Canoeing star Lisa Carrington of Ohope, league's Matiu Love-Henry of Taupo and golfer Te Rongopai Clay of Ngati Awa, Tuwharetoa ki Kawerau from Wellington are among the local finalists chasing top honours at the 2013 National Maori Sports Awards. In 1991, Albie Pryor (Ngati Awa) established the black-tie extravaganza to promote and encourage Maori in the pursuit of sporting excellence.
He later expanded that brief to identify and support young Maori talent so they could achieve at Olympic, Commonwealth and international competitions.
Last year Carrington won the Albie Pryor Memorial Maori Sportsperson of the Year award and Mavis Mullins (Rangitane, Te Ati Haunui-a-Paparangi, Te Arawa) was Maori Sports Administrator of the Year for shearing.