Women on the water win major Maori Sports Awards

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Two Tairawhiti women and another who has whakapapa here have taken out three of the top awards at the 2018 Maori Sports Awards, which were held on Saturday night in Auckland.

Horouta Hoe Waka coach Kiwi Campbell of Ngati Porou, Tuhoe and Te Whanau a Apanui won the Maru o Tumatauenga award for coach of the year — the second time she has received the award — beating out Black Ferns 7s coach Alan Bunting, Silver Ferns coach Noeline Taurua and Squash coach Glen Wilson.

Her club accumulated the most points of any club to be crowned champions.

Also adding to the Horouta Hoe Waka accolades was paddler Gaibreill Wainohu of Te Aitanga a Mahaki and Ngati Kahungunu, who won the Tamawahine a Papatuanuku award for junior sportswoman, after winning seven gold medals in Tahiti.

Olympic canoe racer Lisa Carrington, from Whakatana and of Te Aitanga a Mahaki and Ngati Porou, won the Rongomaraeroa Supreme Award for 2018, as well as Senior Sportswomen of the Year.

This is Carrington’s fifth year winning the Supreme Award — an unprecedented record for any category at the event.

Carrington won four medals at the World Canoe Championships in Portugal this year and is the only paddler, male or female, to win eight consecutive world championships in the K1 division of canoeing, which she achieved at the meet in Portugal.

More on Tairawhiti success at the awards in tomorrow’s Herald.