Maori Olympics medallists and Maori World Champions head the list of finalists who will vie for top honours at the 2016 Aotearoa Māori Sports Awards this November.
Maori representation at this year’s Rio Summer Olympics, totalling 43 athletes, 8 officials, 2 Maori representing Australia and 4 Maori in the Rio Paralympics.
Lisa Carrington was the closing ceremony flag bearer at the Rio Summer Olympics, and Holly Robinson the opening ceremony flag bearer at the Rio Paralympics.
For the first time in his long successful career, multi world wood chopping champion will not feature in the Individual Maori world champions list for 2016 which totals 9, in Jason’s own words “I have had a disastrous year with injuries, ill health and machine failure”, however Jason has just left for the last tournament the STIHL World Championships in Stuttgart, Jason may still make it on to that list.
The 26th Black –Tie awards ceremony will be hosted by Te Tohu Taakaro o Aotearoa Charitable Trust at the Vodafone Events Centre, Manukau on Saturday 26 November from 5.00 pm.
In 1991, the late Albie Pryor (Ngāti Awa) established the black-tie extravaganza to promote and encourage Māori in the pursuit of sporting excellence.
“Albie’s legacy lives on as the awards event acknowledges champions from Administrators, Disabled, Umpire/Referees, Teams, Coaches, Scholarship recipients, Junior and Senior individuals, Olympic medallists, and Albie’s own supreme award – “Rongomaraeroa – Māori Sportsperson of the Year”
The 2016 Māori Sports Awards recipients and finalists are:
ACC SPORTSMART MAORI OLYMPIC & PARALYMPIC MEDALLISTS:
Lisa CARRINGTON (Ngāti Porou, Te Aitanga ā Māhaki) CANOE RACING
Cameron LESLIE (Ngapuhi) PARA-SWIMMING
Holly ROBINSON NgaI Tahu PARA-ATHLETICS
Emma FOY Ngapuhi PARA-CYCLING:
NZ WOMENS SEVENS;
Sarah GOSS (C) (Ngāti Kahungunu)
Shakira BAKER (Ngāti Kahungunu)
Gayle BROUGHTON (Ngāti Ruahine, Ngāti Ruanui)
Kayla McALLISTER (Te Atiawa)
Huriana MANUEL (Ngapuhi, Ngati Tuwharetoa)
Tyla NATHAN-WONG (Ngapuhi)
Terina Te TAMAKI (Te Arawa, Waikato, Ngati Maniapoto)
Ruby TUI (Ngāi Tahu)
Portia WOODMAN (Ngāpuhi)
Shiray TANE (Ngati Maniapoto)
INDIVIDUAL MĀORI WORLD CHAMPIONS:
Tokomaru Taylor (Tainui, Taranaki) MUAY THAI
Tyrell Rapana (Ngati Wai) FIELD ARCHER
Sam Gaze Te Atiawa CYCLING
Lisa Carrington (Ngati Porou, Te Aitanga a Mahaki) CANOE RACING
Akayshia Williams (Ngati Porou, Te Aitanga a Hauiti) WAKA AMA
Nyree King (Waikato) WAKA AMA
Tia Akurangi (Ngati Porou, Ngai Tamanuhiri, Ngapuhi) WAKA AMA
Sonny (Richard) Pehi (Ngapuhi) WAKA AMA
Byron Chivers (Ngati Porou) MMA
Rota Jnr Elliott (Ngati Awa, Whakatohea, Ngati Rangitihi) BODYBUILDING
MĀORI WORLD CHAMPION TEAMS:
AOTEAROA NZ ELITE MENS V6 500 WAKA AMA TEAM
AOTEAROA NZ ELITE WOMEN V6 500 & 1500 WAKA AMA TEAM
AOTEAROA NZ JUNIOR 19 WOMENS 500 & 1000m WAKA AMA TEAM
NGĀ KAIWHIWHI MŌ NGĀ KARAHIPI – Māori Sports Awards Scholarships:
Manukau Institute of Technology Scholarships:
Bryston Takinui (Tainui) MANGERE COLLEGE
Robert Downes (Ngapuhi, Ngati Tuwharetoa) PAPAKURA HIGH SCHOOL
Skills Active Aotearoa Scholarship:
Ronin Ihaka Ainsley (Ngai Te Rangi) WRESTLING
Manukatoa MSA Watson & Son, Combat Sports Scholarship:
Reilly Polaschek (Ngai Te Rangi) KARATE
MĀUI TIKITIKI-Ā-TARANGA – Māori Sports Administrator of the Year:
Marinna Millanta-Lowrey (Te Whanau-a-Apanui, Ngati Porou) WAKA AMA
Trevor Shailer (Ngati Kauwhata, Ngati Hauti) OLYMPIC GAMES
Harko Brown (Raukawa ki Waikato me Ngati Whatua ki Kaipara) KI-O-RAHI
TE TOIHUAREWA – Disabled Māori Sports Person of the Year:
Cameron LESLIE (Ngapuhi) PARA-SWIMMING
Holly ROBINSON (NgaI Tahu) PARA-ATHLETICS
Emma FOY (Ngapuhi) PARA-CYCLING:
TE ARATIATIA – Māori Sports Umpire/Referee of the Year:
Glen Warrick Jackson (Ngāi Tahu) RUGBY
Amber Church (Te Aitanga-ā-Māhaki) HOCKEY
Kathy Cross (Ngati Maniapoto) CRICKET
NGĀ IKA Ā WHIRO – Māori Sports Team of the Year:
Aotearoa NZ Elite Mens V6 500 WAKA AMA TEAM
Maori All Blacks
Aotearoa NZ Elite Women V6 500 & 1500 WAKA AMA TEAM
TE MARU Ō TŪMATAUENGA – Māori Sports Coach of the Year:
Colin Cooper (Ngati Pukenga) MAORI ALL BLACKS
Sean Horan (Ngai Tahu) RUGBY SEVENS
Kiwi Campbell (Ngai Tuhoe, Ngati Porou) WAKA AMA
TE TAMAHINE-Ā-PAPATŪĀNUKU – Junior Māori Sportswoman of the Year:
Maia Wilson (Te Wai-o-Hua, Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi) NETBALL
Akayshia Williams (Ngati Porou, Te Aitanga a Hauiti) WAKA AMA
Gayle Broughton (Ngāti Ruahine, Ngāti Ruanui) RUGBY SEVENS
TE TAMA-Ā-RANGINUI – Junior Māori Sportsman of the Year:
Reiko Ioane (Ngapuhi, Te Whanau a Apanui) RUGBY, RUGBY SEVENS
Faine KAHIA (Ngati Tuwharetoa) MOTOR RACING
Tokomaru Taylor (Tainui, Taranaki) MUAY THAI
HINEAHUONE – Senior Māori Sportswoman of the Year:
Lisa Carrington (Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Ngāti Porou) CANOEING RACING
Portia Woodman (Ngapuhi) RUGBY, RUGBY SEVENS
Joelle King (Ngati Porou) SQUASH
Suzie Bates (Ngai Tahu) CRICKET
Abbey Erceg (Ngapuhi) FOOTBALL
TE TAMA-Ā-TANENUIĀRANGI – Senior Māori Sportsman of the Year:
Dane COLES (Ngati Porou) RUGBY
Shannon McILROY (Ngati Porou) LAWN BOWLS
Trent Boult (Ngai Te Rangi, Ngati Maru) CRICKET
Winstone Reid (Tainui, Te Rarawa) FOOTBALL
Jesse Bromwich (Ngāti Porou, Ngapuhi) RUGBY LEAGUE
For more information about the Māori Sports Awards, go to the website: www.maorisportsawards.co.nz or info@maorisportsawards.co.nz