Trevor Spittle MNZM Recognised in King’s Birthday Honours
The Oceania Athletics Association congratulates Trevor Spittle MNZM on being appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours for services to athletics.
The honour recognises more than four decades of outstanding service to athletics as an official, administrator, educator and leader whose influence has been felt across New Zealand, Oceania and the international athletics community.
Trevor’s involvement in athletics spans more than four decades, beginning at Christchurch’s QEII Stadium in the early 1980s. What started as a volunteer role as a timekeeper quickly evolved into broader responsibilities, eventually seeing him take on the role of Meeting Manager and setting the foundation for a lifelong commitment to the sport.
Over the years, Trevor has dedicated countless volunteer hours to athletics administration, officiating and governance. His leadership roles have included serving as President of the Canterbury Athletics Centre, President of Athletics New Zealand, and a member of the Athletics New Zealand Officials Association Committee.
His expertise as a technical official has been recognised on the world stage. Since gaining World Athletics International Technical Official accreditation in 2005, Trevor has officiated at many of the sport’s premier events, including Olympic and Paralympic Games, World Athletics Championships, Commonwealth Games, World Indoor Championships and World Para Athletics Championships. His appointments have taken him to some of the biggest competitions in global sport, including the Sydney and Tokyo Olympic Games and Youth Olympic Games in Singapore and Buenos Aires.
Trevor’s influence has also extended into the governance and development of athletics internationally. Between 2015 and 2023, he served on the World Athletics Competition Commission, contributing to discussions and recommendations that helped shape competition delivery and standards across the sport worldwide.
Away from the international arena, Trevor has played an important role in the growth of athletics infrastructure in New Zealand. Following the Canterbury earthquakes, he was heavily involved in efforts to ensure athletes could continue to train and compete, supporting the establishment of the temporary facility at Rawhiti Domain and contributing to the development of the Ngā Puna Wai athletics precinct, which now serves as a major hub for athletics in the region.
His passion for developing others has also seen him become a highly regarded educator. As a World Athletics Technical Official Lecturer, Trevor continues to support the development of aspiring officials throughout New Zealand and the Pacific. He has assisted in updating New Zealand’s National Officials Education Pathway to align with global standards and has mentored countless officials throughout Oceania.
Within Oceania Athletics, Trevor has been a member of the Oceania Athletics Association Council since 2007 and currently serves as Chair of the OAA Competition Commission. Through these roles, he has played a key part in supporting the delivery and development of competitions across the region while helping strengthen pathways for athletes and officials throughout Oceania.
Reflecting on the honour, Trevor said the recognition was particularly meaningful because of the people he has been able to serve throughout his career.
“From day one as an Official I have enjoyed working with athletes of all abilities and ages ensuring they all receive the same chance to do their best within the rules of the sport. No athlete enjoys an advantage over their fellow competitor while they are under my control.
“I have never seen my being involved as being a reward for myself. I enjoy every minute being out in the office and love sharing my knowledge and experience.”
Looking back on his achievements in the sport, Trevor highlighted the opportunities that came through achieving the highest levels of technical officiating accreditation.
“I feel my biggest achievement would be passing TOECS III, which is now WARECS Gold. This allowed me to start a great journey of international events including Olympics, World Championships and Commonwealth Games. It then led me to becoming a Level II Lecturer and becoming a World Para ITO which led to Paralympics and WPA events.
“Being able to serve OAA is a real privilege which led to Life Membership, a real honour. Now MNZM, WOW!”
The King’s Birthday Honours recognise individuals who have made outstanding contributions to their communities and professions. Trevor’s appointment as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit reflects a lifetime of service to athletics and the profound impact he has had on athletes, officials, administrators and volunteers across New Zealand, Oceania and the world.
The Oceania Athletics family extends its sincere congratulations to Trevor on this well-deserved honour and thanks him for his continued dedication to athletics.
The King’s Birthday Honours recognise individuals who have made outstanding contributions to their communities and professions. Trevor’s appointment as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit acknowledges not only his service to athletics, but also the positive influence he has had on countless athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers throughout the sport.
Oceania Athletics extends its sincere congratulations to Trevor on this well-deserved recognition and thanks him for his continued contribution to athletics across Oceania and beyond.
—ENDS—