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
Te Tai Tokerau Māori sports awards: Cameron Leslie takes out top award
![Adam Pearse](https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/nzme/04cedcd7-38a7-4483-895b-dd2866250c10.png)
Adam Pearse
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
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
Winner: Junie Shelford
Coach award (awarded for outstanding performance and/or contribution by any individual coach):
Finalists:
Melvin Rameka – Mid North United Sports
Delwyn Rameka – Mid North United Sports
Joe Rau - Te Tai Tokerau Touch
Winner: Joe Rau
![Joe Rau has been a dedicated figure in Northland for touch, rugby and league. Photo / File](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/XGJOXOHVC7SMQYP5TJNXHXSANI.jpg?auth=906dbe28774688717e7d250097ea8c702c48488b1f499e209f386c3c177d72c4&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)
Service to Sport award awarded to a person who has dedicated their life to sport in their community):
Winner: Mata Cameron
Outstanding Team award (awarded to any team representing marae, hapu or iwi within Te Tai Tokerau or represented Te Tai Tokerau which has excelled):
Winner: Te Tai Tokerau under-21 women's touch team
Junior Female Sportsperson Award (awarded to any junior female sportsperson who has excelled in one or more sports):
Finalists:
Savannah Bodman – NZ Māori Rugby, NZ Secondary Schools Judo
Dannielle Dephoff - Netball New Zealand
Tarquala Whittaker-Stone – New Zealand Youth Volleyball
Winner: Savannah Bodman
![Northland rugby prospect and judo talent Savannah Bodman picked up the junior female sportsperson award. Photo / Rawhitiroa Photography](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/2UWAUHCSODTOBMZPHKTZBCUR3M.jpg?auth=8540d2ebd0ea35cdcb94d9d098c68c25e9e4c97cd031597848a490b57bb0e784&width=16&height=24&quality=70&smart=true)
Junior Male Sportsperson award (awarded to any junior male sportsperson who has excelled in one or more sports):
Finalists:
Brody Tamarua – NZ Warriors under-20
Tamaiti Williams – NZ under-20 rugby
Amoho Karetai-Mahanga – NZ men's Volleyball
Winner: Tamaiti Williams
![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](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/5AEBIRQWJII5NABJZUDXSDGCZY.jpg?auth=f9760368de2b2a462119f66846a6c6f28303091eb3f7be0bcd61851cd3cb9a60&width=16&height=24&quality=70&smart=true)
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](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/FMISQCOENAQ7WR3YQZSASBISRQ.jpg?auth=15de6e86c7a9f2d96a0c4feea46ce4913c39b928921f06d58b4c0ba6bebb58fe&width=16&height=29&quality=70&smart=true)
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](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/FF7YYNEK5BIGFHQQ2BFP4JOJME.jpg?auth=4401a7753f125456b0bff50c62a4d8374bed998e1229b2ef492fd297c383c1d9&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)
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](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/OQ4AGHRRA5PMMBN6FXU2TMCGIM.jpg?auth=2b43753ff9195dec450b7b0e9b1389f4d9f60c3f04c36fa77481b19ee1790f73&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)
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):
Finalists:
Kohewhata Marae
Whangārei Terenga Paraoa Marae
Winner: Whangārei Terenga Paraoa Marae
Ngapuhi award
Winner: Cheryl Smith
![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](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/XV6YXCF44FXEYOOS5THHIBXB7E.jpg?auth=311be1e5ec53cb4e4eaa0f5da4bf6e5c1d6151641a306300eede689d44936f3f&width=16&height=24&quality=70&smart=true)