Auckland’s first XV
Sir John Walker KNZM KBE (captain)
Sir John Walker followed the success of Sir Peter Snell and Sir Murray Halberg to keep the
black singlet at the forefront of middle-distance running.
He is best known for being the first person to run the mile in under 3:50 and for his victory in
the 1500m at the Olympic Games in Montreal in 1976.
After his running career, Sir John founded the Field of Dreams – aimed at providing young people in
Manukau with opportunities to pursue positive pathways through sport.
Sir John is now an Auckland councillor for the Manurewa-Papakura ward and was recently appointed
Auckland ambassador by Mayor Len Brown.
Michael Barnett ONZM
Michael Barnett has his finger on the pulse of all things business in Auckland as chief
executive of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce.
Prior to the establishment of the Super City, he was deputy chair of the Auckland Regional
Council and chair of AucklandPlus (the region’s economic development agency).
In addition, Michael chairs the Auckland Children's Santa Parade Trust and the Equal Employment
Opportunities Trust.
Julie Christie ONZM
Julie Christie is the queen of entertainment television in New Zealand as a producer and
director of numerous shows, many of which have broken into the lucrative US market.
Founder and CEO of Eyeworks New Zealand and Australia, Julie grew her former company
Touchdown Productions into New Zealand's largest producer of entertainment TV with
shows being franchised to 30 countries.
The mother of two is the recipient of numerous awards including the prestigious global Veuve Clicquot
Businesswoman of The Year in 1998.
Julie is also a director of Rugby New Zealand 2011 and sits on the board of New Zealand Trade and
Enterprise.
Trelise Cooper ONZM
Trelise Cooper is one of New Zealand's most successful and internationally accomplished
fashion designers.
She established her business in 1985 with no formal training and yet her eye for design has
won her countless awards and accolades, and taken her brands worldwide.
Trelise now has 12 boutiques and more than 300 stockists worldwide, with her high-profile clients including
Liv Tyler, Miley Cyrus, Suri Cruise, Julia Roberts and Stevie Nicks.
Trelise is a generous supporter of charities and she is the patron of the Breast Cancer Research Trust.
Grant Dalton
Grant Dalton is best known throughout the sailing world for his exploits over two decades in
round-the-world yacht racing.
Grant raced around the world seven times – twice as part of a winning team – before turning
his attention to match racing in 2003 as managing director of Emirates Team New Zealand.
The team has been in dominant form in recent years, winning four of the five Louis Vuitton
regattas and taking out Med Cup season championships twice in a row.
Emirates Team New Zealand’s entry in the 2012 Volvo Ocean Race will be another exciting chapter for our
master of the high seas.
Simon Gault
Internationally respected master chef Simon Gault has created some of New Zealand’s most
innovative food offerings, and his numerous awards attest to his superb skill.
After time in Europe, Simon established Euro in Auckland and guided the restaurant to the
point where it became the first New Zealand restaurant to achieve the global Conde Nast
Top 50 restaurants list. He then became personal chef to multi-billionaire Larry Ellison of the
Oracle Corporation before returning to Auckland to open the Jervois Steak House.
Simon recently starred as a judge on TV One's MasterChef, and is now executive chef of the Nourish Group,
which includes restaurants in Auckland, Wellington and Taupo.
John Hart ONZM
John Hart is one of the greatest coaches in world rugby and is highly respected in both
sporting and corporate environments.
He was assistant coach to the 1987 Rugby World Cup winning side and went on to become
head coach in 1995. In his four years in charge, the All Blacks won the Tri Nations three
times and were the first to win a series in South Africa. As Auckland coach, John won three
national titles and defended the Ranfurly Shield for 61 challenges.
After 30 years with Fletcher Challenge, he established John Hart Consultancy in 1995. John is now a
director of Sky TV and Bayleys Corporation Ltd, is executive director of the New Zealand Warriors and sits
on the Government’s NZ 2011 Group.
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Carol Hirschfeld
Carol Hirschfeld is one of New Zealand's most admired and respected news presenters.
She is best-known for her role as a TV3 newsreader alongside John Campbell from 1998
until 2005.
Carol had previously spent twelve years with TVNZ – working as a producer for the Holmes
show and presenting shows such as Fair Go, Assignment and Crimewatch.
She went on to be a senior producer and specialist interviewer for Campbell Live, continuing her successful
on-air relationship with John Campbell. Carol, who is Ngāti Porou, is currently the Head of Programming for
Maori Television.
Oscar Kightley
Oscar Kightley, critically acclaimed writer, actor, director and television presenter, is well
known for his comedy work.
Oscar founded The Naked Samoans who created the hugely successful bro'Town TV series
that portrayed life for a group of un-PC Pacific Island kids.
The Naked Samoans ventured onto the big screen with 2006 hit Sione's Wedding. Oscar co-wrote Sione
with James Griffin, and also appeared on screen as the bumbling but well-meaning Albert.
Oscar is also a past winner of the Arts Foundation Laureate Award and the Bruce Mason Playwright Award.
Bernice Mene MNZM
Bernice Mene is one of our longest serving and finest netballers.
The classy defender represented the Silver Ferns for 10 years, playing 78 tests. Bernice
also captained the Southern Sting from 1998 to 2003, winning the National Bank Cup in all
but one of those years. After her playing days she paved a successful career as a netball
commentator and New Zealand Academy of Sport advisor.
Bernice, who comes from impeccable sporting pedigree, is married to cricketer Dion Nash and they have
three young children.
Nigel Morrison
Nigel Morrison heads the company behind that iconic landmark on the Auckland skyline – the
Sky Tower.
He has more than 20 years experience in the gaming industry throughout Australasia and
Asia. In 2008 he became managing director of Sky City Entertainment Group, with
complexes in Auckland, Hamilton, Queenstown, Adelaide and Darwin.
Prior to his involvement with Sky City, Nigel was the chief financial officer of Galaxy Entertainment Group in
Macau. In 2009 Nigel was awarded professional accountancy organisation CPA Australia’s highest
acknowledgement for career achievement.
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Sir Wilson Whineray KNZM OBE
One of the greatest All Black captains, Sir Wilson Whineray not only has a colossal record in
the black jersey but has made a significant contribution to business in this country.
He played 77 matches between 1957 and 1965 including 32 tests in which he was captain in
all but two.
After rugby he became a successful businessman chairing numerous boards including one of the country’s
largest companies Carter Holt Harvey. He also chaired the Hillary Commission, the body set up by the
Government to oversee elite sport funding.
Ruben Wiki ONZM
Ruben Wiki is the hard man of rugby league who outlasted all his opponents as he clocked
up the highest number of international appearances of any player.
A centre-turned-prop forward, he won a premiership with the Canberra Raiders in 1994
before finishing his career with the New Zealand Warriors.
Of Samoan and Maori heritage, Ruben drank a bowl of kava after every match, for which he credits his
longevity in the sport.
He currently works as New Zealand Rugby League’s high performance manager and a high performance
assistant with the Warriors.
J. Williams
J. Williams is currently one of New Zealand’s hottest musical talents.
The R&B recording artist and hip-hop dancer hit the big time last year when his sixth single
You Got Me, featuring New Zealand rapper Scribe, was our No.1 selling single of the year.
Of Samoan and Fijian descent, the proud South Aucklander compares his upbringing to that
of the Jackson 5 family, with religion and music playing pivotal roles in their lives.
Kerre Woodham
Kerre Woodham has long been entertaining us on numerous radio and television shows and
as a fabulous celebrity speaker.
She is the host of the No.1 night-time talk show on NewstalkZB and hosts the station’s
Sunday morning lifestyle show Kerre's Cafe. She has a weekly column in the Herald on
Sunday.
Kerre’s second book titled Short Fat Chick in Paris follows on from her best-selling Short Fat Chick to
Marathon Runner, a book she co-wrote with her trainer after completing the Auckland and New York
marathons.
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