Sporting Greats to Be Recognised at Otara Sports Awards
Four New Zealand sporting greats will be inducted into the Hall of Fame as part of the inaugural Otara Sports Awards on
Saturday 2 December in Otara.
Rugby League heroes Ruben Wiki, Tawera Nikau, NZ Sevens legend Eric Rush and Silver Ferns great Temepara Bailey (nee
George) will each receive a lifetime achievement award and then be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
The judges panel selected the quartet of New Zealand sporting heroes for their success and excellence at the highest
level in their respective sports.
“We’re absolutely delighted to honour four of New Zealand’s finest athletes as the first class of inductees in Otara’s
sporting Hall of Fame,” says Lotu Fuli, chair of the Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board.
“They have been outstanding ambassadors for New Zealand and Otara throughout their accomplished sporting careers,” she
says.
“Each has risen from Otara to achieve national and international sporting accolades while earning the respect of their
peers and fans for their hardworking, uncompromising and committed style of play, attributes we consider to be
distinctly from their Otara upbringing.”
The judges panel is made up of Matua Bill Takarei, chair of the Otara Network Action Committee, Tagaloa Willie Maea,
sports awards convenor and Ms Fuli.
The inaugural Otara Sports Awards is being held at the Hope Centre, Otara at 5 Birmingham Road. Tickets to the event
have sold out with the event generating plenty of interest amongst the local community.
An announcement of the list of finalists is expected soon for the remaining 13 categories which includes sportsman and
sportswoman of the year, junior sportsman and sportswoman of the year, team of the year and coach of the year plus a
supreme winner.
ENDS