Awards: Investment firm Forsyth Barr gets behind Hawke's Bay sports awards

Sport Hawke's Bay chief executive Mark Aspden (left) and Forsyth Barr investment adviser Matt Carney at yesterday's announcement. Photo / Supplied

Sport Hawke's Bay has secured leading investment firm Forsyth Barr as the naming rights sponsor for the region's annual sport awards function.

Sport Hawke's Bay chief executive Mark Aspden said it was fantastic to welcome the support of Forsyth Barr as naming rights sponsor of the premier awards event.

"This is the 51st annual sports awards and Forsyth Barr's support is sure to provide momentum to make this one of the biggest awards yet.

"It is great to have a business partner with such a strong affinity for the Hawke's Bay region. To see a nationwide organisation such as Forsyth Barr keen to get in behind what we stand for and give back to the community is fantastic.

"The Hawke's Bay Sports Awards are an opportunity for the sport sector to come together and celebrate all that is great about sport," Aspden said.

Forsyth Barr is a New Zealand-owned investment firm with offices nationwide and a history of over 80 years of providing investment services.

"As a proudly New Zealand-owned firm with a large presence in the Hawke's Bay, Forsyth Barr and, particularly the staff in our Napier and Hastings offices, are excited to be working alongside the team at Sport Hawke's Bay," Forsyth Barr investment adviser Matt Carney said.

"The work they do for the local community to get more people active and living a healthier lifestyle is great and we look forward to celebrating alongside the sport sector at the upcoming sports awards," he added.

This year the Hawke's Bay Sports Awards will celebrate 51 years of existence. Golfer Stuart "The Emperor" Jones was the inaugural recipient in 1966 followed by All Black and Magpies legend Kel Tremain in 1967.

The awards function wasn't staged from 1988-89 and marathon runner Jill Costley received the supreme award in 1987 and 1990. Kayaker Aimee Fisher won the supreme award for the second time last year to back up her 2016 feat.

Nominations for the awards close on Sunday and winners will be announced at the May 25 gala dinner in Taradale's Pettigrew-Green Arena. For nomination or ticket information please visit www.hbsportsawards.co.nz and for more information about Forsyth Barr visit www.forsythbarr.co.nz