Calling for nominations for Maori sports awards,‘Our shareholders are clearly heartened’ by Flick’s progress

THE TEAM: The Tairawhiti Maori Sports Awards organisers 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 Tairawhiti and Gary Harding from TRONPnui. Absent from picture are fellow organisers Trudy Lewis from TRONPnui, Petra Hape and Aporina Chapman from Hauora Tairawhiti. Picture supplied

THERE is less than one month left to get your nominations in for the Tairawhiti Maori Sports Awards 2016.

The awards have not been held for nearly a decade having previously been an annual event from 1994 to 2007. They have been resurrected this year with nominations open for a range of categories until August 11 at 5pm.

The awards are organised by a collective including Rongowhakaata Iwi Trust.

Organiser George Brown from Rongowhakaata said the organisations involved, Ease Up Tairawhiti, Hauora Tairawhiti, Gisborne East Coast Cancer Society, Turanga Health, Te Runanga o Ngati Porou, Te Runanga o Turanganui a Kiwa, Rongowhakaata Iwi Trust, Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti and Rongomaiwahine — all have a common goal, to ensure Maori sports achievement is promoted and recognised in this region.

“These awards are important in that they can help inspire success and achievement within our people and support award recipients in their career pathway in sports.”

Mr Brown says the awards are also an opportunity to acknowledge sport champions and role models in the community.

“As well as create leadership opportunities for our rangatahi to aspire to and draw attention from.”

Criteria for nominations are — sports teams must have 100 percent Maori participants, nominees must have resided here for a minimum of two years for any period of time and or whakapapa back to a local iwi.

There are 13 categories that recognise everyone from athletes to coaches and officials and the People’s Choice Award in which voting public opens soon after the nominations close.

Organiser Gary Harding from TRONPnui says succeeding in sport takes commitment both personally and financially.

“To be nominated for an award category can also help support our Maori athletes and volunteers to realise their goals and provide opportunities for them to be recognised by talent scouts. This can lead to further opportunities possibly through a national link and beyond.”

Organiser Annaleigh Stills from Ease Up Tairawhiti says without sponsor support — including ECT, Quality Emerald Hotel, Ease Up Tairawhiti, Gisborne East Coast Cancer Society, Turanga Ararau, Gisborne Herald, TRONPnui and Rongowhakaata Iwi Trust — the event would not be possible.

“Without financial support from these organisations, we would not have been able to put this event on. However, we are still seeking expressions of interest in sponsorship.”

The event on September 10 will be alcohol and smoke-free. Nomination forms are available from The Gisborne Herald, Eastland Community Trust, Turanga FM, Radio Ngati Porou, TRONPnui, Te Runanga o Turanganui a Kiwa, Turanga FM, Sport Gisborne Tairawhiti, Rebel Sport and Stirling Sports.

You can download your nomination form here, or go to their Facebook page.

Nomination forms can be dropped off to Eastland Community Trust office or emailed to Annaleigh Stills at annaleighstills@gmail.com.