Swimmer Erika Fairweather (Ngāi Tahu) was named Māori Sportsperson of the Year at the 2023 Māori Sports Awards in Mount Maunganui on Saturday.
The 19-year-old from Dunedin was also recognised as Junior Māori Sportswoman.
In July, Fairweather’s stunning bronze medal-winning performance at the world championships in Fukuoka saw her become only the fifth woman in history to go under four minutes for the 400m freestyle and just the sixth New Zealander to medal at a world championships.
Fairweather has qualified for three events at February’s world championships in Doha, the women’s 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle in what has been a phenomenal season.
Five-time Olympic gold medalist Dame Lisa Carrington (Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Ngāti Porou) was named Senior Māori Sportswoman for her canoeing prowess, while rugby league star James Fisher-Harris (Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa, Tainui) took home the award for Senior Māori Sportsman.
Whakaata Māori will screen delayed coverage of the awards ceremony at 6.30pm this evening.
2023 Māori Sports Awards scholarship recipients and winners are:
MĀORI EDUCATION TRUST SCHOLARSHIP:
Jayda Maniapoto (Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Maniapoto), Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa | Massey University, Manawatū – rugby, rugby sevens, rugby league, touch
SKILLS ACTIVE MĀORI SPORTS SCHOLARSHIP:
Reece Cobb (Waikato, Tainui), Tauranga – gymnastics
TE TOI HUAREWA | MĀORI PARA ATHLETE OF THE YEAR:
Cameron Leslie (Ngāpuhi), Whangārei – para-swimming
MĀUI TIKITIKI-Ā-TARANGA | MĀORI SPORTS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR:
Titia Graham (Ngāi Tūhoe), Hamilton – rugby league
TE ARATIATIA | MĀORI SPORTS UMPIRE/REFEREE OF THE YEAR:
Ben O’Keeffe (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Whātua), Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland – rugby
TE MARU Ō TŪMATAUENGA | MĀORI SPORTS COACH OF THE YEAR:
Clayton McMillan (Ngāti Rangi), Kirikiriroa | Hamilton – rugby
NGĀ IKA Ā WHIRO | MĀORI SPORTS TEAM OF THE YEAR:
Aotearoa Māori Women’s Fours team – lawn bowls
TE PIKINGA O TĀWHAKI | MĀORI WORLD CHAMPION TEAM:
Aotearoa Wāhine Junior 16 team (V6), Tūranganui-a-Kiwa | Gisborne – waka ama
TE PIKINGA O TĀWHAKI | INDIVIDUAL MĀORI WORLD CHAMPIONS:
Marea Mea Motu (Te Rarawa), Whangārei – boxing
Te Arani Moana (Lani) Daniels (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine), Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland – boxing
Sam Gaze (Te Atiawa), Kemureti | Cambridge – mountain bike cross country
Laquiesha Clifford (Ngāpuhi), Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland – 8 ball pool
Tuhoto Ariki Pene (Te Arawa), Rotorua – mountain biking
Hinekahukura Brooking (Ngāti Porou, Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Tūwharetoa), Tūranganui-a-Kiwa | Gisborne – waka ama
TE TAMĀHINE-Ā-PAPATŪĀNUKU | JUNIOR MĀORI SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR:
Erika Fairweather (Ngāi Tahu), Ōtepoti | Dunedin – swimming
TE TAMA-Ā-RANGINUI | JUNIOR MĀORI SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR:
David (Davey) Motu (Te Rarawa), Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland – lawn bowls
HINEAHUONE | SENIOR MĀORI SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR:
Dame Lisa Carrington DNZM (Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Ngāti Porou), North Harbour – canoe racing
TE TAMA-Ā-TANENUIĀRANGI | SENIOR MĀORI SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR:
James Fisher-Harris (Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa, Tainui), Ahitereiria | Australia – rugby league
RONGOMARAEROA | ALBIE PRYOR MEMORIAL MĀORI SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR:
Erika Fairweather (Ngāi Tahu), Ōtepoti | Dunedin – swimming