Former All Blacks coach Ian Foster says being recognised in the 2025 New Year Honours has “brought back a whole lot of gratitude” for those who helped him get to where he is today.
Foster is among the several sporting identities recognised in the New Year Honours today after he was made a Companion of the NZ Order of Merit.
The honour acknowledges a lifetime’s dedication to the game, through the various levels he has played and coached, culminating in New Zealand’s heartbreaking one-point defeat to South Africa in the World Cup final at Paris.
“This award brought back a whole lot of gratitude to people who have had an input to me and helped me,” the 59-year-old said. “I’ve had a whole lot of people who have been massive supporters and, in many ways, I hope they can enjoy their little moment in the sun, rather than mine.”
Now plying his trade in the Japanese League One with Toyota Verblitz, Foster told 1News he may yet accept the reins of a national team in the future – but not while the current crop of All Blacks are still in circulation.
“What my pathway has taught me is I don’t do this job so I can get another job,” he said. “It’s really about enjoying what you’re doing right now and giving it the best you can… what will happen in the future will happen in the future.
“If I do my job well enough in Japan at Toyota, we’ve got good options here. I’m loving the people here and the attitude and the support, and I know this club’s got a lot of ambition, so once you start getting into things, it becomes harder to leave.
“I love the challenge and still love coaching, want to do it and keep doing the best I can and see how things unfold.”
Foster admits his heart is still with the black jersey and those wearing it after sharing so much history with his players – even if they now play under another coach. At the end of his term, he was replaced by former Crusaders guru Scott Robertson, who guided the team through a 10-win, four-loss 2024 campaign.
“When you lead a group of people over time through pressure situations… it’s not just me learning them, they learn about me,” said Foster. “We’ve been through a lot in the 12 years with the All Blacks, and had a lot of success and a lot of challenges, involved in three World Cups.
“You go through a lot with players and their families, and my family is part of that too, so you’re tight with a whole lot of them. I love seeing them play well, I hurt when they don’t play well and sometimes you wish that would change, so you can sit down and relax, and watch an All Blacks Test.
“[After the World Cup] was a good time to reflect whether I wanted to coach in the international game or the club game, and ultimately, it gave me time to realise that one thing I couldn’t do was coach against this current group of players wearing black. Once that firmed up in my mind, the next decision became quite easy.”
Foster’s current role sees him reunited with the man he served as assistant coach in two World Cup campaigns — Sir Steve Hansen, who is director of rugby at Verblitz.
This New Year Honour brings him a step closer to his long-time friend and mentor.
“I have much respect and love for the man, but we don’t bow to each other,” Foster said with a laugh. “It’s been enjoyable, but when you start working in the heat of battle, you both remember our idiosyncrasies that annoyed us.
“It’s taken a little bit of time. After the last four years with the All Blacks, I’m probably a little more battle-hardened than I was before that, so he’s had to make some adjustments, but we’re getting on good.”
Others in the honours list include Olympic gold medallist and LPGA Hall of Fame golfer Dame Lydia Ko, former All Blacks coach John Hart, and most-capped All Black Sam Whitelock.
Dame Companion of the NZ Order of Merit
Dame Bogyung (Lydia) Ko – For services to golf
Companion of the NZ Order of Merit
Ian Douglas Foster – For services to rugby
John Bernard Hart, ONZM – For services to sports governance
Officer of the NZ Order of Merit
Marguerite Diane Christophers – For services to para sports
Samuel Laurence Whitelock – For services to rugby and the community
Member of the NZ Order of Merit
Priyani Therese de Silva-Currie – For services to multicultural communities, netball and civil engineering
Noel Graham Harris – For services to the thoroughbred racing industry
Lachlan John Marshall – For services to water polo
Gary Raymond Trail – For services to martial arts, particularly jiu-jitsu
King’s Service Medal
Colin Terence Campbell – For services to horse racing and governance
Sally Elizabeth Davies – For services to hockey and nursing
Peter Colin Hensman – For services to cricket and the community
David Malcolm James Richmond – For services to sport, particularly athletics and cricket
Phyllis Rosemary Weir – For services to cricket and horticulture
Jennifer Gai Wotten – For services to the community and squash
