By Nick Butler

Barry Maister was awarded a lifetime achievement award at the Ceremony ©Getty ImagesApril 15 - New Zealand's International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Barry Maister has spoken of his honour and privilege after his 40 years of service in the sports world was recognised with a Lifetime Achievement Award by Sport New Zealand.


Maister, who received the honour at the annual New Zealand Sport and Recreational Awards in Christchurch, began life as a hockey player who in the course of an 86-cap international career, competed at three Olympic Games and won a gold medal at Montreal 1976.

Since retiring he has enjoyed a successful administrative career, serving a 10-year stint as secretary general of the New Zealand Olympic Committee before being elected an IOC member in 2010.

Among various other roles, Maister is also a vice-president of the Oceania National Olympic Committees, sits on the Executive Board of the Association of National Olympic Committees, and is director of the 2017 World Masters Games to be held in Auckland. 

Although insisting that, despite receiving a lifetime achievement award, he has a long way to go yet, Maister revealed pride and satisfaction in his long career.  

"Although  you never engage in sport for the rewards, you do engage for personal satisfaction and I certainly feel honoured to have been recognised among a very distinguished group of lifetime contributors in our country," he told insidethegames. 

"Sport and education is the most powerful possible mix in terms of positively influencing young lives, and I am proud to have contributed to many youngsters through both these avenues, over the past 40 years

"To be able to continue to contribute through IOC membership, and to be constantly reminded  of the real meaning and purpose of the Olympic movement, is a priviledge, and an honour."

New Zealand rugby chief executive Steve Tew was also recognised ©Getty ImagesNew Zealand rugby chief executive Steve Tew was also recognised by Sport New Zeland ©Getty Images






Elsewhere in Christchurch, the prestigious Christopher Doig Leadership Award was awarded to New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew after a year in 2013 in which the national team completed a remarkable unbeaten year, while also holding a strong financial position.

Two other Lifetime Achievement Awards were also handed out, to the former cricket and hockey international turned broadcaster Lesley Murdoch, and to the vice-president of the International Sailing Federation Adrienne Greenwood.

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