Cameron Leslie's father Ross (left) hongies Māori sports awards co-host Kihi Ririnui after accepting the supreme award on behalf of his son. Photo / Rawhitiroa Photography
Cameron Leslie's father Ross (left) hongies Māori sports awards co-host Kihi Ririnui after accepting the supreme award on behalf of his son. Photo / Rawhitiroa Photography
Northland para athlete Cameron Leslie won big at Saturday's Te Tai Tokerau Māori sports awards in Waitangi when he took out the disabled Sportsperson of the Year and the Supreme Māori Sportsperson of the Year awards.
Leslie, who couldn't attend the evening at the Copthorne Hotel (his awards were acceptedby his father Ross), has had a dream 2019 season which recently involved two gold medals (including a world record) at the Para Swimming World Championships in London last month which he achieved directly after helping the Wheel Blacks, New Zealand's wheelchair rugby team, claim a bronze medal at the Asia Oceania Zonal Championships.
Northland para swimmer and wheelchair rugby star Cameron Leslie was the big winner at the Te Tai Tokerau Māori sports awards in Waitangi on Saturday night. Photo / File
The 29-year-old Whangārei man beat both the open male and female Sportsperson of the Year award winners for the supreme award. Leslie was nominated for the disabled Sportsperson of the Year award alongside para cyclist Emma Foy, who had also just won a silver medal alongside her sighted pilot Hannah van Kampen in the time trial of the UCI Para Cycling Road World Championships in the Netherlands.
The award finalists and winners are as follows (photos from the evening where taken by Rawhitiroa Photography on behalf of Te Runanga-ā-Iwi o Ngāpuhi):
Sports Administrator award (awarded for significant contribution by a volunteer administrator, club or organisation administrator to the sporting community):
Finalists: Mel and Del Rameka - Mid North United Sports Junie Shelford - New Zealand Rugby League Mata Cameron – Northland Basketball Association Jo Hona – Kerikeri Netball Centre
Tamaiti Williams took out the junior male sportsperson of the year award after his involvement with the NZ under-20 world cup rugby team. Photo / Rawhitiroa Photography
Inaugural Masters Sportsperson of the Year award (awarded to the highest achievement by a sportsperson in masters/veteran age group competition or to any masters team representing marae, hapu or iwi within Te Tai Tokerau or represented Te Tai Tokerau who has excelled.
Finalists: Shelley Kitchen – Squash NZ national age group champion Rachel Kena-Stevens – Aotearoa Waka Ama representative Tony Urlich – NZ Powerlifting Representative
Winner: Rachel Kena-Stevens
Disabled Sportsperson of the Year award (awarded to the Para athlete who has reached the highest level of achievement within their sport in open competition over the past 12 months):
Winner: Cameron Leslie
Open Female Sportsperson of the Year award (awarded to a female sportsperson who has excelled in one or more sports during qualifying period)
Finalists: Te Kura Ngata Aerengamate - NZ Black Ferns Quinita Hati – NZ Kick Boxing Federation NZ Rose Tahiata-King – Aotearoa Waka Ama
Winner: Quinita Hati
Quinita Hati, who won the open female sportsperson of the year award on Saturday, is one of New Zealand's top kick-boxing talents for her weight class. Photo / File
Open Male Sportsperson of the Year award (awarded to a male sportsperson who has excelled in one or more sports during qualifying period):
Finalists: Ross Wright - NZ Māori Rugby team Kadin Neho – National golf champion team member Tupuria King – Aotearoa Waka Ama representative
Winner: Tupuria King
Northland paddler Tupuria King, who won the open male sportsperson of the year, couldn't attend the evening on Saturday as he is currently based in Hawaii. Photo / File
International Award
Finalists: Jessie Smith - BMX Tyla Nathan-Wong - touch Noeline Taurua - netball coach Botille Vette-Welsh - league Corey Harawira-Naera - league
Winner: Noeline Taurua
Silver Ferns coach Noeline Taurua was among the award winners on the weekend. Photo / File
Supreme Māori Sportsperson of the Year award
Winner: Cameron Leslie
Community Service award (awarded for the significant contribution by an individual, club or organisation to the sporting community):
Finalists: Erana/Wiremu – Moerewa Mel/Del Rameka – Mid North United Sports Henry 'Rock' Wiki - Moerewa Chev Reti - Kaitaia
Winner: Mel/Del Rameka
Outstanding Marae award (awarded for significant contribution to whanau, hapu, iwi or community participation in sport, physical activity and health):
Women's rugby legend Cheryl Smith, seen on left of Lorraine Toki, won the inaugural Ngapuhi award for her work in Northland sport behind the scenes. Photo / Rawhitiroa Photography
