Native Affairs reporter Wepiha Te Kanawa has been named a finalist for a journalism scholarship at a prestigious national sports awards.
Sport New Zealand will present two Sir John Wells Sports Journalist scholarships at their annual awards at a glitzy ceremony in Auckland on Wednesday night. The ceremony will be attended by the country’s top sports journalists.
Te Kawana (Ngāti Maniapoto/Tauranga Moana) was named a finalist after submitting three sports stories that appeared on Native Affairs this year. They included an exclusive on an NRL program dealing with depression in grassroots clubs and profiles of race car driver Faine Kahia and female boxer Daniella Smith.
“I’m honoured to be considered alongside some of New Zealand’s top sporting journalists,” says Te Kawana.
The scholarship will give young journalists the chance to meet key sports leaders and organisations to gain a wider understanding of sporting governance in New Zealand.
The 24-year-old transferred from Maori Television’s news programme Te Kaea and started on the current affairs show Native Affairs this year. He says if he wins the $1000 prize money he will use it to further promote Māori sporting endeavours.
“I’m proud to showcase Māori achievement and will continue to tell our people’s stories,” says Te Kanawa.
Former Māori Television sports reporter Raniera Harrison has also been nominated, in the Young Journalist category, for his work on Te Kaea.