Sportswoman of the year
Nominees: Lisa Carrington (canoe racing), Lydia Ko (golf), Portia Woodman (rugby), Sarah Goss (rugby).
Carrington will have to be considered the favourite as she once again won when it mattered and continued to set a very high standard.
Ko has dropped from some very lofty heights but is still among the top-ranked golfers in the world. She started coming back into form at the end of the year.
The two rugby players are hurt by playing in a team game so it is more difficult to stand out.
If you took a totally biased rugby standpoint, it would be easy to say that rugby is the major sport in the country, many people play it at an elite level so the best should get the top silverware.
It is probably a too simplistic argument to hold much water - in this day and age anyway.
Steve's pick for winner: Carrington
Sportsman of the year
Nominees: Beauden Barrett (rugby), Brendon Hartley (motorsport), Ross Taylor (cricket), Tom Walsh (athletics).
This is another tough category. Barrett was world player of the year in his sport but was still below the highs he scaled in 2016.
Taylor continued to score runs but it was a year in which the Black Caps did not play in any major tournaments.
So it comes down to Walsh and Hartley.
Walsh won the gold medal in the shot put at the world championships which was a first for a New Zealand male. He went to the next level and also seems like a good bloke.
Hartley became the first New Zealander to drive in the moneybags Formula One since 1984. Sure he finished nearer the back than the front but it was still a mighty achievement.
F1 is one of the few truly global sports so to be a driver in one of 20 cars is a big achievement although it is cringe material for many.
Steve's pick for winner: Walsh
Disabled sportsperson
Nominees: Corey Peters (para alpine skiing), Holly Robinson (para athletics), Sophie Pascoe (para swimming), William Stedman (para athletics).
Peters still has his big chance at the Winter Olympics while Robinson did well at the Parafed world championships in London, picking up a silver.
But Sophie Pascoe is still the top dog in this category and it is hard to see the award going to anyone else but the Christchurch swimmer.
Steve's pick for winner: Pascoe
Team of the year
Nominees: Black Ferns (rugby), Black Sox (softball), Team New Zealand (yachting), women's K2 - Lisa Carrington and Caitlin Ryan (canoe racing).
This is probably the toughest category to pick. All teams won a world title. Could not have been any better.
But the judges have to pick one. Going on the process of elimination, first to go would be the canoe pair. They did so well but it is a minority sport.
Next off the ballot is the Black Sox. For whatever reason, they do not get any love. They should. They have been world champs on the budget of Team NZ's toilet paper supply.
But we - apparently - love our yachting in this country so Team NZ will get the award. The Black Ferns did well but the water boys will win out.
Steve's pick for winner: Team NZ
Coach of the year
Nominees: Gary Hay (rowing), Glenn Moore (rugby), Gordon Walker (canoe racing), Mark Sorenson (softball).
Where is David Kidwell, we ask?
Perhaps Sorenson will win this as a sympathy vote after his softballers dip out. Top marks for Glenn Moore who has done well after being down in the South having to coach the likes of Lucky Mulipola and Steven Setephano.
Steve's pick for winner: Sorenson
Overall Halberg winner: Walsh would be a popular choice but the sailors should get the big prize. So Team NZ wins the overall trophy.
