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Some of the members from the Tairāwhiti Māori Sports organising team From Left; George Brown from Rongowhakaata Iwi Trust, Joanne Pere from the Gisborne East Coast Cancer Society, Athena Emmerson-Kapa from TROTAK, Annaleigh Stills from Ease Up Tairāwhiti and Gary Harding from TRONPnui.
Nomination’s for the inaugural Tairāwhiti Māori Sports Awards 2016 are now open. Eastland Community Trust (ECT) are the major sponsor for this year’s Tairāwhiti Māori Sports Awards and invite nominations to be made by the close of business 5pm Thursday the 11th of August 2016.
The Tairāwhiti Māori Sports Awards 2016, will be held on the evening of Saturday the 10th of September at the Quality Hotel Emerald. Previously known as the “Tūranganui a Kiwa Māori Sports Awards” was first held in 1994 and was the first regional Māori sports awards event to be held in the country. It was an annual event until 2007.
“There have been some major sporting achievement over the past few years that we thought it was time to bring back the awards after a nine year break, so that Māori athletes from this region can have access to the same opportunities as top NZ athletes do” said Annaleigh Stills from Ease Up Tairāwhiti. “It’s important that we as a community recognise our talent and support them in their sporting career“
Miss Stills represents Ease Up Tairāwhiti who form part of a collective organising the awards this year. The collective also include representation from Hauora Tairāwhiti, Gisborne East Coast Cancer Society, Tūranga Health, Te Aitanga-ā-Hauiti, Rongomaiwahine, Te Rūnganganui o Ngāti Porou, Te Rūnanga o Tūranganui a Kiwa, Rongowhakaata Iwi Trust.
“We have a good cross representation of local organisations and iwi involved. We all have a common goal, to ensure Māori sport achievement is promoted and recognised in this region” said George Brown from the Rongowhakaata Iwi Trust.
“These awards are important in that it can help to inspire success and achievement within our people and to support award recipients in their career pathway to professional athletes. It’s also an opportunity to acknowledge our key sport champions and role models within the community as well as create leadership opportunities for our rangatahi to aspire to and draw inspiration from” said Mr Brown.
Other key sponsors of the Tairāwhiti Māori Sports Awards this year include Ease Up Tairāwhiti, Eastland Community Trust, Quality Hotel Emerald, Gisborne East Coast Cancer Society, Tūranga Ararau, Gisborne Herald, Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Porou and Rongowhakaata Iwi Trust.
“Without the financial support from these organisations, we would not have been able to put this event on, so we are very thankful to them”, said Miss Stills, “However, we are still open to other expressions of interest from sponsors to help cover the remaining costs”
For organisations interested in sponsorship please click here to view the Sponsorship Proposal.
Nominations for the ‘Tairāwhiti Maori Sports Awards’ close 5pm, Thursday 11th August. The main prerequisite criteria for nominations are:
There are 13 award categories in this year’s awards including the ‘People’s Choice Award’ in which voting by the public opens soon after the nominations close.
“To succeed in sport, it takes a lot of commitment both personally and financially, so to be nominated for an award category can also help support our Māori sporting athletes and volunteers to realise their goals and provide opportunity for them to be recognised by talent scouts, which can lead to further sporting opportunities possibly through a national link and/or beyond” said Gary Harding, from Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Porou.
Mr Harding brings his own experience in sports and expertise in organising Māori sports awards to the collective and understands the importance of community support for our local Māori talent, “The recognition for award recipients can lead to better coaching and development opportunities and no doubt some of the recipients will be eligible to be nominated for the National Māori Sports Awards which is held annually in November”.
The Tairāwhiti Māori Sports awards this year will be an alcohol and smoke free event, and will be held on the evening of Saturday the 10th of September at the Quality Hotel Emerald.
Nomination forms are available to collect from the following organisations and outlets: The Gisborne Herald, Eastland Community Trust, Tūranga FM, Radio Ngāti Porou, Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Porou, Te Rūnanga o Tūranganui a Kiwa, Tūranga FM, Sport Gisborne Tairāwhiti, Rebel Sport and Stirling Sports.
Nomination forms can be downloaded by clicking here or on the image below:
Nomination forms can be dropped off to the Eastland Community Trust office on Gladstone Road next to Pak n’ Save or emailed to Annaleigh Stills annaleighstills@gmail.com by 5pm on Thursday the 11th of August.
For further information please contact:
Annaleigh Stills
Mob: 022 0161 455
Email: annaleighstills@gmail.com
FB: Tairāwhiti Māori Sports Awards 2016
