Source: Radio New Zealand
All Blacks Damian McKenzie and Beauden Barrett, showing the strain, at the disastrous game against South Africa, at Wellington’s Sky Stadium, on 13 September. Kerry Marshall / www.photosport.nz
Nothing incapsulates the joy and agony sport had to offer for New Zealand in 2025 more than what the All Blacks experienced in just the span of a week.
From keeping their 31-year Eden Park record intact, to suffering their biggest-ever defeat just seven days later, Kiwi sports had plenty of highs, but unfortunately, just as many lows over the last 12 months.
Here is a look back at the roller coaster that was 2025 in New Zealand sport.
All Blacks Eden Park record intact
It’s hard to ignore the All Blacks extending their unbeaten streak at Eden Park with victory over their biggest foes, the Springboks, in their Rugby Championship clash in September.
While the following week’s horror result in the rematch at Wellington undercuts this performance – and we’ll get to that – it was still more than worthy of a mention.
New Zealand kept their 31-year record intact at the Auckland venue with a gutsy 24-17 win over South Africa.
The All Blacks led throughout the fixture but had to fight off a determined comeback in the second half.
An Ardie Savea penalty – in his 100th test – near the tryline secured New Zealand the win and perhaps more importantly, kept the record at Eden Park alive.
Aridie Savea wins a penalty and celebrates with Quinn Tupaea and Fabian Holland. Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
Kiwi teen Sam Ruthe breaks record sub-four-minute mile
Kiwi teenager Sam Ruthe became the youngest runner to break four minutes for the mile, with sensational performance in unfavourable conditions at Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium in March.
Ruthe crossed the finish at 3m 58.35s with the help of training partner and two-time Olympian Sam Tanner pacing him.
Track athlete Sam Ruthe, at Mt Smart Stadium on 19 March. Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
The Tauranga teen was 24 days short of his 16th birthday and beat his own previous age best of 4m 01.72s, set at Whanganui in January.
Ruthe teen became the first 15-year-old to duck under the mythical benchmark for middle-distance running – and did it in the wet and cold.
High-jumper Hamish Kerr soars to gold
In front of an enthralled 37,000 Tokyo crowd, high-jumper Hamish Kerr soared to gold at the world championships in September.
The Olympic champion posted a best of 2.36 metres to pick up New Zealand’s second top gong after Geordie Beamish’s shock victory in the men’s 3000m steeplechase.
It also equalled his New Zealand and Oceania record, which followed his Diamond League title win in August.
Hamish Kerr celebrates after winning the men’s high jump final during the World Athletics Championships, in Tokyo, on 16 September. ANDREJ ISAKOVIC / AFP
Kerr capped off a memorable 2025 with the New Zealand Olympic Committee’s highest honour – the Lonsdale Cup.
Wellington woes return with record-defeat
I said we’d get to that disaster night in Wellington and unfortunately, it’s impossible not to include it as a sporting low in 2025.
Just a week on from the fortress-solidifying result at Eden Park, the All Blacks fell to their heaviest defeat in history.
South Africa overcame a slow start riddled with injuries to put New Zealand to the sword in the last 20 minutes, winning 43-10 to retain the Freedom Cup.
The Springboks were the ones celebrating, on 13 September, in Wellington. Kerry Marshall / www.photosport.nz
The loss was one thing – which has become all too familiar at Sky Stadium – but the nature of the second-half capitulation is what particularly stung.
New Zealand led 10-7 at halftime, only to concede 36 unanswered points after the break for their biggest defeat, home or away, in history.
Parker’s battle in and out of the ring
It wasn’t supposed to be this way.
Kiwi heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker went into his bout with Brit Fabio Wardley riding a six-fight win streak and with a squeaky clean record.
But after 11 rounds, that all came crashing down as Wardley stopped Parker in front of a packed O2 Arena in London in October.
Parker was up on the scorecards and looked to be closing in on a victory that would have all but guaranteed his shot at the undisputed championship.
Fabio Wardley TKOs Joseph Parker. Richard Pelham/Getty Images
But a ‘Hail Mary’ right hook sent Parker rocking and forced the referee to step in and call the bout off.
To make matters worse, just over two weeks later, it was revealed the Kiwi heavyweight failed a dope test on the day of the fight.
He tested positive for traces of cocaine – which Parker has outright refuted – and could face a lengthy ban from the sport.
Kiwi sailing star Peter Burling announces move to Luna Rossa
It would be too easy to include the entirety of the NZ Netball saga which saw coach Dame Noeline Taurua stood down and then reinstated, and has been covered at length.
Instead, Kiwi sailing star Peter Burling announcing his intentions to join Italians Luna Rossa for the 38th America’s Cup in June makes the list.
Burling is one New Zealand’s greatest sailors, with nine world championship crowns and Olympic medals – one gold and two silver – to his name, usually in tandem with Blair Tuke in the 49er class.
Peter Burling, co-CEO and driver of Black Foils SailGP Team looks on after sustaining a finger injury, Abu Dhabi, 2025. Christopher Pike for SailGP / Supplied
Losing him to a rival hurts enough, but Burling revealing that Team New Zealand’s control over him forced him out after 12 years with the syndicate stings even more.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
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