National Māori Sports Awards Announces World-Class Finalists

PĀNUI PĀPĀHO / MEDIA STATEMENT
12 WHIRINGA-Ā-RANGI / NOVEMBER 2013

2013 National Māori Sports Awards Announces World-Class Finalists

A world-class field of athletes, administrators, coaches and teams will vie for top honours at the 2013 National Māori Sports Awards later this month (November).

The 23rd awards ceremony will be hosted by Te Tohu Taakaro o Aotearoa Charitable Trust at Auckland’s Vodafone Events Centre in Manukau on Saturday November 30 from 5.00 pm.

In 1991, Albie Pryor (Ngāti Awa) established the black-tie extravaganza to promote and encourage Māori in the pursuit of sporting excellence. He later expanded that brief to identify and support young Māori talent so they could achieve at Olympic, Commonwealth and international competitions. 

The 2013 National Māori Sports Awards finalists are: 

MĀUI TIKITIKI-Ā-TARANGA – Māori Sports Administrator of the Year:
Raelene Castle (Ngāpuhi) of Belmore, New South Wales, Australia – netball, rugby league 
Howie Tamati MBE (Ngāti Mutunga) of New Plymouth – rugby league 
Heather Skipworth (Ngāti Kahungunu) of Napier – multi-sports

TE TOIHUAREWA – Disabled Māori Sports Person of the Year:
Cameron Leslie (Ngāpuhi) of Whangārei – swimming, wheelchair rugby 
Holly Robinson (Ngāi Tahu) of Dunedin – javelin 
Maia Marshall Amai (Ngāi Tūhoe) of Pt England, Auckland – wheelchair rugby

TE ARATIATIA – Māori Sports Umpire/Referee of the Year:
Dwayne Paul (Ngāti Hauā) of Matamata – netball
Glen Warrick Jackson (Ngāi Tahu) of Tauranga – rugby
Henry Perenara (Ngāti Rangitihi) of Cronulla, Sydney – rugby league

NGĀ IKA Ā WHIRO – Māori Sports Team of the Year:
Māori All Blacks
New Zealand Māori Rugby League 
Aotearoa Māori Netball

TE MARU Ō TŪMATAUENGA – Māori Sports Coach of the Year:
Waimarama Taumaunu (Ngāti Porou) of Wellington – netball
Sean Horan (Ngāi Tahu) of Tauranga – sevens 
Colin Cooper (Ngāti Pūkenga) of Taranaki – rugby

TE TAMAHINE-Ā-PAPATŪĀNUKU – Junior Māori Sportswoman of the Year:
Tyla Nathan-Wong (Ngāpuhi) of Blockhouse Bay, Auckland – sevens, touch
Te Rongopai Clay (Ngāti Awa, Tūwharetoa ki Kawerau) of Wellington – golf 
Phoenix Karaka (Ngāti Whātua) of Auckland – netball 

TE TAMA-Ā-RANGINUI – Junior Māori Sportsman of the Year:
Tai Hikuroa Wynyard (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāpuhi, Tainui) of Waitākere, Auckland – basketball
Joe Edwards (Te Whakatōhea, Ngāti Tūwharetoa) of Pakuranga, Auckland – rugby 
Matiu Love-Henry (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Te Atiawa) of Taupō – rugby league

HINEAHUONE – Senior Māori Sportswoman of the Year:
Lisa Carrington (Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki) of Ōhope, Bay of Plenty – canoeing
Suzie Bates (Ngāi Tahu) of Dunedin – cricket 
Kayla McAlister (Te Āti Awa) of Auckland – rugby

TE TAMA-Ā-TANENUIĀRANGI – Senior Māori Sportsman of the Year:
Brad Rona (Te Āti Awa) of Glenfield, Auckland – softball 
Jason Wynyard (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāpuhi, Tainui) of Waitākere, Auckland – wood chopping 
Gillies Kaka (Ngāti Kahungunu, Rongomaiwahine, Ngāti Manawa) of Hawke’s Bay – rugby, sevens

For more information about the Māori Sports Awards, go to the website: www.maorisportsawards.co.nz

ENDS

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