Northland Black Fern world Cup winner Krystal Murray - here in for a try during the final against England - is the 2023 Tai Tokerau Māori Sports Award Supreme Winner
Northland Black Fern world Cup winner Krystal Murray - here in for a try during the final against England - is the 2023 Tai Tokerau Māori Sports Award Supreme Winner
After a stellar year World Champion Black Fern Krystal Murray has been named the Supreme Winner for the Census 2023 Ngā Tohu Tākaro Māori o Te Tai Tokerau at the Tai Tokerau Māori Sports Awards.
And in a first for the awards, Northland rugby legend Sid Going was named theinaugural winner of the Te Tangi a Tūkaiāia – Lifetime Achievement Award.
Held at Waitangi National Trust on Saturday night, Murray came out as the winner from an outstanding line-up of award nominees.
Hosted by Te Iwi o Ngātiwai, Murray won after a record 57 nominations were received across 16 award categories - the biggest number of entrants in the history of the Māori Sports Awards.
“Krystal is a homegrown Te Rarawa rugby player, to see her excel on the world stage and win the Women’s Rugby World Cup is outstanding” Aperahama Kerepeti-Edwards, Heamana of Te Poari o Ngātiwai, said.
Around 200 people packed the glass marquee at the Waitangi National Trust to honour and celebrate Tai Tokerau Māori sporting success on Saturday.
“You can really feel the wairua of humble pride in the where,” Kerepeti-Edwards said.
“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”.
League player Joseph Manu is the 2023 Tai Tokerau Māori Sports Award Te Tohu Tākaro Tane(Open Male Sportsperson of the Year) award winner
Te Tohu Tākaro Toa Wahine (Open Female Sportsperson of the Year) sponsored by Zespri
• Krystal Murray (Rugby)
Te Iwi o Ngātiwai introduced a new award for 2023, the Te Tangi a Tūkaiāia – Lifetime 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:
Going of Ngātiwai, Patuharakeke, Ngāti Whātua descent is a sporting great for the North.
Northland rugby legend Sid Going is the inaugural winner of the Te Tangi a Tūkaiāia – Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2023 Tai Tokerau Māori Sports Awards
“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,” Kerepeti-Edwards said.
