At the 2026 Gymnastics NZ Annual General Meeting, we were proud to recognise two outstanding members of our community whose service and contribution have made a lasting impact on gymnastics in Aotearoa.
This year, one life membership and one national service award were presented in recognition of exceptional commitment, leadership, and dedication to our sports over many years.
Congratulations to both recipients. Your contribution has made a lasting impact on gymnastics, and we thank you for the time, passion, and expertise you have given to our community.
Life Membership: Shirley Baker (Gymnastics Waitara)
Shirley Baker has made an outstanding and sustained contribution to Gymnastics New Zealand through decades of dedicated volunteer service, leadership, education, coaching, and officiating at both regional, national and international levels.
Shirley served as Chair of the NZ Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Technical Committee from 2008 to 2018, followed by another four years as WAG Judging Advisor on the committee. During her tenure, she led the transition from using the Australian WAG programme manual to the development, writing and successful implementation of New Zealand’s own comprehensive WAG STEPs Development and Competitive Programme in 2010/ 2011. This significantly contributed to increased retention and participation in the sport nationwide.
A highly respected educator and mentor, Shirley has been a long-standing national course presenter, delivering coaching and judging education while actively mentoring and supporting emerging officials and coaches.
Shirley has held her judging licence since 1990, and her international brevet since 2002. Shirley has officiated at the NZ National Championships for more than 30 years and has judged internationally at two Oceania Championships and the Pacific Rim Championships in Colombia.
In addition to her judging and governance contributions, Shirley holds a senior coaching qualification, serves on the Sport Taranaki Elite Coaching panels, and has coached New Zealand representative teams at international competitions in Singapore, Hawaii, and Chicago.
Shirley’s exceptional commitment, leadership, and long-standing service have made a significant and lasting impact on gymnastics in New Zealand, making her highly deserving of Life Membership.
National Service Award: Hayley Jury (Gymnastics Waitara)
Hayley has made an outstanding contribution to gymnastics in New Zealand through her extensive national service, with her involvement spanning coaching, course presenting and judging at a national and international level.
Hayley has judged at Gymnastics New Zealand Nationals for many years, supporting both national and international judging panels. In recent years, she has also been selected annually to judge at international trials. This year, she has been appointed as Co-Control Judge for the 2026 XP NZ Nationals.
As a Brevet judge, Hayley has represented New Zealand at major international events, including the Oceania Championships (ratified by the NZOC), as well as competitions in Paris, the Asian Games, Turkey, Hungary, Germany, and the Philippines. Her commitment to judging is evident through her requalification each Olympic cycle, alongside the significant personal time and resources she invests in maintaining her qualifications. She is also deeply committed to supporting others, mentoring judges and strengthening the judging pathway nationally. Hayley’s dedication, experience, and generosity of knowledge continue to make a meaningful and lasting impact on gymnastics in New Zealand.
This is all alongside her ongoing commitments as a coach and centre manager at her club Gymnastics Waitara.