Sevens star seeks iwi's top title double

New Zealand's Gillies Kaka. Photo / Darren Taumata

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.

Makea, who was a joint winner of the senior sportsman award last year with Kaka, won the coach category this year in the wake of his silver medal effort as head coach of the Junior Black Sox at the Junior World Series in July.

This was his first coaching stint at a World Series after retiring as a Black Sox player in April.

Wilson has had numerous administrative roles in waka ama.

Among these was the New Zealand contingent's assistant co-ordinator role and Kahungunu Taumata Rau manager-administrator role at the recent world championship in Rio.

Should Kaka go back-to-back he will be the first to do so since his former Magpies teammate and incumbent All Black fullback Israel Dagg did it in 2011 and 2012.

The finalists were selected from more than 40 nominations.

Guest speakers for the function will be announced next week.

Tickets for the alcohol-free event can be purchased from the Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Inc office in Hastings from Monday. Tables of 10 are $600 and individual tickets are $60.

Entertainment will include a Te Hauke-based Hakafit group and the Kahungunu Divas.

The finalists for the awards are:

Junior sportsman: Aidan Te Wake-Hope (crossfit).
Junior sportswoman: Courtney Gettins (softball).
Coach: Thomas Makea Junior (softball).
Administrator: Vanessa Wilson (waka ama).
Senior sportsman: Gillies Kaka (sevens).
Senior sportswoman: Fiona Bourke (rowing).
Kaumatua: Joe MacDonald (triathlon).
Official: Marise Kerehi Stuart (netball)
Junior sports team: Kahungunu Taumata Rau - Ruamano J19 Boys (waka ama).
Senior sports team: Dodgers Premier Women (softball).

Overall winner: To be announced.