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When Farah Palmer retired from rugby after this year's successful World Cup campaign in Canada, she suggested there was still more to do in raising awareness of the women's game.
Palmer, a sports sociology lecturer at Massey University in Palmerston North, challenged the media on women's sport, saying they needed to take the matter more seriously.
"We should be seeing action shots of women's sport rather than the pretty posy ones," she said.
"We should be taking it just as seriously as men's sport, rather than trivialising it or getting distracted by side issues."
Palmer has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to women's rugby and sport.
The 33-year-old played 35 tests for the Black Ferns, 31 as captain. Her playing career culminated with the 25-17 world title win against England in September.
She was the IRB's International Women's Personality of the Year last year, is a member of the New Zealand Sports Disputes Tribunal and has served on the IRB's women's advisory committee.
She plans to stay active in sport doing endurance events.
