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She’s never sought the limelight, but Laurinne Laing is one of those true Kiwi heroes who help to keep this country’s many community sports clubs thriving.
The humble Mellons Bay resident has been made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the recent 2025 King’s Birthday Honours List for services to sports and people with intellectual disabilities.
She’s volunteered her time for the Special Olympics Howick-Pakuranga club for 35 years.
“It’s something I’m quite passionate about and it’s a great organisation,” Laing told the Times.
“It’s not only good for the athletes but it’s also good for the parents and families and siblings.
“It’s a really rewarding thing to be involved in.”
The honours citation states she volunteers 30 to 40 hours per week for Special Olympics Howick-Pakuranga with sports co-ordination, fundraising, volunteer and athlete recruitment, as well as through guidance to athletes and their families.
The club offers seven sports, holds ribbon days and regional games each year for locals with an intellectual disability.
“She’s served as the club’s chair since 2007 and is also deputy chair and fundraising subcommittee chair of the Special Olympics Upper North Island Regional Trust,” the citation states.
“She supports other chairs to set up new clubs, to understand Special Olympics New Zealand procedures, and learn how to apply for funding and run events.
“Through the fundraising efforts she leads, the club can send an athlete to the Special Olympics World Summer Games every four years, teams to Special Olympics New Zealand national games every four years and the regional trust can send approximately 40 athletes and volunteers for annual snow sports events in Wānaka.
“Her organisation ensures airfares, transport, on-mountain training and accommodation needs are met.”
In 2013 Laing led a team of ten-pin bowlers to the Trans-Tasman Games in Cairns, Australia.
She says she got involved with Special Olympics Howick-Pakuranga when it asked her mother to join the committee.
“I said she had enough to do so I went on it instead. That was in about 1990.
“From there I started coaching ten-pin bowling, even though I’ve never played ten-pin bowling.
“It’s quite sociable and fun. During that time I became secretary of the committee.
“The chairperson, she moved to Pukekohe and I took over. That was 19 years ago and I’ve been chair ever since. I believe in it and this has kept me busy and hooked.”
Laing says she loves seeing the joy the athletes get from being involved with Special Olympics Howick-Pakuranga.
“They’re wonderful. They love it, even if they’re fifth-placed.
“They’re so excited when they get their ribbon.
“I’ve seen a lot of them come in as early teenagers and then mature and develop.
“There’s a lot of other opportunities apart from sport.
“There’s an athlete leadership programme. We’ve got five athlete leaders at the moment.
“Also, there’s a pathway from the club to local and regional level, to national games, to selection for the world games, which are held every four years.
“Some of them love to come along every week to training and have fun with all their friends and they go to events and meet their friends from other clubs.
“It’s very special and it does give you a lot of joy.”
She’s grateful for the support she’s received from her family and numerous other people who are involved with Special Olympics Howick-Pakuranga.
“They are all loyal, committed people. All of them have helped and supported me.
“We get on well and we’re all good friends. The athletes themselves all inspire me in different ways.”
Laing encourages east Auckland parents whose children would benefit from getting involved with Special Olympics Howick-Pakuranga to give it a go.
“They can join from eight years old. We take all stages and levels of ability, and it’s all run by volunteers.
“It allows the intellectually disabled person to do some of the things their sibling is doing.
“A lot of these guys won’t be able to play in mainstream [sports] and the whole atmosphere of being around families in the same situation, a lot of support networks develop around the sport and the whole club.”
When Laing received an official email informing her she’d be named in the King’s Birthday Honours List she first thought it may be some sort of scam.
“But I didn’t delete it. I started to read it and thought, ‘Oh my goodness me’.
“I was totally gobsmacked. There’s a lot of people all around the country who are doing great things, especially in the Special Olympics and disability arena.
“I’m quite honoured that I was nominated and I got the honour. I was very proud, and very humbled.
“I had to keep pinching myself. It’s not something I imagined I would ever get.”
