E46 | Honey Hireme-Smiler
Episode summary | Honey Hireme-Smiler
Honey Hireme-Smiler is a triple international representing New Zealand in rugby league, rugby seves, and rugby union and has been an exceptional flag bearer for New Zealand women’s sport.
We talk about her upbringing in Putaruru where the self-confessed ‘punk kid’ eventually turned a corner and set her on a path that would lead to an international sporting career that spanned 18 years. In fact her commitment, passion and dedication to her sports saw her appointed as a Member of the NZ Order of Merit for her services to sport.
Honey now works as a senior disability sport advisor with the Halberg Foundation, a presenter with Sky Sport and continues to give back via coaching, mentoring and various ambassador roles, ranging from school and community to representative and international level.
Honey is a sports super-woman, but there were some really powerful moments of reflection in this episode where she shared some of the most vulnerable moments of her life, the struggles she’s been through and the character-building lessons along the way.
Show notes | Honey Hireme-Smiler
2.04 “10 minutes past my bed time”, Ma Bakers in Putaruru, and reflections on a long list of achievements
11.17 Peaking in your 30s, fitness, and the importance of sports psychologists
16.37 Honey Hunter? Anetta Hireme? Or Honey Bill?
21.14 Growing up a ‘punk kid’ in Putaruru and getting on the right path through sport
39.21 Honey on her late mother – Caryn Hireme
50.10 A wedding at Waikato Hospital
56.11 The current state of women’s sport: thoughts on Chelsea Alley’s Instagram post and the ‘double life’ of a women’s rugby player and does rugby league have it right combining events into one World Cup?
1.04.07 The Halberg Foundation and inclusion in sport
1.10.47 The importance of storytelling among minority groups
1.12.53 From a Rugby Sevens World Cup to a Rugby League World Cup in the space of a few days
1.18.15 A debut at 32 for the Black Ferns
1.23.18 Retirement with the Kiwi Ferns in 2020 and post rugby league life
1.28.42 Moving into broadcasting with SKY Sport
1.35.03 Last words from Seamus, Steven, and Honey
