Kaitaia’s Krystal wins the Te Tai Tokerau top sports award. Photo / Getty Images
Kaitaia’s Krystal wins the Te Tai Tokerau top sports award. Photo / Getty Images
World Champion Black Fern Krystal Murray has been named the Supreme Winner for the Census 2023 Ngā Tohu Tākaro Māori o Te Tai Tokerau held tonight at Waitangi National Trust.
Hosted by Te Iwi o Ngātiwai, Murray wins following a record 57 nominations received across 16 award categories, thebiggest number of entrants in the history of the Māori Sports Awards.
“Krystal is a home grown Te Rarawa rugby player, to see her excel on the world stage and win the Women’s Rugby World Cup is outstanding” said Aperahama Kerepeti-Edwards Heamana of Te Poari o Ngātiwai.
Two hundred guests packed the glass marquee at the Waitangi National Trust to honour and celebrate Tai Tokerau Māori sporting success.
“You can really feel the wairua of humble pride in the whare” says Kerepeti-Edwards.
“There is a strong diversity of codes in this year’s finalists, that shows how much Te Iwi Māori is participating and contributing to all codes in our region”.
The winners for the Census 2023 Ngā Tohu Tākaro Māori o Te Tai Tokerau are:
Te Tohu Haukāinga Award (Hauora Whānau, Hapū, Iwi Award) sponsored by Far North District Council
Halfback Sid Going clears the ball with Alan Sutherland in support during the New Zealand v Southern Universities rugby match during the All Black tour of South Africa in 1970. Photo / NZ Herald Archive
Achievement Award. This special award recognises exceptional sports people and legends of Te Tai Tokerau.
Inaugural winner of the ‘Te Tangi a Tūkaiāia – Lifetime Achievement Award is:
• Sid Going (Rugby)
Sid Going of Ngātiwai, Patuharakeke, Ngāti Whātua descent is a sporting great for the North. “Our ability to recognise his contribution to rugby as a game but his enduring legacy for our people of the North is an honour. We are grateful his family is here with us to celebrate his life and influence across the generations,” shares Aperahama Kerepeti – Edwards.
