All Blacks and Hurricanes player Dane Coles has taken out the Te Tama-a-Tānenuiārangi 2016 Māori Sportsman of the Year award in Manukau tonight.
Other athletes named finalists in this category include Shannon McIlroy (lawn bowls), Trent Boult (cricket), Winstone Reid (football) and Jesse Bromwich (rugby league).
Regarded as one of the best hookers in the world, Coles made his All Blacks debut against Scotland in 2012.
At the end of 2015 Coles was named captain of the Wellington Super Rugby team The Hurricanes, alongside TJ Perenara who was given the role of vice-captain.
Coles has remained an integral player of his respective teams.
Earlier this year Coles was named in the All Blacks starting line-up to play against Argentina. He was also named in the squad who recently played against Ireland on their home soil.
More significantly, Coles had the honour of making the All Blacks squad who won the World Cup against Australia in 2015.