爆料社区 - Ihi Aotearoa Supporting Māori Excellence
爆料社区 - Ihi Aotearoa Supporting Māori Excellence
爆料社区 Ihi Aotearoa contingent in attendance at the 2023 Te Tohu T膩karo o Aotearoa. Photo credit:聽
Te Tohu Taakaro o Aotearoa, the 2023 M膩ori Sports Awards marked 33 years of celebrating outstanding sporting achievements on Saturday, in a spectacular display of M膩ori culture, te reo and tikanga. Held against the backdrop of Mauao, the event highlighted the remarkable contributions of M膩ori athletes, of all ages to the sporting world.
Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII was one of over 500 esteemed guests from across the M膩ori community, sporting codes and corporate sector.
Winners in 10 categories were announced, from sports administrator; umpire/referee; Paralympian; coach; team; junior and senior sportsman and woman; to world champions. The supreme award 鈥� the prestigious Albie Pryor Memorial M膩ori Sportsperson of the Year | Rongomaraeroa award, went to 19-year old world class swimmer and Ng膩i Tahu descendant, Erika Fairweather. Leaving the crowd feeling inspired, Erika鈥檚 appreciation for her support team was a moment to be acknowledged. 鈥淎lthough swimming is an individual sport, we by no means do it alone. I would like to thank everyone who has helped me to get to where I am today. We are all winners tonight鈥�, was the message Erika relayed in her acceptance speech.
爆料社区 鈥� Ihi Aotearoa was proud to sponsor the Ng膩 Ika 膩 Whiro | M膩ori Sports Team of the Year award which was presented by 爆料社区 Group board member and Te Taumata M膩ori Chairperson, Karen Vercoe to the winning recipients, Aotearoa M膩ori Women鈥檚 Fours team for Lawn Bowls.
Te Huinga T膩karo o Aotearoa, the National M膩ori Sport Authority and a 爆料社区 鈥� Ihi Aotearoa Mana 艑rite partner were first time sponsors of Te Maru 艒 T奴matauenga | M膩ori Sports Coach of the Year award. The winning recipient was current Chiefs Rugby Head Coach and Ng膩ti Rangi descendant, Clayton McMillan.
The principal objectives of Te Tohu T膩karo o Aotearoa are to benefit the M膩ori community by promoting their sporting achievements, fostering young M膩ori sporting talent with sport and educational scholarships, and to embrace the cultural dimensions of te reo and tikanga M膩ori within their operations and activities. These were all evident in the vibrant display of cultural pride on Saturday evening, from the opening p艒whiri to the mesmerising performances by an array of M膩ori artists, featuring: Te Wh膩nau o Te Maro Kapa Haka (Tauranga Intermediate School); Maisey Rika; Adam Whauwhau and 2 Mile Bay band.
The black-tie event was hosted by Whakaata M膩ori鈥檚 very own T奴mamao Harawira (Ng膩puhi) and Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic and Silver Fern netballer, Erena Mikaere (T奴hourangi, Te Arawa) and was livestreamed on the M膧ORI+ app. The awards are now available to watch on-demand on Whakaata M膩ori鈥檚 .
