The nominees for the 25th Māori Sports Awards were announced today.
The awards night will be held at Tūrangawaewae Marae this year and features an amazing line up of Māori sports stars in the running to be honoured for their sporting successes in the past 12 months.
CEO of Te Tohu Tākaro o Aotearoa Dick Garratt says, “25 years of acknowledging Māori sporting success, not only nationally but international stages of the world.”
With her rapid rise to National Sevens honours, Stacey Waaka has earned a nod for Junior Māori Sportswoman. She's joined by netball sensation Maia Wilson.
Nominees for Junior Māori Sportsman are the likely favourites, the loane brothers.
However with Māori All Black first five Otere Black and reigning supreme champion Tai Wynyard in the mix it might be stiff competition.
Lisa Carrington has once again been nominated. She's up against Portia Woodman who was just crowned Women's Sevens Player of the Year at the World Rugby Awards last week.
The biggest battle is for Senior Māori Sportsman.
The nominations are All Blacks, Aaron Smith and Nehe Milner Skudder up against Black Caps paceman, Trent Boult, Jason Wynyard and Winston Reid.
According to organisers, it's about honouring Māori success on whatever sporting platform.
“We got a racing car drivers that are performing, around the world, speedway rider from southland, a jockey winning the big Abu Dhabi race a day ago,” said Garratt.
The event night will be held on Saturday 28 November.