Portia Woodman goes back to back at Te Tai Tokerau Māori sports awards

Portia Woodman has won the Supreme Māori sportsperson of the year award for the second year running. Photo / Photosport

Another year of success on the field has seen Portia Woodman hold on to her Supreme Māori sportsperson of the year award crown at the Te Tai Tokerau Māori Sports Awards.

The rugby sevens speedster was also named open female sportsperson of the year at the awards. The awards were held at Waitangi and hosted by Te Runanga o Ngai Takoto.

Among the winners were triple gold waka ama world medallists, a New Zealand youth Olympian, New Zealand representatives in rugby, AFL, netball, league, and local community champions.

Woodman was unable to attend the evening but her uncle Richard Woodman and other whanaunga accepted her awards on her behalf. It was the second year in a row Woodman won both awards.

The Woodman family accepted Portia Woodman's awards at the Te Tai Tokerau Māori Sports Awards. Photo / Supplied

Her exploits in the past year include winning gold with the Black Ferns Sevens at the Commonwealth Games and the Women's Rugby Sevens World Cup.

Woodman top-scored with 43 tries on the world sevens circuit and was named the ninth most influential player in the world in a list of 50.

The open male sportsperson of the year was Warriors and Kiwis player Adam Blair.

Silver Ferns coach Noelene Taurua won the coach award and Cameron Leslie won the disabled sportsperson of the year award for his efforts in para swimming and wheelchair rugby.

There were joint winners of the community service award - Veronica (Ronnie) Tamati and KaiMatariki Trust.

Junior male sportsperson of the year Arapo Kellner. Photo / Supplied

The junior female sportsperson of the year was awarded to netballer and AFL player Killarney Morey while the junior male sportsperson of the year was youth Olympian Arapo Kellner.

Yves Brown was awarded official of the year for her efforts in Ki-o-rahi, while Kaikohe Rugby and Football Club's Nichole Robinson won the sports administrator award.

Pawarenga United - made up of Taiao, Ohaki and Morehu marae - was announced as marae of the year.

Team Tai Tokerau won the outstanding team award for their achievements in waka ama and boxing exponent Rusty Porter received the service to sport award.

The evening was filled with an abundance of whakawhanaungatanga, hononga and celebrations of marae, athletes, community service, contribution to sport through coaching and administration and more.

It ended with the mauri of the awards being handed over to Te Runanga o Ngāpuhi which will host the 2019 awards.