WORLD CHAMPION ROWER WINS TOP MĀORI SPORTS AWARD

24 November 2007

World champion rower Storm Uru is the supreme winner of the 2007 NATIONAL MĀORI SPORTS AWARDS screening on Māori Television tonight (Saturday November 24 at 9.30 PM).

Te Tohu Taakaro o Aotearoa Charitable Trust hosted the prestigious black tie ceremony at the Energy Events Centre in Rotorua. Uru beat a world-class field of finalists to take the title of senior Māori sportsman for the second year in a row before accepting the supreme award – the Albie Pryor Memorial Māori Sportsperson of the Year.

Uru is currently one of the sport's top lightweight scullers. He took a bronze medal in the under-23 world championships in 2005, following this up with the gold medal in 2006 – a feat he repeated in Strathclyde in 2007.

Originally from Invercargill, the Ngāi Tahu athlete trains at Lake Karapiro and will attempt to qualify in the lightweight double scull for the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

The 2007 winners and special award recipients are:

Māori Sports Hall of Fame Inductees – Te Whare Matapuna o te Ao Māori: Wayne (Buck) Shelford (Ngāpuhi), Rugby; Waimarama Taumaunu (Ngāti Porou), Netball; Wynton Rufer (Ngāti Porou), Soccer

Special Award – Tohu Motuhake: Stacey Jones (Ngāpuhi), Rugby League

Māori World Champions Awards: Jason Wynyard (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Maniapoto), Woodchopping; Karmyn Wynyard (Tainui), Wood Sawing; Dion Lane (Tainui), Woodchopping; Storm Uru (Ngāi Tahu), Rowing; Ramona Belmont (Ngāti Kahungunu), Cue Ball; Luke Thompson (Ngāpuhi), Tae Kwon Do; Mihi Wells (Ngāpuhi), Body Boarding

Māori Sports Administrator of the Year – Maui Tikitiki-a-Taranga: Ani Haua (Ngā Ruahine, Ngāti Rauru, Maniapoto), Māori Rugby

Disabled Māori Sports Person of the Year – Te Toihuarewa: Matthew Lack (Whakatōhea), Wheelchair Racing

Māori Sports Coach of the Year – Te Maru o Tumatauenga: Yvette McCausland–Durie (Ngāti Awa), Netball

Best Community Initiative Award – He Oranga Poutama: Tū Toa Charitable Trust – Massey University/Correspondence School

Māori Sports Media Award of the Year – Te Reo o te Para Whakawai: Te Kauhoe Wano (Te Ati Awa, Ngāti Awa), Toa TV – Airini Mason documentary for Māori Television

Junior Māori Sportswomen of the Year – Te Tamahine-a-Papatuanuku: Susie Bates (Ngāi Tahu), Cricket/Basketball

Junior Māori Sportsman of the Year – Te Tama-a-Ranginui: Zac Guildford (Ngāti Kahungunu), Rugby

Senior Māori Sportswomen of the Year – Hineahuone: Ramona Belmont (Ngāti Kahungunu), Cue Sports

Senior Māori Sportsman of the Year – Te Tama-a-Tanenuiarangi: Storm Uru (Ngāi Tahu), Rowing

Albie Pryor Memorial Māori Sports Person of the Year – Rongomaraeroa: Storm Uru (Ngāi Tahu), Rowing

Ends

For images, interviews or further information, contact:

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