Mr Earle Kirton, of Upper Hutt, ONZM for services to rugby
Mr Earle Kirton has been devoted to 1st class rugby as a player, selector, coach, administrator, and mentor for over 60 years. He played for Otago and New Zealand Universities, and for the All Blacks, including 13 tests. He played and coached internationally with the London Harlequins, Middlesex, and the British Barbarians. Mr Kirton coached the Wellington Lions, leading his side to an unbeaten NPC season in 1986. He was instrumental in the establishment of the New Zealand Divisional Team, which selects teams from the second and third division to play internationally. He was a coach and selector for various New Zealand Rugby teams, and was the All Blacks assistant and back coach with Laurie Mains when the team qualified for the Rugby World Cup final in 1995.