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Superstar to appear at Kahungunu awards
Media Release – 19 September 2013
‘Superstar to appear at Kahungunu awards’
The man with rugby's most recognised face on the planet, Jonah Lomu, will be the guest speaker at the Ngāti Kahungunu Sports Awards function in Hastings next month.
Lomu, 38, played the first of his 73 matches for the All Blacks in 1994 as a 19-year-old. Earlier in 1994 he was the star of the Hong Kong Sevens.
Arguably Lomu's most memorable feat on the international stage was a four-try haul in the 1995 World Cup semifinal when the All Blacks destroyed England 45-29 in Cape Town. After the match England captain Will Carling remarked: ``Jonah is a freak and the sooner he goes away the better.''
To a certain extent Carling got his wish as the first of many health problems for Lomu emerged in 1996. After missing most of the 1996 and `97 seasons with these issues and injuries Lomu again showed his class at the 1999 World Cup.
The Wesley College product's international career ended in 2003 when he decided to focus on managing his health issues.
Lomu represented three New Zealand provincial unions, Counties-Manukau, Wellington and North Harbour and three Super Rugby franchises, the Blues, Chiefs and Hurricanes. His overseas clubs included Marseille and Cardiff Blues.
A 2011 International Rugby Board Hall of Fame inductee, Lomu, will use his visit to Hawke's Bay to promote My Story, an update to his 2004 biography.
Avid rugby fan and staunch supporter of the Tamatea club, Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated chairman Ngahiwi Tomoana, was thrilled to get the thumbs up from Lomu for the October 18 function to be staged in the Hastings Sports Centre.
``We're delighted Jonah has accepted our invitation. He's the world's first rugby superstar and even though he's been out of rugby for a decade, he's still in hot demand all over the world.
``We're the first iwi to host Jonah Lomu at our iwi awards and we're excited to give him an awesome Kahungunu experience,'' Tomoana said.
Guest artists for the night are the ``Dee-licious Dance Crew'' a Pacific Island version of Maoridom's J Geeks.
``They will entertain us and have us in fits of laughter,'' Tomoana added.
In a change from previous awards organisers have decided to announce the category winners a month out from the function. However the winner of the premier award, the Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated Māori Sportsperson of the Year, won't be announced until the night.
All category winners become automatic nominees for the premier award.
Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated is pleased to announce the Category winners of the 2013 Ngāti Kahungunu Sports Awards.
Te Kupenga Hauora Ahuriri - Junior Maori
Sportsman of the Year
Trinity
Spooner-Neera (Rugby)
Te Kupenga Hauora
Ahuriri Junior Maori Sportswoman of the
Year
Courtney Gettins
(Softball)
EIT Te Aho a Māui Māori
Coach of the Year
Chubb Tangaroa
(Softball)
Te Puni Kokiri Māori
Administrator of the Year
Les Hokianga
(Hikoi for Life)
Te Roopu Huihuinga
Hauora Māori Official of the Year
Zane
Johnson (Touch Referee)
Hawke's Bay
District Health Board Senior Māori Sportswoman of the
Year
Fiona Bourke
(Rowing)
Te Puni Kokiri Senior Māori
Sportsman of the Year
Joint
winners
Thomas Makea Jnr
(Softball)
Gillies Kaka
(Rugby)
Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga Active
Kaumatua of the Year
Te Aroha Dimples
Edwards (Triathlon/Swimming)
Te Roopu a
Iwi Trust Senior Sports Team of the
Year
Manuz & Jemimaz
Premier Women’s Waka Team
Central
Health Junior Sports Team of the
Year
Hawke’s Bay U17 Softball
Team
About the
event
The Ngāti Kahungunu Sports Awards
Event is held annually to help celebrate the mana and well
being of Ngāti Kahungunu. The awards are in recognition of
sports people who have achieved a high level in sport,
culture and participation within their community.
The Ngāti Kahungunu Sports Awards event will be held on Friday 18th October 2013 at the Hastings Sports Centre, Railway Road, Hastings. This is a formal evening and includes a three course meal and entertainment.
Tickets
·
Tickets are $600.00 for a table of ten or $60 per
single.
· Tickets can be purchased
from the Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Inc.
Office
Taikura House, First Floor 304
Fitzroy Avenue,
Hastings.
Ph
8762718 or toll free 0800 KAHUNGUNU or
email: michelle@kahungunu.iwi.nz
Guest
speaker
Global Superstar and Rugby
Legend Jonah Lomu sponsored by Unison, the Power Lines
People.
Sponsors
This event
is proudly sponsored by the following organisations.
Te Kupenga Hauora Ahuriri, EIT Te Aho A Māui,
Te Puni Kōkiri, Te Roopu Huihuinga Hauora, Hawke’s Bay
District Health Board, Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga, Te Roopu A
Iwi Trust, Central Health, Unison, the Power Lines People
and Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi
Incorporated.
Acknowledgement
We
acknowledge Shane Hurndell Sports Writer
for Hawke’s Bay
Today.
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