“The awards are organised each year by The Halberg Trust, and they salute outstanding achievements by New Zealanders in sport at home and overseas during the past year. All category winners and the Halberg Award recipient, widely regarded as the ultimate accolade for sporting excellence by a New Zealander, will be announced at a glittering black tie dinner in the Telstra Clear Pacific Events Centre, Manukau City, on Friday 17 February, 2006.
Voting for the Say When Halberg Awards is carried out by 25 members of the Academy comprising media representatives, coaches and former athletes who have excelled at the highest level. For 2005 there were 38 nominations to consider. The Voting Academy comprising 8 media representatives and 17 athletes and coaches is: Peter Bidwell, Harris Choy, Howard Dobson, David Leggat, John McBeth, Ron Palenski, Brendan Telfer, Kevin Tutty (media), Ron Cheatley, Kerry Clark, Andy Dalton, Dame Susan Devoy, Steve Gurney, Mark Inglis, Anna Lawrence, Chris Lewis, Bernice Mene, Lance O'Sullivan, Ramesh Patel, Ian Smith, Mike Stanley, Blyth Tait, Phil Tataurangi, Dick Tayler, John Walker.
The Finalists for the 2005 Say When Halberg Awards are: Say When New Zealand Sportsman of the Year: Michael Campbell (Golf), Daniel Carter (Rugby), Mahe Drysdale (Rowing), Jonathan Wyatt (Mountain Running).
Say When New Zealand Sportswoman of the Year: Irene van Dyk (Netball), Kate McIlroy (Mountain Running), Valerie Vili (Athletics), Sam Warriner (Triathlon).
Say When New Zealand Sports Team of the Year: All Blacks (Rugby), George Bridgewater & Nathan Twaddle (Rowing), Caroline & Georgina Evers-Swindell (Rowing), Nicky Coles & Juliette Haigh (Rowing).
The supreme trophy, the Halberg Award, will be chosen from one of the above. In 2004 The Halberg Award went to Olympic cycling ace Sarah Ulmer, winner of the gold medal in the women's 1km time trial at Athens.” TVNZ; tvnz.co.nz; 24/02/2006