Maori Sports Awards: Wynyard makes final cut

NOMINATION: Northlander Jason Wynyard is one of three up for the top male award at the national Maori Sports Awards tomorrow. PHOTO/NZME.

Tomorrow will see seven Northlanders up for awards at the Maori Sports Awards, led by recent world champion woodchopper Jason Wynyard and footballer Winston Reid.

Wynyard, who has connections to Ngati Maniapoto, Ngapuhi and Tainui, will come up against Reid - of Tainui and Te Rarawa decent - in the Senior Maori Sportsman of the Year category, along with All Black Aaron Smith.

Joining Wynyard and Reid at the awards are Dargaville's Emma Foy, Kerikeri's Alannah Rihari, Whangarei's Cameron Leslie, Kaikohe's Portia Woodman, and Taniwha player Dan Pryor.

Wynyard, who is now based in Auckland, has earned his way into the sportsman category through his efforts in the sports of woodchopping and power-sawing - with the latter seeing him recognised as a world champion team member.

Meanwhile, Reid is up for nomination after his footballing performances with West Ham United in the English Premier League and being named captain of the All Whites in the past 12 months.

The Disabled Maori Sportsperson of the Year sees Foy, who competes in para-cycling, up against Leslie, competing in swimming and wheelchair rugby.

In the Maori Sports Team of the Year category, Pryor is nominated as part of the Maori All Blacks and their efforts against Japan last month.

Being recognised as individual world champions are Kerikeri's Rihari - of Ngapuhi decent - in crossfit along with Wynyard.

In the team world champions ranks, Foy is being recognised, along with Wynard and Woodman, after being part of the New Zealand women's sevens team who won the international series.

All recipients and finalists are in contention for the supreme award - Maori Sportsperson of the Year, Rongomaraeroa - in honour of Albie Pryor.

The Maori Sports Awards were originally started by Albie, who is the grandfather of Northlander Dan.

In 1991, the late Albie, of Ngati Awa, established the black-tie extravaganza to promote and encourage Maori in the pursuit of sporting excellence.

The 24th awards ceremony will be hosted by Te Tohu Taakaro o Aotearoa Charitable Trust at Auckland's Vodafone Events Centre tomorrow from 5pm.

-For more information about the Maori Sports Awards go to the website, www.maorisportsawards.co.nz

Awards List

-The 2014 Mori Sports Awards recipients and finalists are:

TE WHARE MTPUNA O TE AO MORI - Mori Sports Hall of Fame:

Stacey William Jones ONZM (Ngti Maniapoto, Ngpuhi) of Auckland - rugby league

Philip Mikaera Tataurangi (Ngti Kahungunu) of Auckland - golf

INDIVIDUAL MORI WORLD CHAMPIONS:

Adam Tuwhitu Lowe (Ngti Twharetoa, Ngpuhi) of Invercargill - wood chopping, power sawing

Alannah Rihari (Ngpuhi) of Kerikeri - crossfit

Jason Wynyard (Ngti Maniapoto, Ngpuhi, Tainui) of Waitkere, Auckland - wood chopping, power sawing

Lisa Carrington (Te Aitanga-a-Mhaki, Ngti Porou) of hope, Bay of Plenty - canoeing

Sonia Manaena (Ngti Porou, Ngi Tahu) of Invercargill - powerlifting

Teneka Hyndman (Ngti Twharetoa) - pro figure

MORI IN WORLD CHAMPION TEAMS:

NZ Rowing: Caleb Shepherd (Ngti Porou); Fiona Bourke (Ngti Kahungunu); Fin Howard (Ngi Tai)

NZ Under-23 Rafting: Dale Thomas (Te Arawa, Ngti Pikiao); Taylor Taute-Hohepa (Te Arawa); Toni White-Waerea (Te Arawa, Ngti Pikiao); Kayla Pene (Te Arawa, Ngti Rangiwewehi)

NZ Para-Cycling: Emma Foy (Ngpuhi)

NZ Women's Sevens: Gayle Broughton (Ngti Ruahine, Ngti Ruanui); Sarah Goss (Ngti Kahungunu); Carla Hohepa (Tainui, Ngti Kahungunu, Ngti Twharetoa); Huriana Manuel (Ngpuhi); Kayla McAlister (Te ti Awa); Tyla Nathan-Wong (Ngpuhi); Alexis Tapsell (Ngti Pikiao); Portia Woodman (Ngpuhi); Katrina Whata-Simpkins (Te Arawa); Alley Chelsea (Ngti Maru); Jordan Webber (Ngti Ranginu); Shiray Tane (Ngti Maniapoto)

NZ Power Sawing: Jason Wynyard (Ngti Maniapoto, Ngpuhi, Tainui); Adam Tuwhitu Lowe (Ngti Twharetoa, Ngpuhi)

NG KAIWHIWHI M NG KARAHIPI - Mori Sports Awards Scholarships:

Manukau Institute of Technology: Clayton Strickland (Ngi Tai, Whakathea) of Mngere College; Maihi Barbarich (Ngpuhi) of Te Kura Mori o Ng Tapuwae

Skills Active Aotearoa: Koroheke Moana-Taniwha (Waikato) - waka ama, ki-o-rahi, rugby league

MUI TIKITIKI--TARANGA - Mori Sports Administrator of the Year:

Trina Tamati (Ngti Kahungunu) of Auckland - rugby league nines

Heather Skipworth QSM (Ngti Kahungunu, Ngi Tahu) of Napier - Iron Mori

Willie Taurima (Ngti Kahungunu) of Wellington - basketball

TE TOIHUAREWA - Disabled Mori Sports Person of the Year:

Cameron Leslie (Ngpuhi) of Whangrei - wheelchair rugby

Holly Robinson (Ngi Tahu) of Dunedin - shotput and javelin

Emma Foy (Ngpuhi) of Cambridge, Waikato - para-cycling

TE ARATIATIA - Mori Sports Umpire/Referee of the Year:

Glen Warrick Jackson (Ngi Tahu) of Tauranga - rugby

Amber Church (Te Aitanga--Mhaki) of Gisborne - hockey

Henry Perenara (Ngti Rangitihi) of Cronulla, Sydney - rugby league

NG IKA WHIRO - Mori Sports Team of the Year:

Mori All Blacks

NZ Mori Women's Kabaddi Team

NZ Mori Women's Hockey Team

TE MARU TMATAUENGA - Mori Sports Coach of the Year:

Stacey William Jones ONZM (Ngti Maniapoto, Ngpuhi) of Auckland - rugby league

Colin Cooper (Ngti Pkenga) - rugby

David Kosoof (Ngti Porou) of Red Beach, Auckland - hockey

TE TAMAHINE--PAPATNUKU - Junior Mori Sportswoman of the Year:

Maia Wilson (Te Wai-o-Hua, Te Rarawa, Ngpuhi) of Blockhouse Bay, Auckland - basketball, netball, field athletics

Martine Puketapu (Ngti Porou) of Auckland - football

Tyla Nathan-Wong (Ngpuhi) of Auckland - rugby sevens

TE TAMA--RANGINUI - Junior Mori Sportsman of the Year:

Tai Hikuroa Wynyard (Ngti Maniapoto, Ngpuhi, Tainui) of Waitkere, Auckland - basketball

Connah Pamatatau (Ngti Paoa) of Wellington - touch

Damian McKenzie (Ngti Twharetoa) of Invercargill - rugby

HINEAHUONE - Senior Mori Sportswoman of the Year:

Lisa Carrington (Te Aitanga-a-Mhaki, Ngti Porou) of hope, Bay of Plenty - canoeing

Fiona Bourke (Ngti Kahungunu) of Cambridge - rowing

Krystal Forgesson (Ngi Tahu) of Auckland - hockey

TE TAMA--TANENUIRANGI - Senior Mori Sportsman of the Year:

Jason Wynyard (Ngti Maniapoto, Ngpuhi, Tainui) of Waitkere, Auckland - wood chopping, power sawing

Winston Reid (Tainui, Te Rarawa) of West Ham, England - football

Aaron Smith (Ngti Kahungunu) of Manawat - rugby