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The accolades and reward continue to come for our 2012 Olympic sailing medallists with two exciting announcements over the Christmas period.
Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie were included in the New Year’s Honours list each recognised with the MNZM (Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit) for services to sailing, alongside all of New Zealand’s 2012 Olympic gold medallists.
Plus, finalists for the prestigious 50th Westpac Halberg Awards were also announced on the final day of 2012 with yachting featuring heavily.
Both Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie, and Peter Burling and Blair Tuke are finalists for Westpac Team of the Year up against the All Blacks and both of rowing’s gold medal winning duos - Joseph Sullivan and Nathan Cohen, and Eric Murray and Hamish Bond.
Nathan Handley, coach to Jo and Polly is included in the line-up for Coach of the Year. Other category finalists are Calvin Ferguson and Richard Tonks of rowing, and canoeing coach Gordon Walker.
Laser Radial sailor Andrew McKenzie is shortlisted for the Wetspac Emerging Talent Award alongside golfer Lydia Ko, track cyclist Dylan Kennett and mountain biker Anton Cooper.
The 50th Westpac Halberg Awards is the country's pre-eminent event to honour and celebrate New Zealand sporting excellence in 2012. The Awards will also celebrate the very special occasion of the 50th anniversary of Sir Murray Halberg founding the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation.
The 2012 Westpac Halberg Awards will take place at Vector Arena in Auckland on Thursday 14th February 2013.
Also in the New Year’s Honours list was weather man Bob McDavitt – MNZM for services to meteorology and yachting .
