Rob Hamill

Rob Hamill was born on 4 January 1964 in Whakatāne, Bay of Plenty.{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ha/rob-hamill-1.html |title=Rob Hamill |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102144836/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ha/rob-hamill-1.html |archive-date=2 November 2012 |access-date=16 July 2010 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |title=Robbie Hamill |url=http://www.worldrowing.com/athletes/athlete/4337/results/hamill |publisher=International Rowing Federation |access-date=3 October 2015}}

Hamill considers boxer Muhammad Ali his role model, "his skill, athleticism, courage, arrogance and self-belief all had a huge influence."{{cite book |last1=Hamill |first1=Rob |last2=Whyte |first2=Rob |last3=Wall |first3=Michael |title=The Naked Rower|year=2003 |orig-year=2000 |publisher=Hodder Moa Beckett Publishers |location=Mairangi Bay, Auckland, New Zealand |isbn=1-86958-766-9 |page=17 |chapter=The Ali Way}}

At the 1994 World Rowing Championships at Eagle Creek Park, Indianapolis, United States, Hamill won a silver medal in the lightweight men's double sculls with Mike Rodger.{{cite web |url=http://www.worldrowing.com/events/1994-world-championships/lightweight-mens-double-sculls/final/ |title=Lightweight Men's Double Sculls – Final |access-date=3 October 2015 |publisher=FISA}}{{cite web |title=World Championship medallists |url=http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/culture/rowing-in-new-zealand/world-champion-medalists |publisher=Ministry for Culture and Heritage |access-date=3 October 2015 |date=8 September 2015}} Hamill also took part in the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics on behalf of New Zealand.{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/features/2315038/Brotherly-love-Rob-Hamill-wants-justice-for-brother-killed-by-Khmer-Rouge |title=Brotherly love: Rob Hamill wants justice for brother killed by Khmer Rouge |first=Susan |last=Pepperell |work=The Sunday Star-Times |publisher=Stuff |date=5 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110226115256/http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/features/2315038/Brotherly-love-Rob-Hamill-wants-justice-for-brother-killed-by-Khmer-Rouge |archive-date=26 February 2011 |access-date=30 May 2010 |url-status=dead }}

He is most well known for his winning of the inaugural Atlantic Rowing Race with Phil Stubbs in 1997, with a world record time of forty-one days, two hours and fifty-five minutes.{{cite web|url=http://www.3news.co.nz/Rower-Rob-Hamill-turns-attention-to-Cambodian-genocide-trial-/tabid/817/articleID/99111/Default.aspx|title=Rower Rob Hamill turns attention to Cambodian genocide trial |work=3 News|date=8 April 2009|access-date=30 May 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.talentonline.co.nz/speakersnz/res/rob-hamill.html|title=Rob Hamill|publisher=Talent Online|access-date=29 May 2010}} In the 1999 New Year Honours, Hamill and Stubbs were both appointed Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to ocean rowing; however Stubbs died in a plane crash before the honours were officially announced.{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=811|title=Stubbs died knowing of his award|work=The New Zealand Herald|first=Fiona |last=Barber|date=31 December 1998|access-date=30 May 2010}}{{cite web |url=https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/publications/new-year-honours-list-1999 |title=New Year honours list 1999 |date=31 December 1998 |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |access-date=31 August 2019}} Hamill wrote a book about this experience, The Naked Rower.{{cite book|title=The Naked Rower : How Two Kiwis Took on the Atlantic—and Won!|isbn=978-1869587666 |last1=Hamill |first1=Rob |date=10 February 2024 |publisher=Hodder Moa Beckett }}{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=127232|title=Rower feared mate would kill|work=The New Zealand Herald |first1=Darrel |last1=Mager |author2=New Zealand Press Association |author2-link=New Zealand Press Association |date=22 March 2000 |access-date=16 July 2010}} In the next two such races, in 2001 and 2003, Hamill managed the New Zealand teams who won those races.{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/242468 |title=Aussie challenge for four in a row |work=Waikato Times |publisher=Stuff |date=29 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613165621/http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/242468 |archive-date= 13 June 2011 |access-date=1 June 2010 |url-status=dead }}

Hamill achieved a world record{{Which|date=June 2010}} on an indoor rowing machine,{{cite web|url=http://www.tki.org.nz/r/wick_ed/cool/archives/rob_hamill.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100525230915/http://www.tki.org.nz/r/wick_ed/cool/archives/rob_hamill.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=2010-05-25 |title=Cool Kiwis: Rob Hamill |work=Ministry of Education |date=December 2004 |access-date=30 May 2010 }} and established and co-organises The Great Race. He also set up a trans-Tasman race in 2008, which he hopes to become biennial,{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rowing/news/article.cfm?c_id=78&objectid=10489539|title=An oarsome challenge of two bridges|first=Alanah May|last=Eriksen|work=The New Zealand Herald|date=30 January 2008|access-date=30 May 2010}} and manages rowing teams.{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/canary-islands/news/article.cfm?l_id=26&objectid=10360918|title=Shark terrorises NZ rowing pair|work=The New Zealand Herald|first=Julie|last=Ash|date=21 December 2005|access-date=30 May 2010}}

File:Rob Hamill Jeanette Fitzsimons.jpg co-leader, Jeanette Fitzsimons|alt=Jeanette Fitzsimons wearing an orange T-shirt, in front of Rob Hamil in a green shirt and holding an orange rowing oar. They are on the seashore.]]

Hamill stood in the Taranaki-King Country electorate in the 2008 New Zealand general election for the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand, and at 56 on the Green party list.{{cite press release|url=http://www.greens.org.nz/press-releases/rob-hamill-stand-green-party |title=Rob Hamill to Stand for the Green Party |publisher=Green Party |date=14 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100522183751/http://www.greens.org.nz/press-releases/rob-hamill-stand-green-party |archive-date=22 May 2010 |access-date=29 May 2010 }} [https://web.archive.org/web/20081014205407/http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0810/S00224.htm Alt URL] He came third, with 8.41% of the vote, and losing to the incumbent, National's Shane Ardern.{{cite web|url=http://2008.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2008/electorate-49.html|title=Official Count Results – Taranaki-King Country|work=Elections New Zealand|date=22 November 2008|access-date=29 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100525010326/http://2008.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2008/electorate-49.html|archive-date=25 May 2010|url-status=dead}} However, he stated that his intention was not to win the seat, and did not "think that would be realistic." but campaigned for the Green party vote.{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/archived-sections/vote-08/672221/Hamill-puts-on-celebrity-Green-face |title=Hamill puts on celebrity Green face |work=Waikato Times |date=14 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613165636/http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/archived-sections/vote-08/672221/Hamill-puts-on-celebrity-Green-face |archive-date= 13 June 2011 |access-date=1 June 2010 |url-status=dead }} Hamill describes the Green Party as "the only party with a commitment to driving policy towards a sustainable future".{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/king-country/news/article.cfm?l_id=129&objectid=10537440|title=Trans-Atlantic rower Rob Hamill stands for Greens|work=The New Zealand Herald|date=14 October 2008|access-date=30 May 2010}}

Hamill is a supporter of New Zealand becoming a republic, endorsing Member of Parliament Keith Locke's Head of State Referenda Bill, a private member's bill.{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3384830/Stars-back-poll-on-NZ-republic |title=Stars back poll on NZ republic |work=The Sunday Star-Times |first=Anthony |last=Hubbard |publisher=Stuff |date=28 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100302143007/http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3384830/Stars-back-poll-on-NZ-republic |archive-date=2 March 2010 |access-date=30 May 2010 |url-status=dead }}

Hamill was an ambassador for WWF's Earth Hour in 2010.{{cite press release|url=http://www.wwf.org.nz/?3261/Helen-Clark|title=Helen Clark urges all Kiwis to take part in Earth Hour 2010|publisher=World Wide Fund for Nature|date=5 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100522214701/http://www.wwf.org.nz/?3261/Helen-Clark|archive-date=22 May 2010|access-date=1 June 2010}} [http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1001/S00005.htm Alt URL]

He is a member of the WEL Energy Trust,{{cite web|url=http://www.welenergytrust.co.nz/trustees.cfm?page_obj_id=7&staff_id=5&obj_list=1,6,2,3,4,5 |title=Rob Hamill |work=WEL Energy Trust |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100602084705/http://www.welenergytrust.co.nz/trustees.cfm?page_obj_id=7&staff_id=5&obj_list=1,6,2,3,4,5 |archive-date= 2 June 2010 |access-date=1 June 2010 |url-status=dead }} and is considering standing for Environment Waikato in the 2010 local body elections.{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/3479022/Hamills-passion-still-in-water-around-him |title=Hamill's passion still in water around him |first=Bruce |last=Holloway |work=Waikato Times |publisher=Stuff |date=20 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613165100/http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/3479022/Hamills-passion-still-in-water-around-him |archive-date=13 June 2011 |access-date=30 May 2010 |url-status=dead }}

While on a trip from Singapore to Bangkok,{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/opinion/2774675/Editorial-Rob-Hamills-act-of-courage |title=Editorial: Rob Hamill's act of courage |work=Waikato Times |publisher=Stuff |first=Bryce |last=Johns |date=21 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613165114/http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/opinion/2774675/Editorial-Rob-Hamills-act-of-courage |archive-date=13 June 2011 |access-date=30 May 2010 |url-status=dead }} Hamill's older brother, Kerry, was captured, tortured, interrogated and killed in the S-21 prison by the Khmer Rouge in 1978,{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/2762707/Rob-Hamill-faces-bothers-killer |title=Rob Hamill faces brother's killer |work=Waikato Times |publisher=Stuff |first=Jeff |last=Neems |date=18 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613165158/http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/2762707/Rob-Hamill-faces-bothers-killer |archive-date=13 June 2011 |access-date=30 May 2010 |url-status=dead }} after being caught in a storm on his yacht, Foxy Lady,{{cite web|url=http://www.brothernumberone.co.nz/about.htm |title=Brother Number One – About the film |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100525225534/http://www.brothernumberone.co.nz/about.htm |archive-date=25 May 2010 |access-date=16 June 2010 |url-status=dead }} and straying into Cambodian waters.{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10564725|title=Rob Hamill to be heard at Khmer Rouge trial|agency=New Zealand Press Association|work=The New Zealand Herald|date=1 April 2009|access-date=30 May 2010}} He was aged 28 at the time of his death.{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10557545&ref=imthis|title=Khmer Rouge trial may see justice for slain NZer|work=The New Zealand Herald|date=19 February 2009|access-date=30 May 2010}} Hamill was 14 when he learned of his brother's fate.{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/asia/2762071/Rob-Hamill-confronts-his-brothers-killer |title=Rob Hamill confronts his brother's killer |work=New Zealand Press Association |publisher=Stuff |date=18 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090821023429/http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/asia/2762071/Rob-Hamill-confronts-his-brothers-killer |archive-date=21 August 2009 |access-date=30 May 2010 |url-status=dead }} The news of his brother's fate caused Hamill's other older brother, John, to commit suicide.{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10612274|title=Khmer Rouge torturer asked to confess his crimes in full|work=The New Zealand Herald|first=Jane|last=Phare|date=29 November 2009|access-date=30 May 2010}} In July 2009 Hamill testified against Duch, the leader of the prison,{{cite web|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/hamill-confronts-khmer-rouge-commander-2925212 |title=Hamill confronts Khmer Rouge commander |work=New Zealand Press Association and ONE News |publisher=Television New Zealand |date=18 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613115230/http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/hamill-confronts-khmer-rouge-commander-2925212 |archive-date= 13 June 2011 |access-date=1 June 2010 |url-status=dead }} in the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, and Kerry Hamill's alleged killer,{{cite press release |url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0907/S00278.htm|title=Hamill set to testify at Khmer Rouge trial|publisher=Pan Pacific Films|date=27 July 2009|access-date=29 May 2010}} who was on trial for crimes against humanity and premeditated murder. Hamill called the experience as "going to be quite scary"{{cite web|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/kiwi-rower-heads-cambodia-find-justice-2897155 |title=Kiwi rower heads to Cambodia to find justice |work=ONE News |publisher=Television New Zealand |date=9 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090811002950/http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/kiwi-rower-heads-cambodia-find-justice-2897155 |archive-date= 11 August 2009 |access-date=1 June 2010 |url-status=dead }} and "an opportunity to find [information] out",{{cite web|url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2009081927828/The-Post.blogs/Rob-Hamill-s-post-testimony-interview.html|title=Rob Hamill's post-testimony interview|work=The Phnom Penh Post|first=Robbie Corey|last=Boulet|date=18 August 2009|access-date=30 May 2010}} but stipulated that he is against the death penalty, and did not want to see Duch killed,{{cite web|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0908/S00219.htm|title=Hamill does NOT want to kill Duch|publisher=Rob Hamill|date=18 August 2009|access-date=30 May 2010}} but that an ideal sentence would be forty years of imprisonment, "anything less than that would be a victory to the [Duch] defence team, I suspect".{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10659276|title=Hamill seeks clues to murdered brother's last days |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=16 July 2010 |access-date=16 July 2010}}

Hamill also wants to research Kerry's last few days in Northern Territory, asking Darwinians for any "precious" information about him, saying that "just anything would help".{{cite news |url=http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2010/07/16/164391_ntnews.html |title=Khmer murder leads to quest |work=Northern Territory News |first=Nadja |last=Hainke |date=16 July 2010 |access-date=16 July 2010}}

Hamill's search for his brother's story has been made into a documentary film entitled Brother Number 1, funded by NZ On Air and TV3, and the New Zealand Film Commission, directed by Annie Goldson, and produced by Hamill, Goldson and James Bellamy.{{cite web|url=http://www.3news.co.nz/NZ-On-Air-to-fund-Rob-Hamills-doco-on-his-brother/tabid/418/articleID/93661/Default.aspx|title=NZ On Air to fund Rob Hamill's doco on his brother|work=Radio Live|publisher=3 News|date=3 March 2009|access-date=30 May 2010}} It was pitched at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival in Toronto.{{cite press release |url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0904/S00411.htm |title=Brother Number One to be pitched at Hotdocs|publisher=Pan Pacific Pictures|date=30 April 2009|access-date=30 May 2010}}

The death of his brother, Kerry, inspired him to become an ambassador of WWF and to oppose human trafficking.{{cite web|url=http://www.wwf.org.nz/earth_hour/ambassadors/rob_hamill.cfm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100430102755/http://www.wwf.org.nz/earth_hour/ambassadors/rob_hamill.cfm |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 April 2010 |title=Rob Hamill |work=WWF |access-date=30 May 2010 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1004/S00039.htm|title=Rob Hamill helps to raise awareness of Trafficking|publisher=Hagar|date=5 April 2010|access-date=30 May 2010}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Rob Hamill}}

• [http://www.robhamill.com/ Official website]
• [http://img.scoop.co.nz/media/pdfs/0908/Robs_testimony17Aug09.pdf Testimony to Extraordinary Court Chambers of Cambodia]
• {{Olympics.com|rob-hamill|Rob Hamill}}
• {{Olympedia|name=Rob Hamill}}
• {{NZOC profile|name=Robbie Hamill}}
• {{World Rowing|name=Robbie Hamill}}

{{1996 New Zealand Olympic team}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hamill, Rob}}

Category:New Zealand male rowers

Category:Rowers at the 1996 Summer Olympics

Category:Olympic rowers for New Zealand

Category:1964 births

Category:Living people

Category:Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit

Category:Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand politicians

Category:Sportspeople from Whakatāne

Category:Unsuccessful candidates in the 2008 New Zealand general election

Category:World Rowing Championships medalists for New Zealand

Category:20th-century New Zealand sportsmen