Matariki Awards night honour for Tā Haare

Tā Haare Williams was awarded the Te Huihuinga o Matariki, Lifetime Achievement award. Pictures supplied

Recognising the stars of Aotearoa was the focus of Wednesday night’s Ngā Tohu Matariki o te Tau 2023, the Matariki Awards.

Tā Haare Williams (Te Aitanga a Mahaki, Rongowhakaata, Ngāi Tūhoe, Te Whakatōhea) was awarded the Te Huihuinga o Matariki, Lifetime Achievement Award.

Tā Haare Williams inspired a new generation of broadcasters, audiences and young Māori to follow their dreams, champion te reo Māori and have belief in telling the stories that must be told.

“If you don’t give up, you will never fail,” he said.

Teresea Olsen (Ngāti Porou) was awarded the Matariki Community Award which honours the heroes on the ground who are working to protect and care for communities. She also won Wellingtonian of the Year.

She has over 40 years experience working with communities. She helped organise trucks of kai and supplies for whānau in Tairāwhiti after Cyclone Gabrielle. She has also helped get social welfare workers into isolated areas to help those who need it across Wellington.

“It is not right that in our country we have whānau who are hungry. It is not right that in our country we have tamariki living in motels and their friends are the neighbours in the motels. It’s not right that our wāhine have to seek refuge because our tāne are beating them. I stand here today to say that actually it’s a pleasure to be able to support whānau when those things are happening.”

Joelle King (Ngāti Porou) was awarded the Ururangi Sports Award. Ms King, a squash player, is one of New Zealand’s most decorated Commonwealth Games athletes.

Joelle is overseas so was not able to receive the award in person but sent a video message.

“I hope that in pursuit of my dreams  I am able to inspire the next generation to pursue their dreams,” she said.

The award ceremony was broadcast live on Whakaata Māori and MĀORI +. The major sponsors were Te Puni Kōkiri and Te Māngai Pāho .

More than 300 guests gathered in the new Takina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre, with viewers tuning in from across the motu to celebrate extraordinary leaders from Aotearoa in the fields of education, arts and entertainment, health and science, sports, business and innovation, community, te reo me ngā tikanga Māori, lifetime achievement and young achievers.

“After a challenging year for so many of our whānau, communities and businesses, Ngā Tohu Matariki o te Tau provides the opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate those who have made considerable contributions to Aotearoa across a range of diverse backgrounds and sectors, locally, nationally and globally,” said Whakaata Māori tāhuhu rangapū (chief executive) Shane Taurima.

“These awards are significant. It takes a dedicated rōpū of kaimahi, suppliers and committed sponsors to bring this evening to life, creating a remarkable setting in which to recognise the people honoured here tonight.”