Ms Ellesse Andrews, of Christchurch, MNZM for services to cycling
Ellesse Andrews (Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe, Kāi Tahu) set a world youth record at the 2017 Junior Track Cycling World Championships and won three gold medals and one silver at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, silver at the Tokyo Olympic Games, and two golds and a silver at the 2024 Olympics. In 2023, she became the first New Zealand female sprinter to claim a world title, winning gold at the World Championships. Through her role in the Athlete Leaders Group, she has advocated for her teammates and helped apply tikanga Māori to Cycling New Zealand’s programme. Ms Andrews has given back through community events, speaking engagements and mental health awareness campaigns.