Finalists For 2009 National Maori Sports Awards

Finalists Announced For 2009 National Maori Sports Awards

Rugby league and netball stars Benji Marshall and Temepara George lead a world-class field of finalists at the 2009 MAORI SPORTS AWARDS screening on Maori Television on Sunday December 6 at 9.00 PM.

Te Tohu Taakaro o Aotearoa Charitable Trust – which will host the prestigious black tie ceremony at the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre in Manukau – will also honour the late Margaret Te Kahurangi (Meg) Matangi MBE with a posthumous induction to the Maori Sports Hall of Fame. Matangi (Te Atiawa, Taranaki, Ngati Mutunga) was captain of the first ever New Zealand women's basketball team (now known as netball) in 1938.

The supreme winners of the Albie Pryor Memorial Maori Sportsperson of the Year for the past two years – axeman Jason Wynyard (Ngapuhi, Ngati Maniapoto) and rower Storm Uru (Ngai Tahu) – head up another impressive list of nine Maori World Champion awardees for 2009. The other recipients will include: Karmyn Wynyard (Tainui) – single and mixed saw; Shayne Taupo (Tainui, Ngapuhi, Ngati Whatua, Ngati Ruanui) – karate; James Te Huna (Ngati Tuwharetoa) – cage fighting; Tohora Harawira (Ngapuhi) – powerlifting; Tiffany Piper (Ngati Kahungunu, Ngati Tuwharetoa) – action pistol shooting; Jade Uru (Ngai Tahu) – rowing; and Matthew Lack (Te Whakatohea) – wheelchair racing.

The 2009 finalists are:

Maori Sports Administrator of the Year: Michael Parker (Ngati Manawa) – football; Briar Martindale (Te Atiawa) – netball

Maori Sports Umpire/Referee of the Year: Sheldon Eden-Whaitiri (Ngati Kahungunu) – rugby; Tony Barnes (Ngati Ranginui) – football

Disabled Maori Sports Person of the Year: Matthew Lack (Te Whakatohea) – wheelchair racing; Tara-Lynn Smith (Ngati Porou, Ngati Tuwharetoa) – judo

Maori Sports Coach of the Year: Stephen Kearney (Te Atiawa) – rugby league; Yvette McCausland-Durie (Ngati Awa) – netball

Maori Sports Team of the Year: Tu Toa Girls Netball Team; Maureen O'Connell and Johnson Reihana (Ngapuhi) – body building

Maori Sports Media Award of the Year: Print – ‘Beneath the Maori Moon’, Malcolm Mulholland; Television – Maori Rugby Special, Native Affairs, Maori Television

Junior Maori Sportswomen of the Year: Tiffany Piper (Ngati Kahungunu, Ngati Tuwharetoa) – pistol shooting, fencing, modern penthalon; Samantha Harrison (Ngapuhi) – hockey; Abbey Erceg (Ngapuhi) – soccer

Junior Maori Sportsman of the Year: Zac Guildford (Ngati Kahungunu) – rugby; Kane Radford (Ngati Tuwharetoa, Te Whanau-a-Apanui) – open water swimming; Thomas Spragg (Ngapuhi) – soccer

Senior Maori Sportswomen of the Year: Renee Wickliffe (Hauraki) – rugby, touch, sevens; Joelle King (Ngati Porou) – squash; Temepara George (Ngapuhi) – netball

Senior Maori Sportsman of the Year: Benji Marshall (Ngai Tuhoe) – rugby league; Issac Ross (Ngai Tuhoe) – rugby; Shannon McIlroy (Ngati Porou) – lawn bowls

The home of Maori sport, Maori Television will screen a two-hour special, 2009 MAORI SPORTS AWARDS, on Sunday December 6 at 9.00 PM.

ENDS