FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR MĀORI SPORTS MEDIA AWARD

12 November 2007

A Māori youth magazine and a documentary about a Kiwi surfing star are the media finalists in the 2007 NATIONAL MĀORI SPORTS AWARDS screening on Māori Television on Saturday November 24 from 9.30 PM to 11.30 PM.

The national awards organiser – Te Tohu Taakaro o Aotearoa Charitable Trust – will host the prestigious black-tie awards ceremony at the Energy Events Centre in Rotorua for the first time in its 17-year history. A range of awards will be presented including administrator, coach, umpire/referee, team, disabled sportsperson, and junior and senior sportsman and sportswoman as well as several world champions.

The Māori Sports Media Award of the Year, Whakapaaoho Reo o Hinepukohurangi, is aimed at encouraging more positive and expert reporting on Māori sports and improving the depth and quality of Māori sports reporting. The finalists are:

TAIOHI: ISSUE 25 (TAMATI ELLISON) – a magazine for youth published by Te Mana, a programme run by the Ministry of Education to help rangatahi get the most out of school. The free magazine was relaunched in a new format in March this year and its profiles of Māori sporting achievers – such as professional rugby player Tamati Ellison – provide encouragement, motivation and inspiration. The editor is Sandi Hinerangi Barr (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Porou).

AIRINI MASON – an hour-long documentary produced by Te Kauhoe Wano (Ngāti Awa) from Toa TV, based in Piha near Auckland, for Māori Television. The film focuses on Kiwi surf star Mason (Ngāti Awa, Rongomaiwahine) and the influence whānau has had on her international success. The documentary will re-screen on Māori Television on Wednesday November 14 at 8.30 PM.

Find out who will win the major awards when the 2007 NATIONAL MĀORI SPORTS AWARDS screens on Māori Television on Saturday November 24 from 9.30 PM to 11.30 PM.

Ends

Vanessa Horan
Kaiwhakaputa (Publicist)
Māori Television
DDI: +64 9 539 7159
MOB: +64 21 928 007
EML: vanessa.horan@maoritelevision.com