 24,492-strong crowd turned up to cheer on the latest professional football side in Auckland and they were rewarded just eight minutes in – celebrating wildly after an own goal from the visitors. Auckland FC skipper Hiroki Sakai’s driven cross forced Brisbane Roar defender Harry Van Der Saag to prod the ball into his own net and the home side had their maiden A-League campaign under way. – CM
88) Oskar Zawada’s 99th-minute equaliser, 2024
One of the great sequences of play at the Wellington stadium. Time was almost up and 33,297 Phoenix fans were out of fingernails to chew. Sam Sutton sent a long ball forward from inside his half, which Oskar van Hattum brilliantly headed on into the box. Kosta Barbarouses nodded it again for Oskar Zawada and the striker slotted home to send the semifinal into extra-time. The Phoenix eventually lost the fixture when Chris Ikonomidis scored the winning goal in the 102nd minute to end the Nix’s season. – CM
87) Up the Wahs fever sweeps the nation, 2023
As the Warriors returned to the NRL finals at the first time of asking under new coach Andrew Webster, a week-one defeat to Penrith left the club on the ropes. But as Shaun Johnson returned to the side after recovering from a calf injury, the Mt Smart faithful sensed magic in the air.
In 80 minutes on a glorious September Saturday, the Warriors put the Newcastle Knights to the sword in the semifinal. Seven tries, by seven different scorers, left the Knights with no answers, as the Warriors advanced to the preliminary final at a canter. And as the final whistle blew, the Warriors’ team song We Are The Warriors 100% was sung louder than it ever had been. – AP
86) Double doubles titles, 2017 and 2023
It was impossible to separate the two and since each one needed a non-Kiwi to help them, both grand slam doubles titles this century are worth half a moment each.
It took a long time but New Zealand tennis fans had something to savour. Michael Venus became the first New Zealand male Grand Slam champion since 1974 with victory at Roland Garros when he and his American doubles partner Ryan Harrison earned a straight sets 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (7-4), 6-3 win over Mexican Santiago Gonzalez and American Donald Young in a final lasting more than two hours. It was the first French Open doubles final featuring two unseeded teams since 1993 and the first without a player from a European nation since 1982.
The achievement was matched six years later when Erin Routliffe won the US Open doubles title alongside Canadian partner Gabriela Dabrowski. The No 16 seeds paired up a month before Flushing Meadows and took down former champions Laura Siegemund of Germany and Russian Vera Zvonareva in straight sets in the final. – CM
85) Chris Wood’s Boxing Day hat-trick against Newcastle, 2023
Chris Wood’s time as a Newcastle player was a bit of a mixed bag – he couldn’t nail down a place in the first team and was soon on his way to Nottingham Forest. His return to Newcastle on Boxing Day 2023 was spectacular – the All Whites skipper became just the fourth player in Premier League history to score a hat-trick against a former club.
His three goals that day opened a remarkable run for his new club, giving Forest a shot at qualifying for the Champions League. – WA
84) Eliza McCartney’s pole vault joy, 2016
A teenaged Eliza McCartney became the Kiwi star of the Rio Olympics when she equalled her personal best of 4.80m to claim bronze.
Medalling in Rio was always a long shot for McCartney, who had initially targeted the Tokyo Games to stamp her mark, but her progress was so rapid earlier in the year that it brought 2016 into the calculations.
The feat saw her become the youngest New Zealand female to win an Olympic medal since Jean Stewart in 1952, only to have that record taken off her a day later by Dame Lydia Ko. – BF
83) Hayden Wilde’s embrace after silver, 2024
In one of the most stunning moments at the Paris Olympics, Hayden Wilde looked destined to bring home gold, only for British rival and close friend Alex Yee to sprint past in the last 300m and win.
Crossing the line 6s after Yee, the first thing Wilde did was congratulate him and they embraced in a heartwarming moment.
Sadly, the triathlon event was overshadowed by the water quality in the Seine River, which meant athletes were unable to train and ultimately got sick afterwards, including Wilde, who had E. coli in the days following. – BF
82) Kyle Jamieson gets Virat Kohli, 2021
The last day of the inaugural World Test Championship final began with expectations of a shared title. Any hopes of a New Zealand victory were faint until the sixth over of the day, when Kyle Jamieson, who had dismissed Virat Kohli in the first innings and troubled him several times in the morning, forced a rising delivery to get the edge to B.J. Watling. In the next over, Jamieson removed Cheteshwar Pujara and it was all on, leading to a magical day. – BF
81) Tom Ashley boosts as Frenchman slips, 2008
Going into the final race of the Beijing 2008 Olympic regatta, North Shore boardsailor Tom Ashley needed to beat France’s Julien Bontemps and Britain’s Nick Dempsey to bag gold. The Frenchman blinked, spilling his sail at the first mark. Ashley pounced, finishing ahead of his hard-chasing rivals to bag New Zealand’s third Olympic boardsailing gold. – WA
80) Ivan Vicelich stands among football royalty
At the completion of the 2014 Club World Cup they handed out the tournament awards – and there stood Real Madrid’s Golden Ball-winner Sergio Ramos, teammate and Silver Ball winner Cristiano Ronaldo ... and a 38-year-old midfielder from Auckland City.
Ivan Vicelich joined footballing royalty on the podium when he received the Bronze Ball for an outstanding tournament.
Vicelich was Auckland’s midfield general as they defeated the champions of Morocco, Africa and North America on their way to a third-placed finish at the tournament.
Maybe he inspired Ronaldo to continue playing the game a decade later. – CM
79) McCaw takes a swing, 2002
Legend has it Richie McCaw only threw one punch on a rugby field – the bloke who wore the hit was the most legendary pitch invader in All Blacks history.
Puzzled by some of referee David McHugh’s calls on a hot day in Durban, enthusiastic Springboks fan Pieter van Zyl ran on to the field and tackled the Irish whistler. McCaw clocked him, followed immediately by Boks hard man A.J. Venter. Security quickly dragged Van Zyl away; police later described him as “moderately” drunk.
Herald rugby writer Wynne Gray was there and described the scene as “some of the most bizarre stuff I’ve ever seen on a rugby field”.
“It defied belief really. You could understand people getting on the field, but you’d think they would not get too far. But here was a guy, who is not exactly the most svelte athlete of all time, who has managed to waddle halfway across the field and get to all the players. That was the most dumbfounding piece about the whole thing.” – WA
78) Nathan Friend flips out, 2015
It’s a moment every Warriors fan remembers – and they’ll tell you exactly where they were when it happened. Nathan Friend’s moment of brilliance would have made any gymnast proud as he threw the ball between his legs while doing a backflip, which ultimately led to a Tui Lolohea try. The play went viral around the world, featuring as No 1 on ESPN’s Top 10 Plays.
The moment also marked the last time the Warriors beat the Storm in an NRL match. In a recent interview with the Herald, Friend said he was still constantly reminded of his acrobatics. – BF
77) Gowler and Prendergast win gold, 2021
The first New Zealand gold medal at an Olympics is always special and it was an even longer wait with the Tokyo Olympics delayed by a year. Kerri Williams (née Gowler) and Grace Prendergast did it in style in Tokyo, blitzing the opposition in the women’s pairs and becoming the third female Kiwi rowing crew to win gold.
After setting a world-best time in their semifinal, the Kiwi pair were trailing the Canadian and Russian Olympic Committee crews early but gradually and calmly worked their way up the field. After six years as a team and two world titles, they finally had Olympic gold. – CM
76) Craig Perks chips in twice, 2002
It might just be the best closing three-hole finish in golf history. Craig Perks had just one putt, an 8.5m birdie, to go with chip-ins at the 16th and 18th to claim a remarkable victory at the event dubbed the unofficial fifth major.
He was ranked 203rd in the world and had never won on the PGA Tour but the man from Manawatū stunned the golfing world at TPC Sawgrass to win the Players Championship. Two shots down with three to play, he went eagle-birdie to hold a two-stroke lead at the 72nd hole over Stephen Ames.
Perks looked in trouble, however; after three swings he wasn’t on the green at the par-four last but he avoided any nervous putts by chipping in for par to close out the victory. – CM
75) Dan Carter’s wrong-foot conversion, 2015
Having witnessed Beauden Barrett score a runaway try that all but confirmed the All Blacks as winners of the 2015 Rugby World Cup, Dan Carter’s final act in a black jersey confirmed why he’s the best No 10 to ever lace up a pair of boots. Admittedly, from right in front – after being egged on by Aaron Smith – Carter lined up his final conversion with his wrong foot and, as was the case so many times in his career, he didn’t miss.
Four years later, Carter revealed the act was a tribute to his dad Neville, who made his son practice kicking off both feet while growing up in Southbridge. – AP
Notice anything different about this photo of @DanCarter's final kick at goal in the #RWCFinal ...? pic.twitter.com/IXhSIbBc8h
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) November 1, 2015
74) Nick Willis claims Olympic medal from nowhere, 2008
Heading into the final 100m of the 1500m final at the Beijing Olympics, Nick Willis was sitting sixth, and it appeared his hopes of a medal were literally running away from his grasp. But he put in a Kiwi-at-the-Melbourne Cup-like effort to produce an impressive kick on the final stretch.
While Bahrain’s Rashid Ramzi and Kenya’s Asbel Kiprop surged away to decide gold and silver, Willis kept on pushing to claim bronze. He was later upgraded to silver when Ramzi, the winner, tested positive for a blood-booster the following year. – CM
73) Lyell Creek’s Rowe Cup win at Alexandra Park, 2004
New Zealand’s greatest trotter was an old man when he returned home in 2004.
He had spent three years taking on the world’s best, including a long stint in North America, where he raced on the legal medication Lasix.
Once horses race on Lasix, they are rarely weaned off it successfully but Lyell Creek had to be when he returned home.
After years of mile-only racing in the States, he came to Alexandra Park’s gruelling 3200m trot and smashed his opponents by seven-and-three-quarter lengths.
An old equine Ali delivering a knockout blow.
“I don’t think any of us will see something like that again,” said champion driver Anthony Butt. – MG
72) ‘Super mums’ overcome massive odds to win gold, 2024
Lucy Spoors and Brooke Francis broke down in tears after winning, and no doubt many Kiwi fans were joining them following their thrilling gold in the women’s double sculls in Paris.
They had completed a remarkable journey. Both gave birth two years beforehand and first raced together as a combination just over 12 months ahead of the Paris Olympics.
They beat the world and Olympic champions, the superstar Romanian duo of Ancuta Bodnar and Simona Radis, putting the hammer down with 700m to go and then hanging on, despite a final push from the Europeans, in a breathless finish. The final margin was 0.24s.
“Raising kids isn’t easy,” reflected Francis as the tears came down. “It takes a village and we have had that whole village behind us this whole way and it only makes it that much more special. The fact that our families are here and our kids get to see this legacy now is going to be so special.” – MB
71) Burling and Tuke rule Rio, 2016
The pairing have become synonymous with Team New Zealand’s recent America’s Cup success but before they joined Grant Dalton’s crew, they produced one of New Zealand’s most dominant gold-medal wins of the century. Peter Burling and Blair Tuke were so far ahead of the 49er field at the Rio Olympics that they had the gold sewn up with a race to spare.
They could have taken a box of beers and a few fishing rods on board and made their sweet time around the course in the medal race. Instead, they produced a fourth victory of the regatta to win it in style. – CM
70) Kiwis win Four Nations at the death, 2010
“They’re out on their feet, New Zealand,“ pointed out commentator Phil Gould with the Kiwis on their fourth tackle and needing to march down the field late in the Four Nations final to steal the match from the Kangaroos.
One tackle later, Benji Marshall put Shaun Kenny-Dowall into space, who then set up Jason Nightingale down the right-hand touch. From there it was just a crazy sequence. With a covering Billy Slater heading his way, who shoulder-barged the Kiwis winger, Nightingale sent a long pass back in-field, which went through the hands of Australian legend Darren Lockyer and somehow to a waiting Marshall, who had started the whole phase. Marshall wasn’t done. Tackled short of the line, he threw a pass over his head to Nathan Fien, who dived over for the four-point win.
Aussies will point out the Nightingale pass was forward, as well as another forward pass in New Zealand’s opening try. Kiwis fans will point out the scoreline. – CM
69) Israel Dagg ruins John Smit’s 100th, 2010
Israel Dagg the party-pooper. The All Blacks fullback denied South Africa the chance to celebrate John Smit’s 100th test in style as they closed in on handing Sir Graham Henry’s side their first loss of the 2010 season.
Dan Carter missed a penalty to have New Zealand trailing 22-17 with eight minutes remaining, but Richie McCaw tied the match up a few minutes later with a controversial try. Carter then missed a sideline conversion, leaving it tied at 22-22.
South Africa took possession inside New Zealand’s half with time running out but the All Blacks got a costly turnover that saw Ma’au Nonu break away to set up the famous win when an unmarked Dagg appeared out wide on the left-hand wing and coasted to the tryline.
The everlasting image was one-boot Nonu running away with Smit lying on the Soweto turf clutching the centre’s Adidas, having missed the vital tackle but left with a keepsake. – CM
68) Guptill hits the roof, 2015
In 35 swift boundary blows in the World Cup quarter-final against the West Indies, Martin Guptill became the:
• first New Zealander to make a double century in an ODI.
• second-highest scorer in an ODI behind Rohit Sharma’s 264.
• highest run-scorer in an innings at a World Cup.
• first New Zealander to score consecutive centuries at a World Cup.
• the highest scorer in a World Cup knockout match.
The Black Caps opener carried his bat and finished the innings unbeaten on 237 from 163 balls as New Zealand posted an imposing 393 for six. The highlight of the innings came in the final over when Guptill sent a ball over midwicket and on to the roof of the Cake Tin.
His 100 came off 111 balls, while he scored the following 137 off just 52 balls. Staggering. – CM
To continue the party atmosphere, a 36-year-old Daniel Vettori channelled “Air Jordan” on the boundary at third man with a one-handed leap to dismiss Marlon Samuels.
67) Team Jolly win gold, 2012
It had been 28 years since a New Zealand sailing crew had won an Olympic title – other than standing up on a board – and 470 women’s pair Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie ended the drought aboard their aptly named Team Jolly boat.
Going into the medal race, Aleh and Powrie were equal on points with British sailors Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark. Both had won two of the 10 fleet races. The Dutch pair were third, some way back. A minimum of silver was assured.
In the event, Aleh and Powrie made no race of it, romping away to win, while Mills and Clark had a shocker, finishing ninth out of the 10 crews.
“I was thinking about it last night and I thought silver was going to be a big deal,” Aleh said after receiving her medal. “I don’t think a New Zealand woman has ever won a gold medal in a sit-down boat and I’m sitting down and we have got one now.” – CM
66) Haka for RTS at the Dally M, 2018
After leading the Warriors back to the playoffs for the first time in seven years, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck became the first player in the side’s 25-year history to win the prestigious Dally M medal.
It was a historic moment for the club, made even more special moments later.
Following his acceptance speech, Tuivasa-Sheck stood by as his teammates, led by hooker Issac Luke and Jazz Tevaga, along with Canberra wing and fellow Kiwi international Jordan Rapana, performed a haka in his honour. – CM
65) K4 stun big kayaking nations, 2024
Dame Lisa Carrington, Alicia Hoskin, Olivia Brett and Tara Vaughan claimed a magnificent gold in Paris, outlasting the German crew who had taken the lead with 150m to go.
But the final 100m saw the black boat surge ahead and in the end win gold – New Zealand’s first K4 medal in 40 years.
The K4 class is the most competitive of all the sprint disciplines and the one that the heavyweight kayaking nations value more than any other. No other nation outside Hungary or Germany had won the event since 1988.
It was Carrington’s sixth Olympic gold – and seventh medal overall – and she admitted it was one of the most precious, given what it took to achieve. – CM
64) Dan Carter’s perfect 10, 2005
Running on to the field for the second test against the 2005 British and Irish Lions, Dan Carter had only a couple of All Blacks matches at first five-eighths under his belt, the selectors seemingly distracted by his potential as a second five-eighths. Eighty minutes later, he looked every inch the perfect 10.
The All Blacks were better than their opponents across the park and Carter’s first try underlined the gulf in class. Running on the right flank in the 42nd minute, Southbridge’s finest took the ball 35m out, sparked a flicker of gas to brush past the first defenders then weighted a perfect grubber into the in-goal area. He scored the try, then – naturally – pinged over the sideline conversion. With the score at 31-13, the series was as good as dead.
Carter’s haul that day – 33 points from two tries, four conversions and five penalties – was his biggest in a single test and his all-round, perfect performance announced his freakish powers to the world. - WA
63) Kelly Brazier burns 88m for gold, 2018
The maiden women’s rugby sevens final at the Commonwealth Games, much like the inaugural Olympic event two years earlier, saw World Series rivals Australia and New Zealand battling for gold.
Australia came back from 12-0 down at halftime to lock the scores up at 12-12 in the closing stages with a conversion close to the posts. However, Aussie player Emma Sykes missed the conversion, which would have given the hosts a 14-12 lead.
Teammate Cassie Staples must have assumed the kick went over, or was given the wrong instructions from a teammate, because when Australia stole possession from New Zealand with time up on the clock, she decided to kick the ball out, instead of launching an attack.
The look on her face said it all as she realised her mistake and that the match would go to extra time. In a thrilling extra stanza, New Zealand secured the victory when Kelly Brazier scored an 88m solo try. After receiving the ball under pressure, Brazier weaved into space and just kept on going all the way into the corner. – CM
62) McCullum’s 100 off 54 balls, 2016
Brendon McCullum bowed out the only way he knew how. After announcing the summer of 2016 would be his last as a Black Cap, Australia’s tour of New Zealand by proxy became the McCullum goodbye road trip of Aotearoa. And as New Zealand had defended the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy with a 2-1 ODI series win, two tests were to be McCullum’s final goodbye. Walking to the wicket at 32/3 on day one and batting on a green seamer, McCullum for the last time proved attack was his best form of defence.
In just over two hours, McCullum rewrote the record books, smashing a 34-ball half-century – and kept going. With his score on 96 off just 53 balls, McCullum sent Josh Hazlewood over cover for four, beating the legendary Sir Viv Richards’ record for the fastest test century by two balls. And while the test and series ended in defeat, McCullum could hold his head high for the job he’d done as a player – and captain. – AP
61) The Butcher slices his way to gold, 2024
Growing up in Central Otago, racing mates down the Kawarau River, Finn Butcher believed he developed an edge well before kayak cross made its Olympic debut.
The Kiwi took that edge and turned it into a gold medal.
Butcher dominated the men’s final from start to finish on the slalom course at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium, becoming the first Olympic champion crowned in a captivating event.
The 29-year-old could hardly fathom what he saw when, with the finish line fast approaching, he glanced over his shoulder and glimpsed open water.
“Am I actually winning this thing?” Butcher thought to himself. He was, he did, and New Zealand now had another kayaking hero.
“I couldn’t even comprehend it when I exited the last upstream and I was alone in front. It was wild,” he said. – CM
60) Frenchmen get a ride on The Bus, 2015
The All Blacks’ happy knack of turning up at Rugby World Cups with a terrifying winger in hot form was in full effect in 2015. Julian Savea’s 37th-minute quarter-final strike left three Frenchmen skittled and rendered the Gauls highly domitable.
On a day of slick execution from arguably the greatest All Blacks team to take the field, The Bus’ brutal ride to the tryline stood out. – WA
59) Bond and Murray sign off, 2016
For the 69th and last time, it was never in doubt. The coxless pair of Hamish Bond and Eric Murray triumphed on the Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon in Rio by 2.8s to remain unbeaten in eight seasons, a feat ranking among the finest examples of New Zealand, let alone world, athletic supremacy. Sixty-nine races at 24 international regattas without defeat in the class. No one had completed more in rowing’s history.
In a discipline of such technical nous, they overcame every conceivable doubt in every heat, semifinal and final on every visit to a race course. The last win was the most defining of their careers. With the clinical analysis of Lovelock at Berlin, the raw talent of Loader at Atlanta and the relentless determination of Ulmer in Athens, Bond and Murray dismantled the field once again. – AA
58) Guptill runs out Dhoni, 2019
When M.S. Dhoni is not out in a run chase, India win. So as the 2019 Cricket World Cup semifinal between the Black Caps and India crept towards its apex, India’s main man was the key. Needing 25 off 10 balls, Dhoni had set himself up for one last assault, with India already expecting to head to Lord’s for the final.
When a Lockie Ferguson bouncer was turned behind square, Dhoni set off for two. Roaring in from the boundary, Martin Guptill – enduring a tough tournament with the bat – gathered the ball and threw down the stumps. India’s hero was gone and New Zealand were heading to a second straight World Cup final. – AP
57) The Goat in the boat, 2021
It’s crazy to think about now, but heading into the Tokyo Olympics, Dame Lisa Carrington “only” had two gold medals to her name. Within an hour, she doubled that tally with a third straight K1 200m title, followed by victory in the K2 500m alongside Caitlin Regal. Two days later, she completed the Tokyo hat-trick with gold in the K2 500m to become the first New Zealander to win five Olympic golds.
“I hate it, but I love it,” she said after the 500m victory.
“The way I approach the 500 is just about emptying the tank completely. It’s just a completely different race and into the headwind, it’s just a bit longer but the strategy has to stay the same for me. It hurt a lot, but that just means I gave everything, so I’m really happy.” – CM
56) Waddell crosses the line and New Zealand breathes again, 2000
Younger readers may not realise how rare a gold medal for New Zealand was back at the start of the millennium. It took until day nine of the Sydney Olympics before Rob Waddell earned our first, and what was to be only, gold of the Games.
He was the quickest through the heats and the semifinals before beating Swiss rival Xeno Müller by just under two seconds in the final. Our first gold of the century. New Zealand have won 33 gold medals since. – CM
55) The ghost that clipped the bails, 2000
Defending just 184 runs in the ODI Cricket World Cup final, things were getting tense for the White Ferns. Australia needed 10 runs from the final two overs with two wickets in hand.
Allrounder Kathryn Ramel bowled one tight down the leg side and Aussie lower-order batter Cathryn Fitzpatrick let it go through to wicketkeeper Rebecca Rolls.
A dot ball. Great stuff. Hold on a minute, says Rolls. One of the bails is off!
Enter the third umpire for a decision in which the barest of margins favoured New Zealand. The delivery had brushed leg stump and the Kiwis had one hand on the trophy.
To sweeten the moment, some Australian players grumbled about the third umpire’s involvement. – WA
54) A storming comeback for gold, 2012
There are a variety of ways to win a race. You can lead from the front, if you’re good enough, and take the opposition out of the equation; you can engage in a ding-dong contest and get to the line first by a small margin; or you can do it the Cohen and Sullivan way.
Double scullers Nathan Cohen and Joseph Sullivan had form as slow starters. Having found that challenging to overcome, they did the next best thing: ensure that at the business end of the 2000m course, they were flying.
Going into the last 500m at the London Olympics, the New Zealanders, world champions in both 2010 and 2011, were fourth, having been 3.4s behind early pacesetters, Slovenians Istok Cop and Luka Spik at the halfway mark.
But they wound it up at the 1500m mark and roared through the field to win. Sullivan was out of his seat, arms aloft before sinking back into his crewmate’s lap. – CM
53) Whitelock’s snaffle, 2023
The 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final was the high point in the fiery rivalry between the All Blacks and the new-blood Ireland team. The All Blacks were still smarting from being beaten in a three-test series the year before – and keen to silence the fabulous sledge loosie Peter O’Mahony had put to Sam Cane: “You’re a s*** Richie McCaw.”
The quarter-final was a belter of a game, in which Cane turned in one of the great defensive displays, silencing that sledge beneath smashed Irish bodies. There were plenty of heroes that day, but it was Sam Whitelock who settled the key moment, snaffling the ball in the 82nd minute, capping a 37-phase defensive effort. – WA
52) Two Chrises deliver knockout blow, 2000
Two wins to reach a final might not be the usual tournament format but the Black Caps weren’t complaining after reaching their maiden ICC men’s final at the ICC KnockOut Trophy event in Kenya. To lift the trophy, they still had to get by an Indian side featuring Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble.
Ganguly, the Indian skipper, made 113 as his side set New Zealand 265 to win and at 132-5, it seemed an ICC title would elude the Black Caps. But enter Chris Cairns and Chris Harris, who put on 122 and led New Zealand to victory. Cairns finished with a man-of-the-match 102 off 113 balls, clipping the winning runs off his leg with two balls remaining. – CM
51) NZ’s own blade-runner, 2016
The 2016 Rio Paralympics were hugely successful for New Zealand, highlighted by the golden runs by Liam Malone as he claimed two gold medals and a silver in record times. His feats in the T44 400m and 200m finals saw him beat the Olympic records, previously held by controversial South African Oscar Pistorius, and earn the title of New Zealand’s blade-runner.
Malone, who only took up para-athletics at university, would later be selected as New Zealand’s flag-bearer for the closing ceremony. – BF
50) Ekene Ibekwe at the buzzer, 2015
Tied game, 1.3s left on the clock in the fourth quarter. That was where the Breakers found themselves as they looked to close out the 2014-15 NBL finals against the Cairns Taipans on their home court, having already won game one on the road. They ran a great play; Tom Abercrombie ran out to the three-point line in the corner, Mika Vukona provided just enough of a disruption to allow Ekene Ibekwe to get into space, Corey Webster providing a second screen as Cedric Jackson’s in-bounds pass hit Ibekwe in rhythm; the Breakers big man rising up and releasing a mid-range jump shot.
It looked pure from the moment it left his hand; the moment only amplified by commentator Andrew Mulligan’s call of “Pandemonium! Absolute scenes!” as they secured their fourth title in five years. – CR
49) Wagner gets Anderson, 2023
With their backs against the wall, down 1-0 in the series and with talk New Zealand’s golden generation was over, the Black Caps completed one of their greatest test victories. Having set England 258 runs to win after following on, thanks to 132 from Kane Williamson, the final day at the Basin Reserve saw test cricket at its best. At 256/9, England were almost home.
But a never-say-die Neil Wagner delivered the perfect bouncer, which took the glove of Jimmy Anderson through to Tom Blundell. The Black Caps had become only the second team in history to win a test by just one run. It was only the fourth time a side had won after following on. Wellington went into raptures. – AP
48) Nico Porteous pops the cork, 2022
Reigning world champion Nico Porteous stomped back-to-back double-cork 1620s in both directions on his first run to score a 93.00, a score that remained untouched for the rest of the event. It was a stunning achievement for the then 20-year-old, who captured bronze in the same event four years earlier in Pyongyang.
Porteous said he had extra motivation to claim gold after watching Zoi Sadowski-Synnott become the first New Zealander to win Winter Olympic gold just days earlier. What made the moment more special was that his older brother, Miguel Porteus, also competed in the event, finishing 11th. – BF
47) Ellesse Andrews powers home, 2024
A ride for the ages from Ellesse Andrews saw her power home to win gold in the women’s keirin at the Paris Olympics. Andrews took the lead with two laps left and held on to join Sarah Ulmer as an Olympic gold medallist at the velodrome.
It was Andrews’ third Olympic medal after taking silver in the keirin three years earlier, along with the team sprint silver. She also claimed gold in the sprint in Paris. She said having her father Jon Andrews – a former New Zealand track cycling representative – as her coach made victory all the more sweet. – BF
46) Emma Twigg wins gold at last, 2021
It was fourth time lucky for Emma Twigg as she finally captured a medal, and the best of them all, in the single sculls at the Tokyo Olympics. Having finished fourth at the past two Games, Twigg was determined as ever to capture the elusive gold, producing an Olympic record time of 7m 13.97s. It was also the first time a New Zealand female had won single sculls gold. Twigg said winning gold, having taken a two-year break after the Rio Olympics, was an amazing feeling. – BF
45) The world meets Dame Lydia Ko, 2012
At 14, she became the youngest winner worldwide of a professional tournament at the New South Wales Open in January of 2012. If the golfing world didn’t take notice then, they did later that year when she turned up at the Canadian Open. The 15-year-old amateur opened with back-to-back 68s to take the lead at the midway point of the tournament, which she held going into the final day.
Many expected the pressure to get to her but she carded seven birdies to claim a three-stroke win over the top-ranked professionals in her sport. The Korean-born Kiwi became the youngest LPGA tournament champion and the first amateur to win an LPGA event since 1969. – CM
44) Ethereal wins the Cup, 2001
Any Melbourne Cup win is special and increasingly rare for New Zealand-trained horses.
Ethereal is the only Kiwi to win the Cup this century and did it just weeks after capturing the Caulfield Cup – and so completed Australian racing’s most storied double in the Vela brothers’ blue-and-white hoop colours.
The historical significance was huge with Sheila Laxon becoming the first female to officially train the Cup winner as Ethereal surged past two European gallopers, which subsequent Melbourne Cups have shown is no easy feat. – MG
43) Michael Witt eventually puts the ball down, 2008
This was the Warriors upset that led to a change in the NRL rules. Under the old MacIntyre system, the eighth-placed team had never beaten the minor premiers in the first week of the playoffs; most had never even come close. And the Warriors had snuck into the finals after a big surge in the second half of the season.
After an extremely tight contest, the defending premiers looked to be home with less than three minutes to play, ahead 15-12 with the Warriors stuck deep in their own territory. But then came one of the greatest tries in the club’s history. Jerome Ropati got outside his marker to surge down the left before passing in-field to a charging Manu Vatuvei. The wing was eventually corralled by three defenders but Michael Witt backed up, dotting down in the corner after a bit of showboating. In an attempt to waste a few seconds, he nearly blew the try – as Ivan Cleary almost combusted in the coaches’ box. – MB
42) Winter gold at last, 2022
Zoi Sadowski-Synnott created history when she won New Zealand’s first Winter Olympics gold with a stunning performance in the women’s slopestyle. Sadowski-Synnott was the final woman to drop into the third and final run. Sitting in second position, she knew she would have to give it everything and that’s what she did by landing a hugely technical rail line and lacing together a frontside double-1080 into a backside double-1080 on the final two jumps, securing the gold medal with a huge score of 92.88.
She described the gold-clinching run as the best of her life. Sadowski-Synnott went on to take silver in the big air in Beijing, adding to the bronze she claimed in the same event four years earlier. – BF
41) Whitelock’s leap
There weren’t many moments in the 2015 Rugby World Cup campaign in which the All Blacks looked seriously rattled.
But as they led 20-18 with eight minutes left in the semifinal against the Springboks, the Old Enemy had a chance to strike and derail the first-ever defence of a World Cup title.
From a lineout near the All Blacks’ 22, the Boks were set to take the ball and drive to seize a chance at what would surely be a match-winning penalty shot for goal. Victor Matfield – the most dominant lineout force of his generation – called for the ball to be thrown to himself.
Sam Whitelock had other plans. The big Crusaders unit tapped the ball to his well-protected halfback, meaning the reigning champions could get out of trouble, get down field and get some heat back on the Boks. – WA
40) Kane’s six denies Australia, 2015
After rolling the Aussies for just 151 in the 2015 Cricket World Cup, the Black Caps got off to a flier when Brendon McCullum hammered a 24-ball half-century to have New Zealand 78/1 in reply. From there, though, the wheels well and truly fell off.
A haul of 6/28 from Mitchell Starc left Trent Boult needing to survive the last two balls of the 23rd over to keep New Zealand in the game. Once he did, Kane Williamson wasted no time and sent Pat Cummins back over his head – and 48,000 spectators into raptures. – AP
39) Ruby Tui’s sing-along, 2022
After a tense victory in the Rugby World Cup final, Black Ferns star Ruby Tui turned her post-match interview into an impromptu singalong, leading a packed Eden Park in a hearty rendition of Tūtira Mai Ngā Iwi.
She’d been one of the on-field stars of the tournament while off the field, Tui’s character was at the heart of the Black Ferns’ appeal as the nation pulled in behind the team for the massive challenge of beating England.
Aue! – WA
38) Silver Ferns win World Cup, 2019
2019 was almost a year to forget for New Zealand teams. A Cricket World Cup final lost by a boundary countback and the All Blacks fell to England at the semifinal stage at their World Cup. Thankfully, there were the Silver Ferns. This was fourth time’s a charm after the anguish of three previous World Cup final losses – all to Australia. It was Australia again in the final, and it was a back-and-forth battle again.
Veterans Casey Kopua, Laura Langman and Maria Folau (now Folau) were crucial, along with a 24-from-26 shooting performance by Ameliaranne Ekenasio, as the Ferns hung on to a four-point lead heading into the final quarter, denying Australia a comeback to win 52-51. This time it was New Zealand’s time. – CM
37) Sunline hits the gas at the 400m mark, 2000
To understand the enormity of Sunline’s demolition, you have to understand the Cox Plate – Australasia’s best and strongest horse race. The truly great horses win this race by clawing past their rivals, equine bare-knuckle brawling.
Sunline, the moody mare from Takanini, won it in 1999 but returned to Moonee Valley in 2000 to bolt home by a scarcely believable seven lengths, the race over at the 400m mark. She had broken her rivals’ hearts.
When a horse wins that easily, you might ask, what did she beat? The runner-up Diatribe had won the Caulfield Cup a week earlier. Dear old Sunline is buried in the rose gardens at Ellerslie. – MG
36) Sevens’ golden redemption, 2021
Five years after a heartbreaking loss to Australia in the Rio de Janeiro final, the Black Ferns Sevens found redemption to win gold at the Tokyo Games, beating France 26-12 in the final. As the fulltime whistle blew, the players broke into tears.
The team were probably the best New Zealand has produced, featuring the likes of Michaela Blyde (now Brake), Sarah Hirini, Tyla Nathan-Wong (now King), Portia Woodman (now Woodman-Wickliffe) and Ruby Tui. The team were also praised afterwards for a rousing haka after receiving their gold medals. The Black Ferns Sevens arguably faced their toughest test in the semifinals, when they needed a golden-point try to beat Fiji 22-17. – BF
35) Nathan Astle goes bang, 2002
While not the literal definition of “going down swinging”, Nathan Astle got pretty close in Christchurch. Chasing 550 for victory, New Zealand were never a chance at what would have been a world-record fourth-innings score. And as wickets continued to fall, Astle threw caution to the wind and smashed 27 fours and nine sixes, as he reached his first – and what would prove to be his only – test double century in just 153 balls. He’d eventually fall for 222 from 168 balls, with 178 of his runs coming from boundaries and sixes.
Even in 2025, two decades on from the invention of T20 cricket, Astle’s record is still 10 balls quicker than the next-best challenger – England’s Christchurch-born Ben Stokes – as cricket’s fastest test 200. – AP
34) Dame Sophie Pascoe blacks out after gold
We could have filled 11 moments with Dame Sophie Pascoe golds at the Paralympics, following her dominant run from 2008 in Beijing up to the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, not to mention another 18 world and Commonwealth Games titles. The one that stands out most is her last at the Paralympics, Pascoe’s fourth straight title in the 200m individual medley (SM9) in Tokyo. It completed a famous four-peat – adding to gold medals she had won in the discipline in Beijing, London and Rio. And there was no doubt she gave her all. After holding off late-surging Hungarian Zsofia Konkoly to win by just 0.27s, Pascoe exited the pool, threw up and blacked out briefly.
“I did really leave it all out there and even left some on the side of the pool. But that is what a fight is all about and I really wanted it, I wanted to make it a four-peat. It just came down to that last 10 metres not breathing. That comes down to the skills that Roly [Crichton] and I have been working on for many years doing this race,” she said. – CM
33) Magic Shaun Johnson stuns the Storm, 2011
First came the look, to assess the defensive line. The shuffle sideways, the acceleration, a feint, a step and then another outrageous dummy. Three Melbourne Storm players were left grasping, before Shaun Johnson set up Lewis Brown for the match-sealing try.
This was the peak of the Ivan Cleary era at the Warriors, the team’s best performance across that impressive six-season period. They had travelled to Melbourne to take down a Storm team that had reached four of the previous five NRL grand finals and featured Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk in their pomp. – MB
32) Mohammed Siraj slices Ajaz Patel, 2024
Taking all 10 wickets in a test innings is a feat so rare, only two other men had achieved it. But in his hometown of Mumbai, playing for his adopted country against the nation of his birth, Ajaz Patel wrote his name into history. After losing the toss and being asked to bowl first, Patel did his bit by taking the only four wickets to fall on day one, and returned the next day to make history.
One by one, thanks to a lack of support from his teammates, Patel picked off India’s batters and went level with Sir Richard Hadlee as Jayant Yadav holed out to long-off. Batting at No 11, Mohammed Siraj made no attempt to deny Patel, as his top-edged slice was taken securely by Rachin Ravindra at mid-on. Patel’s final figures of 10/119 were the best in New Zealand history and third-best in the history of the sport. – AP
31) Carrington’s first gold, 2012
As she waited on the start line in her first Olympic final, Dame Lisa Carrington might just have recalled the words of her father about 16 years earlier as she watched Danyon Loader win one of his Atlanta Games swimming gold medals.
“You could do that one day. If you put your mind to it, you can go,” was her Dad’s tip to his 6-year-old daughter.
That day at Eton Dorney was the culmination of a dream. The Whakatāne kayaker clocked 44.638s to pip Ukrainian Inna Osypenko-Radomska by 0.415s, with multi-medalled Hungarian Natasa Douchev-Janics third, a further 0.075s back.
Hysterics, flailing arms, a scream of delight perhaps? Nah, none of that. A quiet smile and, eventually, an undemonstrative wave to the Kiwi supporters who were on hand beside the course. The beginning of our greatest-ever Olympic run. – CM
30) Adesanya knocks out Whittaker for UFC title in Melbourne, 2019
After Israel Adesanya won his UFC debut, he mimed marking his territory in the cage before proclaiming: “I’m the new dog in the yard.” He was the champion of the middleweight division within two years of that moment. Having moved quickly to get into title contention – six UFC wins in 14 months, collecting the interim title on the way – the stage was set for a blockbuster transtasman clash against New Zealand-born champion Robert Whittaker. In front of 57,127 fans in Melbourne – which remains the UFC attendance record – Adesanya ascended to the throne with a second-round knockout against a rival previously unbeaten in the division.
Performing a choreographed dance before making the walk to the octagon, Adesanya radiated confidence – and that didn’t change when the fight began. He was fast, elusive and, when he picked his shot, devastating. He dropped Whittaker at the end of the first round, before ending the fight with a right-left combination on the counter in the second – wearing a solid jab from Whittaker but planting his rival in response. That win took Adesanya’s career to another level and he went on to have one of the greatest title reigns in UFC history. - CR
29) Billy Slater’s brain explosion, 2008
The Kiwis defied the odds to beat a superstar-laden Kangaroos side to win their one Rugby League World Cup final 34-20 in Brisbane.
In the 60th minute, the Kiwis were leading 18-16, having trailed 10-0 earlier in the first half, and Benji Marshall stabbed a routine kick towards the corner.
Instead of letting the ball bounce, Billy Slater caught it on the full and attempted to outrun Manu Vatuvei on the blindside but quickly ran out of space and attempted to throw the ball back in-field.
The only issue was that there was nobody there – and Marshall scooped up the ball to score. Even though Australia hit back immediately after, the Kiwis still hung on to claim their first, and so far only, World Cup title.
Silly Billy. – BF
28) Steven Adams is drafted by the OKC Thunder, 2013
A historic moment for New Zealand basketball when NBA commissioner David Stern announced the Oklahoma City Thunder would be drafting Steven Adams with the 12th pick in the 2013 draft. A shy, clean-shaven Adams walked up to the stage and shook Stern’s hand before opening his blazer to reveal a New Zealand flag. The moment saw Adams become just the second New Zealander to be selected in the NBA draft and the first to be selected in the first round. Adams has gone on to have a relatively successful career with stints at the Thunder, Pelicans, Grizzlies and now Rockets, establishing himself as an elite rebounder and one of the toughest players in the NBA. – BF
At number 12, #Thunder selects 7-0 center Steven Adams from Pitt. http://t.co/Q30D5z9l8f pic.twitter.com/r1sMU5AVqJ
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) June 28, 2013
27) Dame Valerie Adams’ opening effort for gold, 2008
There were certainly expectations on reigning world champion Dame Valerie Adams when she stepped into the circle for her opening effort in the Beijing Olympics shot put final. And no better way to lay down a marker than by sending her first attempt past the distance that won the world title 12 months earlier. With a monster effort of 20.56m – a distance only two other athletes in the field had bettered in their careers – Adams had done enough to win gold.
She then went past the 20m mark four more times, producing the three longest throws of the competition. When Belarusian second- and third-place getters Natallia Mikhnevich and Nadzeya Ostapchuk were later stripped of their medals for doping, Adams’ dominance was made even clearer, with her winning throw more than a metre ahead of silver. – CM
26) Wilkinson gives Football Ferns perfect start, 2023
It’s hard not to get goosebumps when you think back to the moment Hannah Wilkinson scored in the Football Ferns’ Women’s World Cup opener. In front of a sold-out Eden Park – unprecedented for the women’s game – the underdogs played out of their skin to beat Norway 1-0. The 12-month build-up to the home tournament had often been tough.
Wilkinson’s goal, assisted by Jaqui Hand, seemingly came out of nowhere. The players knew that just as much as the fans – which is why the eruption of those on and off the field was so raw, exhilarating and fulfilling. – BJ
25) Pero Cameron secures semifinal spot, 2002
In not many sports would you see New Zealand and Puerto Rico do battle and they were both unlikely quarter-finalists at basketball’s 2002 World Championships in Indianapolis. Pero Cameron hit a three-pointer from the top of the key with three minutes left to give the Tall Blacks a 60-58 lead. Then, locked at 63-63, Cameron scored from under the hoop to secure the win and book a semifinal with eventual champions Yugoslavia. – CM
24) Ko completes the Olympic set, 2024
Saving the gold for last. Dame Lydia Ko completed the Olympic set in style at the Paris Olympics. Leading by one on the tricky par-five 18th hole, she very nearly holed out with her third shot from 70m out, just landing shy of the hole and leaving a 1.5m shot for birdie and gold. She sank the putt and the tears began to flow.
Ko opened the day in a tie for the lead and certainly wasn’t flawless – a double bogey on the 13th was particularly shaky – but managed to pair enough blemishes with class to claim the one shade of medal missing on her mantlepiece; after silver in Rio and bronze in Tokyo. No other golfer of any gender has won more than one Olympic medal. – CM
23) Drysdale’s redemption, 2012
The single sculler was odds-on favourite for the 2008 Olympic crown in Beijing. After all, he’d been world champion the previous three years and, while not unbeatable, was damn near it.
Instead, Mahé Drysdale was laid low by a virus in the days leading up to the final and had to settle for a gallant bronze, having to be helped out of his boat. So he was a man with some serious ambitions when he arrived in London.
He was fourth early on but had his nose in front by halfway. It became a two-man contest from there, with Czech Republic hotshot Ondrej Synek duelling down the stretch with Drysdale. The two had shared the previous three world titles – Drysdale winning in 2009 and 2011, his fifth time – Synek in 2010 at Lake Karāpiro.
But by the end, the New Zealand man had it in hand, just, crossing in 6m 57.82s, Synek 1.55s behind, with Britain’s Alan Campbell third. Drysdale raised his arms, slapped the water and clasped his head at the finish. – CM
22) Ulmer’s secret world records, 2004
On her approach run to the 2004 Olympics, Sarah Ulmer’s coaching team wanted to test her in a series of closed-door challenges, simulating the back-to-back races she would face on a golden run in Athens. The Cambridge flier had set a world record of 3m 30.604s for the 3km individual pursuit earlier in the year. Behind closed doors, she broke it again, clocking 3m 27s and 3m 28s.
She had to be sharp. In the final day of racing, Ulmer and her two main rivals, Australian Katie Mactier and Holland’s Leontien Zijlaard van Moorsel, set the fastest six times ever completed.
The Kiwi took honours with 3m 24.537s, completing the run from the secret trainings to glory on the biggest stage. – WA
21) Dixon drinks the milk, 2008
A.J. Foyt, Al Unser snr, Jacques Villeneuve, Emerson Fittipaldi, Mario Andretti, Graham Hill and Scott Dixon.
The Kiwi joined the ranks of motorsport’s immortals with his name on the same trophy with victory in the 2008 Indy 500. Dixon started the 500-mile (804km) event from pole position and led 115 of the 200 laps to drink the traditional winner’s pint of milk.
The milk was sweetened by redemption. Two years earlier, Dixon had been leading the race only to suffer a drive-through penalty for blocking Tony Kanaan, eventually finishing sixth. – CM
20) Joseph Parker claims the WBO World Heavyweight Championship Belt, 2016
“And new WBO heavyweight champion of the world ... Lupesoliai La’aulialemalietoa Joseph Parker.”
It wasn’t convincing, with one judge calling it a draw and the other two giving the bout to Joseph Parker 115-113, but it was enough for New Zealand to have its first heavyweight champion since Bob Fitzsimmons in 1899.
Due to the close scores from the judges, the result was questioned in some sections of the boxing media but Parker was no doubt the busier of the two, throwing more punches than Andy Ruiz jnr, 560-416, and landing 119 to 107. – CM
19) Auld-fashioned drubbing, 2017
Hearts dropped when Team New Zealand pitch-poled in the pre-start ahead of the fourth race of their America’s Cup Challenger Series semifinal against Land Rover BAR in Bermuda. It wasn’t the first time in the campaign they had sustained damage, but it looked like it might have been the most significant. They were able to get back on the starting line for the next racing day, cleaned up the series, then won the overall Challenger Series to book a spot in the Cup match against Oracle Team USA.
As Oracle had won the Challenger Series’ round-robins, Team NZ started on -1 points. As it turned out, the defenders needed a much larger headstart. Powered by their innovative design and control elements – headlined by their use of cyclors rather than grinders – Team NZ left the ghosts of San Francisco in their wake to clinch the series 7-1 and begin their first reign as defenders since losing the Auld Mug to Alinghi in 2003. After the agonising defeat in San Francisco – where they came within one win of clinching the Cup – the success in Bermuda, and claiming that final win by almost a minute, was a moment to savour. – CR
18) Lomu caps the test of the millennium, 2000
It seems ironic that a defining Jonah Lomu moment doesn’t feature him running over or through a defender, but instead around, as the legendary winger ended one of the greatest tests ever with a try down the left-hand touch at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium.
Taine Randell offered the assist and Lomu, as was often his wont, did the rest, sprinting away and evading the desperate tackle of Stephen Larkham. It capped a 39-35 victory after the All Blacks coughed up an early 24-0 lead. – CM
17) Baz reaches new heights, 2014
Everest conquered. Thirteen years after Martin Crowe’s 299, Brendon McCullum finally scaled the mountain no other Black Cap could.
Trailing India by 246 runs, and reduced to 94/5, McCullum not only saved the test, but saved the series with it. McCullum shelved his natural instincts, defying India for more than two days to finish on 302.
As the Kiwi skipper cut Zaheer Khan for four runs to take him past a batter’s holy grail, New Zealand rose as one to celebrate the missing accolade from our copybook as a test cricket power. – AP
16) Mark Paston dives right, 2009
This was a true Sliding Doors moment, in a football World Cup qualifier. When Bahrain were awarded a penalty – after an awkward Tony Lochhead challenge inside the box – 35,000 fans held their breath. Everyone knew what it meant; if the Asian team equalised, the All Whites’ World Cup dream could be over, with away goals counting for double and 40 minutes to play. The All Whites bench tried to get a message to Mark Paston but the custodian told the Herald later he had already made up his mind which way to go.
“Sometimes you get a feeling,” he said.
Defender Sayed Mohamed Adnan took a long run-up but that didn’t faze Paston, who dived low to his right to smother the effort. Given the tension, his save prompted an even bigger eruption of joy than Rory Fallon’s first-half goal, as the record crowd sensed it was New Zealand’s night. – MB
15) Evers-Swindells win by a split second, 2008
On a swelteringly hot day in Beijing, this was one of the closest finishes in rowing history. Even for a sport that specialises in fine margins, this was extreme, with seemingly nothing between the first two crews in the women’s double sculls.
At a time when technology wasn’t quite as sharp as today, there was a dramatic pause before Caroline and Georgia Evers-Swindell were confirmed as the winners, one hundredth of a second in front of the German duo. The result on the line was so tight, it was famously called wrong on Television New Zealand.
It was their second successive Olympic triumph under legendary coach Dick Tonks and foreshadowed a golden era in the sport, with the twins providing inspiration for a new generation of Kiwi rowers. – MB
14) Maria Tutaia gets the (second) point, 2010
It was certainly the longest game of netball ever played and, in the eyes of many pundits, it was the greatest game, too.
At the Delhi Commonwealth Games, the Silver Ferns faced off against their toughest rivals, Australia.
After 84 minutes of tension, goal attack Maria Tutaia (now Folau) found an inch of space to set up for a shot that would give the Silver Ferns the two-goal margin needed to confirm the Commonwealth Games gold.
The double-extra-time thriller had seen the sides deadlocked on the whistle of both fulltime and extra-time. In the final moments of shoulder-to-shoulder scrambling, the Kiwis’ determination and hustle carried the day. – WA
13) Reid headers at the death, 2010
With time ticking away, it seemed certain the All Whites would begin their World Cup campaign with a close but hard-fought 1-0 defeat.
Then with two minutes left, a Tony Lochhead cross was sent into Shane Smeltz in the box, but the attacker headed it wide of the posts. That was the chance to steal a point. But not the last chance. Two minutes into injury time, Smeltz turned supplier with a brilliant ball towards Winston Reid, who was waiting on the penalty spot.
Reid, who was beaten to the header for Slovakia’s goal and also denied a goal down the other end, put it away. The All Whites finally had a World Cup point. – CM
12) Michael Campbell outruns chasing Tiger, 2005
For 42 years, Sir Bob Charles was the only New Zealander to win a golf major. Michael Campbell looked to join Charles in 1995, holding a two-shot lead heading into the final round of the Open Championship at St Andrews, only to finish third.
Ten years later at Pinehurst No 2 in North Carolina, Campbell had another shot at a major and held off a charging Tiger Woods to lift the US Open Trophy.
The defining moment was a lengthy birdie putt at the 17th. Campbell had bogeyed the previous hole and Woods had just birdied the last to make it a two-shot lead. Campbell could have taken the easier approach and tried to two-putt for par – instead he drained the birdie to take a three-shot buffer to the last. A bogey was enough for his maiden major. – CM
11) Kerr jumps then runs, 2024
After securing gold in the high jump, Hamish Kerr embarked upon an arms-spread dash around the field of the Stade de France, as other athletics events were still taking place. His impromptu run was one of the highlights of a remarkable Olympics for New Zealand.
Touted as a great prospect to become New Zealand’s first male gold-medal winner in an Olympic field event, the high jumper was in danger of a crash landing in Paris.
He soared over 2.15m in his qualifying first jump but the yips set in at 2.20m, leaving him in danger of elimination. New Zealand held its breath. Kerr held his nerve. Steeling himself on the track, Kerr launched over the height in his do-or-die third attempt. But there was more drama to come.
After he and American Shelby McEwen had earlier been the only athletes to clear 2.36m – equalling Kerr’s personal best – neither man could manage the extra 2cm to seize gold. Each jumper had another crack at 2.38m. Each failed. The bar came back down to 2.36m – and was twice knocked down to the mat.
Both men visibly tiring, McEwen missed his attempt at 2.34m. Gold was within Kerr’s grasp. And then the action paused while the men’s 4x400m final circled a stadium kept in suspense. That breather might have been just what Kerr needed. Track cleared of runners, the 27-year-old sailed over the bar and into the history books, somehow finding additional energy for an epic celebration, a trail of photographers chasing his heels. – CM
10) Men’s rowing eight win gold, 2021
On the surface, this was one of the most unlikely Olympic golds in New Zealand history. The men’s eight needed a special route – via the last-chance system – just to qualify for Tokyo, in the most competitive of all rowing classes. Seeing the black singlets in the big boat had been a rare sight down the years and our last golden moment had been way back in 1972, with the 1984 crew finishing a heart-breaking fourth.
But this team was a special group, who made the most of the extra year’s preparation afforded by the Covid-induced postponement. Still, they were barely mentioned ahead of the final, after they needed a repechage to make the decider. However, they collectively produced the race of their lives, going ahead at the halfway point and powering on from there, in an awesome display of grit and technique. The triumph was extra special for Hamish Bond, as he put his legacy on the line after the retirement of Eric Murray ended their combination in the pair. – MB
9) The greatest grand final try, 2002
For 10 sweet minutes, the Warriors led the 2002 grand final, their maiden trip to the sport’s biggest stage after securing the minor premiership on a dramatic final day of the season.
Trailing 6-2 at halftime, Stacey Jones scored one of the great individual tries in grand final history. “This wonderful halfback Stacey Jones,” roared commentator Ray Warren after the halfback weaved his way through the Roosters defence from 25m out. Forget the final scoreline (the Roosters won 30-8), Jones’ try and the corresponding 10 minutes is what gives Warriors’ fans hope every year since. – CM
8) Carter-Docherty do the double, 2004
In gruelling conditions on a hot Athens day, two brave Kiwis set out on a private race in the final stages of the triathlon to decide gold and silver at the Athens Olympics.
It wasn’t until the closing stages of the 10km run that Hamish Carter and Bevan Docherty shook off Sven Riederer of Switzerland, and it became clear that New Zealand would finish in first and second.
In the end, it was Carter, who suffered a poor result four years earlier as the race favourite, who beat out Docherty, the defending world champion. It was only the third time two Kiwis had won a medal in the same event, following Sir Peter Snell (gold) and John Davies (bronze) in the 1964 1500m, and Blyth Tait (gold) and Sally Clarke (silver) in the 1996 eventing. – CM
7) All Whites lead Italy, 2010
New Zealand 1, Italy 0 at a football World Cup. You wouldn’t have dreamed of it.
The All Whites had the defending World Cup champions on the ropes at Mbombela Stadium. Simon Elliott sent the long-range free kick into the box, the ball appeared to clear everyone, bouncing off the hip of Italian skipper Fabio Cannavaro before landing in the path of Shane Smeltz, who got a touch by Federico Marchetti.
Italy eventually levelled through a suspect penalty and Mark Paston was brilliant as the All Whites earned New Zealand’s most famous sporting draw. – CM
6) Joanah Ngan-Woo raises her hand, 2022
It seemed a predictable ending. Fans had seen the England lineout-maul machine in action all through the 2022 Rugby World Cup – and in the final against New Zealand they set themselves up just metres from the hosts’ tryline.
With the final hooter gone, the visitors, trailing 34-31, set up for a lineout and what seemed a likely fifth try from a maul. The English were confident the last play of the match would bring them victory.
New Zealand lock Joanah Ngan-Woo had other ideas. Her decisive lineout steal meant the Black Ferns emerged triumphant in what was one of the great World Cup finals. – CM
5) Ma’a Nonu sprints away, 2015
Eyebrows were raised at halftime in the 2015 Rugby World Cup final when the All Blacks bosses subbed off Conrad Smith.
The payoff came quicky. Replacement centre Sonny Bill Williams carted the ball up before offloading to Ma’a Nonu and rugby’s most famous dreadlocks set off on a 45m charge to the tryline.
A shimmy to the right found a gap in the fractured Wallabies pack; a shimmy to the left put defender Kurtley Beale on his backside before the Hurricanes legend completed possibly the greatest World Cup final try of them all. – WA
4) Rory Fallon puts All Whites on path to World Cup, 2009
A 44th-minute header in Wellington made Rory Fallon an All Whites immortal. After 27 years, New Zealand were going back to a Fifa World Cup and Fallon, son of 1982 assistant coach Kevin Fallon, had provided the decisive moment. In front of a feverish crowd, the 1.91m forward leapt highest to power home a Leo Bertos corner, after a Ben Sigmund foray out of defence had won the set piece.
On an epic night, the strike gave the All Whites a crucial advantage. They hung on throughout an incredibly tense second half – with Mark Paston’s penalty save the other indelible memory – before the nation could celebrate. Anyone who was in the 35,000-strong crowd that night – and more and more people claim to have been as the years go by – will tell you it was the greatest atmosphere for a sporting event on these shores they have ever seen.
It remains a special memory for Fallon, who had only made his debut for the All Whites a few months earlier – at the age of 27 – after a change in Fifa regulations opened the door, following appearances in England age-group teams as a teenager. – MB
3) Grant Elliott hits Black Caps into a World Cup final, 2015
Five off two balls. A spot in a maiden World Cup final on the line. A packed Eden Park. Dale Steyn steaming in and Grant Elliott produced the shot of the century.
His right foot was anchored deep in the crease, directed at point. His left foot pointed straight. His bat swung in an arc which connected over long-on and into the crowd.
Elliott delivered the New Zealand men into their first World Cup final in 11 attempts over 40 years. “It was stressful,” Elliott said afterwards. Every Black Caps fan would agree. – AP
2) Taylor flicks Shami off his pads to win WTC, 2021
With India starting the day at 64-2, leading by 32 runs, victory in the World Test Championship final required a stunning bowling performance, and the Black Caps produced just that, skittling India for 170 and chasing down their target of 139 with 7.1 overs to spare.
In a fitting end, two of the team’s stalwarts who had been there through the worst of times were at the crease to celebrate the best of times.
As Kane Williamson watched on at the non-striker’s end at the Rose Bowl in Southampton, Ross Taylor whipped a delivery from Mohammed Shami to the square-leg boundary, and New Zealand’s journey was complete. Champions of the world. – AP
1) The (other) kick, 2011
Another kick from the painfully tense 2011 Rugby World Cup final gets a lot more attention – in fact, they made a movie about Stephen Donald’s 46th-minute penalty that secured the drought-breaking lead.
So bare was the All Blacks’ first five-eighths cupboard during the late stages of the 2011 Cup, there wasn’t even a jersey that would properly fit Stephen Donald. Down Dan Carter, Colin Slade and Aaron Cruden, the man affectionately known as “Beaver” was called into the fray against France, a much-maligned figure after never quite taking his chances in black. Four minutes into the second half, Donald stepped up and landed the crucial penalty that ultimately earned the World Cup by a point.
But the game’s defining moment came from the boot of Andy Ellis. Skipper Richie McCaw spent the final quarter of the match at the heart of a valiant defensive effort, protecting the ball when the All Blacks had it, belting the French when they did.
The hooter blasts. Ellis wellies the ball into row J. A nation breathes again. – AP
