Woodman and Kellner among winners at Maori Sports Awards

Arapo Kellner is presented with the Junior Male Sportsperson award by Sport Northland's Brent Eastwood at the 2017 Te Taitokerau Maori Sports Awards. Photo / Tamati Norman

Black Ferns Sevens star Portia Woodman was named Supreme Maori Sportsperson at the Te Tai Tokerau Maori Sports Awards in Waitangi.

She also picked up the Open Female Sportsperson award while All Blacks winger Rieko Ioane, whose mother Sandra hails from Hokianga, took the Open Male Sportsperson gong.

Sixteen-year-old Arapo Kellner won the Junior Male Sportsperson award, while Waka Ama athlete Zane Heta took the Junior Female Sportsperson award home.

Kellner, an Olympic-style wrestler, was the winner of three gold medals and one silver at the Oceania Games in Tahiti.

He beat out the other three finalists from league, athletics, and touch for the award. Kellner has won a total of five gold medals while representing New Zealand over the last couple of years.

His plans are to wrestle for New Zealand in Guam, Croatia, and Argentina at the Youth Olympics next October.

Heta meanwhile had a top year in the sport of waka ama. She was selected to paddle in the NZ Junior 19 Women's team at the inaugural IVF Va'a World Distance Championships in Tahiti.

The Te Tai Tokerau Maori Sports Awards recognised the achievements and service to sport by people from throughout Te Taitokerau for the period from September 30, 2016, to October 1, 2017.

Iwi, hapu, marae, sports clubs and other organisations from across the district were invited to nominate their high-achieving athletes and community groups for consideration in various categories.

Award winners:

Sports Administrator: Rohario Te Wake (rugby)
Community Service: Te Hau Awhiowhio O Otangarei Trust
Coach: Pero Cameron (basketball)
Sports Official: Gavin Turketo (volleyball)
Disabled Sportsperson: Cameron Leslie
Outstanding Marae: Motatau Marae (Manu Koroki)
Junior Male Sportsperson: Arapo Kellner (Olympic wrestling)
Junior Female Sportsperson: Zane Heta (waka ama)
Outstanding Team: Herberts On Tour
Open Female Sportsperson: Portia Woodman
Open Male Sportsperson: Rieko Ioane
Supreme Maori Sportsperson: Portia Woodman