New Zealand’s most decorated Olympian, Dame Lisa Carrington DNZM MNZM, will be inducted into the Māori Sports Hall of Fame at an indigenous awards ceremony in Ngāruawāhia later this month.

The Trillian Trust Māori Sports Awards, now in its 35th year, will be hosted by Te Tohu Taakaro o Aotearoa Charitable Trust at Tūrangawaewae Marae on November 29.

Te Arikinui Kuini Ngā Wai hono i te pō will attend the event for the first time in her role as patron, succeeding her father, the late Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII.

A two-hour live-to-air special – TE TOHU TAAKARO O AOTEAROA | Māori Sports Awards 2025 – was scheduled to broadcast on Whakaata Māori, its online MĀORI+ platform and YouTube channel from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.

A repeat screening was planned for November 30, from 12 noon to 2pm.

The black-tie ceremony typically attracted more than 500 guests from the Māori community, sporting circles and corporate sector.

Winners in 10 categories were set to be announced, with all finalists and world champions in contention for the supreme award – the prestigious Albie Pryor Memorial Māori Sports Person of the Year, Rongomaraeroa.

Te Tohu Taakaro o Aotearoa Charitable Trust, executive director, Richard (Dick) Garratt MNZM (Ngāi Tuhoe), said Carrington was widely regarded as the greatest canoe sprint athlete of all time – not just among women.

Her career included nine Olympic medals – eight gold and one bronze across four consecutive Games – and 15 world championship titles.

“Dame Lisa’s induction into Te Whare Mātātapuna o te Ao Māori in recognition of her remarkable results at both the Halberg Awards and Māori Sports Awards is testament to her extraordinary talent and unwavering self-determination as well as the exceptional guidance of her coaches and the steadfast support of her humble whānau,” Garratt said.

Finalists and honourees for the 2025 Māori Sports Awards:

TE ARATIATIA | Māori Sports Umpire/Referee of the Year

- Ben O’Keeffe (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Whātua), Kaipara – rugby

- Paki Parkinson (Waikato Tainui), Tauranga – rugby league

- Tiana Ngawati-Anderson (Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Whakaue), Tauranga – rugby, rugby sevens

MĀUI TIKITIKI-Ā-TARANGA | Māori Sports Administrator of the Year

- Gordon Watson (Ngāpuhi), Auckland – football

- Harley Wall (Taranaki, Ngāti Tūwharetoa), Auckland – touch rugby

- Tui Pāpuni (Ngā Pōtiki, Ngāti Whakaue), Tauranga – volleyball

TE MARU Ō TŪMATAUENGA | Māori Sports Coach of the Year

- Thomas Makea (Ngāti Kahungunu), Wellington – softball

- Marty Bourke (Waikato Tainui), Christchurch – rugby

- Michael Mayne (Ngāti Awa, Ngāpuhi), Hamilton – football

NGĀ IKA Ā WHIRO | Māori Sports Team of the Year

- Mareikura U18 Wāhine Māori Team – rugby

TE TOI HUAREWA | Māori Para Athlete of the Year

- Cameron Leslie MNZM (Ngāpuhi), Whangārei – Para swimming

TE KUNENGA KI PŪREHUROA | Massey University Scholarship

- Te Maia Sweetman (Rangitāne ki Tāmaki Nui a Rua), Palmerston North – rugby, rugby league

TOITŪ KAUPAPA MĀORI MĀTAURANGA | Māori Education Trust Scholarship

- Bailey Ngatai-Cribb (Ngāti Kauwhata, Ngāti Kuia), Manawatū – touch rugby

SKILLS ACTIVE AOTEAROA | Māori Sports Awards Scholarship

- Epiha Ricky Muru-Kete (Waikato Tainui), Huntly – rugby league

TE PIKINGA O TĀWHAKI | Māori World Champions

- Dr Karlina Tongotea (Ngāphui, Ngāi Tahu, Tonga), Auckland – powerlifting

- Waikura Taiapa (Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui), Katikati – jiu jitsu

TE TAMĀHINE-Ā-PAPATŪĀNUKU | Junior Māori Sportswoman of the Year

- Braxton Sorenson-McGee (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Wai), Auckland – rugby

- Waikura Taiapa (Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui), Katikati – jiu jitsu

- Lexi Fyhn (Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Tonga), Auckland – Crossfit

TE TAMA-Ā-RANGINUI | Junior Māori Sportsman of the Year

- Dylan Pledger (Ngāti Tūwharetoa), Dunedin – rugby

- Maia Campbell (Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Porou), Gisborne – waka ama

- Hamiora Katu (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Waikato Tainui), Rotorua – waka ama

HINEAHUONE | Senior Māori Sportswoman of the Year

- Dr Karlina Tongotea (Ngāphui, Ngāi Tahu, Tonga), Auckland – powerlifting

- Portia Woodman-Wickliffe ONZM (Ngāpuhi), Mount Maunganui – rugby

- Ellesse Andrews MNZM (Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe), Dunedin – track cycling

TE TAMA-Ā-TANENUIĀRANGI | Senior Māori Sportsman of the Year

- Reilly Makea (Ngāti Kahungunu, Muaūpoko), Wellington – softball

- Joseph Tapine (Ngāi Tūhoe), Australia – rugby league

- Logan Tipene Rogerson (Waikato Tainui), Auckland – football

TE WHARE MĀTĀTAPUNA O TE AO MĀORI | Māori Sports Hall of Fame

- Dame Lisa Carrington DNZM MNZM (Te Aitanga a Māhaki, Rongowhakaata, Te Whakatōhea, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Tara Tokanui, Ngāti Maniapoto), North Harbour – canoe sprint

RONGOMARAEROA | Albie Pryor Memorial Māori Sports Person of the Year

- All finalists and world champions are in contention for the supreme award.

Coverage of last year’s broadcast – TE TOHU TAAKARO O AOTEAROA | Māori Sports Awards 2024 – is available on demand via MĀORI+.

More information is available at: www.maorisportsawards.co.nz