Honey Hireme-Smiler ONZM: Beyond the Field

Honey Hireme-Smiler is a wife, mum, and proud Nan-Nan — and so much more. Many know Honey as a legend in the oval ball game, having proudly represented Aotearoa as a Black Fern, Kiwi Fern, and Black Ferns Sevens player. She now brings her incredible sporting knowledge to our screens as a respected commentator and TV presenter. Beyond the field, Honey wears many hats! She’s an author, ambassador for the TimeOut charity, a Kaiāwhina at Hospice Waikato, and a board member at New Zealand Rugby League. In this powerful kōrero, Honey reflects on her upbringing in Putāruru, aka Paradise, the role of Te Whare Tapa Whā and how each pou supports our wellbeing, and what truly drives high-performing teams from her experiences. She also shares her inspiring journey of reconnecting with her reo Māori through Te Tohu Paetahi at the University of Waikato. We also delve into the complexities of navigating grief — the unpredictability, the hard conversations, and the deep compassion she brings to supporting whānau in her role at Hospice Waikato. A beautiful, powerful and world-class kōrero from a world-class wāhine. All of our interviews are available to watch via our website too!