Can Hawke's Bay's All Black Sevens star Gillies Kaka win back-to-back Ngati Kahungunu Sportsperson of the Year titles?
That was a major question when finalists for the October 10 function at the Hastings Sports Centre were announced last night. Kaka was one of 10 category winners who become automatic finalists for the premier award.
A Commonwealth Games Sevens silver medallist and World Series Sevens winner this year, Kaka, the senior sportsman award winner for the second consecutive year, will face hot competition for the premier award from Hawke's Bay-raised rower Fiona Bourke, the Bay's four-time world softball champion, Thomas Makea jnr, and Bay waka ama administrator Vanessa Wilson.
Bourke won gold with the New Zealand women's double scull crew at the recent world championships in Amsterdam.
She also won gold at the World Cup III regatta in Lucerne and her national championship medal haul included two golds and a bronze.