Ngā Toa Whakaihuwaka - Māori of the Year Awards 2012 Finalis

Media Release/Pānui Pāpāho
02 January 2013-4pm

Ngā Toa Whakaihuwaka
Māori of the Year Awards 2012

TVNZ’s Marae Investigates will again broadcast the Māori of the Year Awards 2012, a programme that recognises outstanding people, groups and organisations who have enhanced mana Māori in 2012.

Kaitaia GP Dr Lance O’Sullivan, Olympic gold medallist Lisa Carrington and Kerikeri High School are amongst the 27 high calibre finalists for the second Marae Investigate’s-Ngā Toa Whakaihuwaka (Māori of the Year Awards 2012.)
All 27 finalists come from across nine diverse categories for individuals and groups who have achieved at the highest levels this year.

Ngā Toa Whakaihuwaka will air on Wednesday 6th February 2013 in a one-hour live special celebrating Māori excellence on TV One at 12.30pm.

“Māori often find it hard to talk about how sweet their kumara is but we at Marae Investigates believe it’s important for outstanding achievement to be recognised,” says Paora Maxwell, Executive Producer.

"It’s only appropriate that we celebrate Māori success on our national day."
Public nominations were called for in November and closed on December the 2nd. Our expert panel of judges had the difficult task of whittling down the 27 finalists from more than 60 nominations.

Watch Marae Investigates on Wednesday 6th February 2013 to see the category winners announcements. Te Toa Whakaihuwaka-The Māori of the Year the supreme winner will also be presented with a specially commissioned pounamu trophy carved by master carver Hepi Maxwell of Rotorua.

Category Finalists:

REO/TIKANGA
The Hika Group
Dr Cathy Dewes
Associate Professors Poia Rewi and Rawinia Higgins

TOI-ARTS
Rawiri Paratene
Ria Hall
Chris Winitana

MĀTAURANGA-EDUCATION
Professor Linda Smith
Sir Mason Durie
Bentham Ohia

HAUORA-HEALTH
Dr Helen Herbert
Janice Wenn
Dr Lance O’Sullivan

HĀKINAKINA-SPORT
Lisa Carrington
Storm Uru
Cameron Leslie

RATONGA HAPORI-COMMUNITY SERVICE
Cindy Kiro
Piki Thomas
Darci Goldsworthy

RANGATAHI-YOUTH
Kerikeri High School
Johnson Rapata Tumai Totorewa
Tama Te Waiwhakaruku Hata

TE AO HANGARAU-SCIENCE/INNOVATION/TECHNOLOGY
Dr Ocean Mercier
Microsoft NZ Ltd
Kapenga M Trust

PAKIHI-BUSINESS
NZ Manuka Honey
Te Awanui Hukapak
Christopher Mace

END

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