“I'm really honoured to be up amongst other people who are leading the way for Maori in their professions.
“I'm really proud to be amongst that kind of calibre . . . alongside other great names.”
Campbell said it was humble beginnings when she started her involvement with waka ama. There were only a few clubs who competed at a national competition at Rotorua.
“Looking back and comparing with where the sport is now, we used to compete in Rotorua, now there's almost 10,000 people at waka ama nationals watching us compete at Lake Karapiro, a world-class facility.
“The standard is so much higher, the sport is just getting faster and faster.
“The growth is not only in New Zealand. There are almost 20 countries taking part in the world champs now.”
Campbell has coached teams from her local club Horouta Waka Hoe to multiple national titles. She has also won gold at the world championships several times, feats recognised in her nomination for Coach of the Year at the 2018 Halberg Awards.
This year she was inducted into Waka Ama New Zealand's hall of fame.
“My club and the committee have been really supportive since I've become New Zealand coach . . . they make it happen.”
She says that with the success she remembers her roots and the social function that waka ama can have.
“I think for our Maori kids and other cultures, it's helping them transition through life and building good values for them to make good decisions as they become adults.”
Campbell says she doesn't like to talk about her accomplishments.
“It's a whole team behind me helping to make it happen . . . I'm up here to represent us all.”
“I'd also like to acknowledge the strong work ethic that my mum (Irene Takao) instilled in me and the support of my husband (Bruce). I know how hectic it gets with waka ama.”
Jessie Smith is already at the pinnacle of BMX, joining the New Zealand Olympic team two years ago at the age of 17.
Smith was born and raised in Gisborne but is now based in Hamilton and Cambridge to train.
Last year was her breakout year. She became New Zealand's first female junior elite world champion and went from last place on the first corner to placing fourth in the BMX Supercross World Cup sixth round against an elite field of women.
A horror crash on the Tokyo Olympic course, in a test event for the now-2021 Olympics, at the end of last year left her in hospital for a week with a ruptured spleen, bleeding in the lung and concussion.
Despite having had her confidence shaken, she's back on the bike and competing at the top level. This year she beat out her old coach, teammate and mentor Sarah Walker in the finals of a New Zealand qualifier for the Red Bull UCI Pump Track World Championships.
The event wasn't part of the BMX calendar and Smith competed “just for fun”.
There is only one selection spot for the New Zealand Olympic female BMX team and three people vying for a spot.
Smith said plans were under way to hold two more qualification races early next year, where New Zealand could earn a second qualification spot.
“It's a realistic goal but Sarah (Walker), Rebecca (Petch) and I will all need to perform to accumulate and secure points for our country.”
She said she only heard of the awards when she was notified that she was a finalist.
“When they called me I was really, really stoked — I have no idea how I'm nominated — it's pretty epic.”
She says she's proud to be tangata whenua and to be the first Maori female junior women's world champion.
“To represent and fly the Tino Rangatiratanga flag is something I dream about often.”
The awards will be broadcast live on Maori Television on August 15 alongside the live Facebook feed from 8.30pm.
