2014 Maori Sports Awards Annouces World-Class Finalists

PĀNUI PĀPĀHO / MEDIA STATEMENT
10 WHIRINGA-Ā-RANGI/ NOVEMBER 2014

2014 MĀORI SPORTS AWARDS ANNOUNCES WORLD-CLASS FINALISTS

A total of 26 world champions – as individuals or team members – are among the recipients and finalists who will vie for top honours at the 2014 Māori Sports Awards later this month (November).

The 24th awards ceremony will be hosted by Te Tohu Taakaro o Aotearoa Charitable Trust at Auckland’s Vodafone Events Centre on Saturday 29 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. He later expanded that brief to identify and support young Māori talent so they could achieve at Olympic, Commonwealth and international competitions.

All recipients and finalists are in contention for the supreme award in honour of Pryor – Māori Sportsperson of the Year, Rongomaraeroa.

The 2014 Māori Sports Awards recipients and finalists are:

TE WHARE MĀTĀPUNA O TE AO MĀORI – Māori Sports Hall of Fame:
Stacey William Jones ONZM (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāpuhi) of Auckland – rugby league
Philip Mikaera Tataurangi (Ngāti Kahungunu) of Auckland – golf

INDIVIDUAL MĀORI WORLD CHAMPIONS:
Adam Tuwhitu Lowe (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāpuhi) of Invercargill – wood chopping, power sawing
Alannah Rihari (Ngāpuhi) of Kerikeri – crossfit
Jason Wynyard (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāpuhi, Tainui) of Waitākere, Auckland – wood chopping, power sawing
Lisa Carrington (Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Ngāti Porou) of Ōhope, Bay of Plenty – canoeing
Sonia Manaena (Ngāti Porou, Ngāi Tahu) of Invercargill – powerlifting
Teneka Hyndman (Ngāti Tūwharetoa) – pro figure

MĀORI IN WORLD CHAMPION TEAMS:
NZ Rowing: Caleb Shepherd (Ngāti Porou); Fiona Bourke (Ngāti Kahungunu); Fin Howard (Ngāi Tai)
NZ Under-23 Rafting: Dale Thomas (Te Arawa, Ngāti Pikiao); Taylor Taute-Hohepa (Te Arawa); Toni White-Waerea (Te Arawa, Ngāti Pikiao); Kayla Pene (Te Arawa, Ngāti Rangiwewehi)
NZ Para-Cycling: Emma Foy (Ngāpuhi)
NZ Women’s Sevens: Gayle Broughton (Ngāti Ruahine, Ngāti Ruanui); Sarah Goss (Ngāti Kahungunu); Carla Hohepa (Tainui, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Tūwharetoa); Huriana Manuel (Ngāpuhi); Kayla McAlister (Te Āti Awa); Tyla Nathan-Wong (Ngāpuhi); Alexis Tapsell (Ngāti Pikiao); Portia Woodman (Ngāpuhi); Katrina Whata-Simpkins (Te Arawa); Alley Chelsea (Ngāti Maru); Jordan Webber (Ngāti Ranginu); Shiray Tane (Ngāti Maniapoto)
NZ Power Sawing: Jason Wynyard (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāpuhi, Tainui); Adam Tuwhitu Lowe (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāpuhi)

NGĀ KAIWHIWHI MŌ NGĀ KARAHIPI – Māori Sports Awards Scholarships:
Manukau Institute of Technology: Clayton Strickland (Ngāi Tai, Whakatōhea) of Māngere College; Maihi Barbarich (Ngāpuhi) of Te Kura Māori o Ngā Tapuwae
Skills Active Aotearoa: Koroheke Moana-Taniwha (Waikato) – waka ama, ki-o-rahi, rugby league

MĀUI TIKITIKI-Ā-TARANGA – Māori Sports Administrator of the Year:
Trina Tamati (Ngāti Kahungunu) of Auckland – rugby league nines
Heather Skipworth QSM (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāi Tahu) of Napier – Iron Māori
Willie Taurima (Ngāti Kahungunu) of Wellington – basketball

TE TOIHUAREWA – Disabled Māori Sports Person of the Year:
Cameron Leslie (Ngāpuhi) of Whangārei – wheelchair rugby
Holly Robinson (Ngāi Tahu) of Dunedin – shotput and javelin
Emma Foy (Ngāpuhi) of Cambridge, Waikato – para-cycling

TE ARATIATIA – Māori Sports Umpire/Referee of the Year:
Glen Warrick Jackson (Ngāi Tahu) of Tauranga – rugby
Amber Church (Te Aitanga-ā-Māhaki) of Gisborne – hockey
Henry Perenara (Ngāti Rangitihi) of Cronulla, Sydney – rugby league

NGĀ IKA Ā WHIRO – Māori Sports Team of the Year:
Māori All Blacks
NZ Māori Women’s Kabaddi Team
NZ Māori Women’s Hockey Team

TE MARU Ō TŪMATAUENGA – Māori Sports Coach of the Year:
Stacey William Jones ONZM (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāpuhi) of Auckland – rugby league
Colin Cooper (Ngāti Pūkenga) – rugby
David Kosoof (Ngāti Porou) of Red Beach, Auckland – hockey

TE TAMAHINE-Ā-PAPATŪĀNUKU – Junior Māori Sportswoman of the Year:
Maia Wilson (Te Wai-o-Hua, Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi) of Blockhouse Bay, Auckland – basketball, netball, field athletics
Martine Puketapu (Ngāti Porou) of Auckland – football
Tyla Nathan-Wong (Ngāpuhi) of Auckland – rugby sevens

TE TAMA-Ā-RANGINUI – Junior Māori Sportsman of the Year:
Tai Hikuroa Wynyard (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāpuhi, Tainui) of Waitākere, Auckland – basketball
Connah Pamatatau (Ngāti Paoa) of Wellington – touch
Damian McKenzie (Ngāti Tūwharetoa) of Invercargill – rugby

HINEAHUONE – Senior Māori Sportswoman of the Year:
Lisa Carrington (Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Ngāti Porou) of Ōhope, Bay of Plenty – canoeing
Fiona Bourke (Ngāti Kahungunu) of Cambridge – rowing
Krystal Forgesson (Ngāi Tahu) of Auckland – hockey

TE TAMA-Ā-TANENUIĀRANGI – Senior Māori Sportsman of the Year:
Jason Wynyard (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāpuhi, Tainui) of Waitākere, Auckland – wood chopping, power sawing
Winston Reid (Tainui, Te Rarawa) of West Ham, England – football
Aaron Smith (Ngāti Kahungunu) of Manawatū – rugby

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

Ends

© Scoop Media