Golf Star Presents Top Maori Sports Award

Golf Star Presents Top Maori Sports Award

US PGA tour winner Phil Tataurangi will present one of the major prizes at Saturday night's prestigious Maori Sports Awards.

More than 1400 people will attend the 12th Maori Sports Awards which is being hosted by Ngati Tuwharetoa for the first time at the Taupo Events Centre.

Tataurangi (Ngati Kahungunu ki Rangitane) is one of the original recipients of an award from Te Tohu Takaaro o Aotearoa Charitable Trust which organises the annual ceremony.

He won the senior Maori sportsman title in 1993 and returns to present the taonga (trophy) for the same title which is being contested this year by basketball legend Pero Cameron, top golfer Michael Campbell and league star Stacey Jones.

Other special guests at Saturday's ceremony include trust patron Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, trust kaumatua Sir John Turei, and Ngati Tuwharetoa paramount chief, Te Ariki Tumu Te Heuheu.

National Maori language radio service Ruia Mai and local iwi station Tuwharetoa 97.2 FM will broadcast live from the event between 5pm to 9pm on Saturday night.

TVNZ's Maori programmes department is also producing a one-and-a-half- hour programme which will screen the following day - Sunday, December 8 - at either 3.30pm or 10.30pm depending on the America's Cup.

Musician Moana Maniapoto and actor Scott Morrison will present the show with entertainment provided by Hinewehi Mohi, Envoy, Moana and the Tribe, Whirimako Black and Tuwharetoa Kapa Haka.

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