Ron Palenski


Ronald Allan Palenski was a New Zealand journalist and sportsman.
Palenski was born in Dunedin on 31 March 1945. He started as a journalist with The Evening Star in Dunedin and went on to work with the New Zealand Press Association and The Dominion. He established the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame and administered it from 1998 until illness forced his retirement not long before he died.
In the 2003 New Year Honours, Palenski was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to sports journalism. In November 2022, he was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame. He wrote approximately 50 books, most of them on sport, but some also on New Zealand history.
Palenski died of cancer on 22 August 2023, at the age of 78.

Selected publications

Rugby

Graham Mourie, Captain: An Autobiography Loveridge, Master Halfback Lochore: An Authorised Biography New Zealand Rugby: Stories of Heroism & Valour All Blacks: The Authorised Portrait The New Invincibles: How the 2013 All Blacks Created History The ALL BLACKography 1875: When Rugby Became the Game for All New Zealand Murdoch: The All Black Who Never Returned Our Game: New Zealand Rugby at 150
  • ''Brutal: The 100-Year Fight for World Rugby Supremacy''

Other sports

Bat & Pad: An Anthology of Writings on New Zealand Cricket Champions: New Zealand Sports Greats of the 20th Century Black Gold: 100 Years of New Zealand at the Olympic Games: A Statistical Record Champion: New Zealand's First Olympic Winner c Tindill b Cowie: The Story of Bradman and New Zealand

Other subjects

Kiwi Milestones: New Zealand's Population through the Millions How We Saw the War: 1939–45 through New Zealand Eyes On This Day in New Zealand Kiwi Battlefields The Making of New Zealanders Men of Valour: New Zealand and the Battle for Crete