Congratulations to Brian Stannett who this weekend was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to wrestling.  Stuff.co.nz article of 4 June 2018 follows:

Stannett started wrestling when he was 13 and went on to represent New Zealand at the 1969 Australia/New Zealand Championships.

His family had also been heavily involved with his eldest son competing at Commonwealth and Olympic level.

Stannett was the sport's New Zealand national coach for three terms, including for the 1974 Commonwealth Games, where the New Zealand team won one gold and two bronze medals.

He had been a district coach, judicial panel member and chairman/president of Waikato Wrestling, to name just a few of his connections in the sport.

He was national president of the New Zealand Olympic Wrestling Union from 2003 to 2008 and served as national selector, national treasurer, Judicial panel member and director of promotions.

In 1997 he qualified as an international judge referee, is known as one of New Zealand's top mat officials, regularly adjudicating at international events.

He is currently treasurer of the Oceania Olympic Wrestling Association, patron of the Te Awamutu YMI and New Zealand Secretary General of the New Zealand Olympic Wrestling Union.

"I just want to thank my wife and my family because without them it would have been hard to do all the things I've done in wrestling.

"It has taken me all over the country, to the Oceania region, to the Americas, Europe and the UK. It's been an interesting road."