All Black Piri Weepu has taken top honours at the Maori Sports Awards winning Senior Maori Sportsman of the year before winning the top prize, the Albie Pryor Memorial Maori Sportsperson of the Year.
It is the second year in a row an All Black has won the supreme award with Hosea Gear taking the prize in 2010.
The annual black-tie event, hosted by Te Tohu Taakaro o Aotearoa, is now in its 21st year. When Weepu was announced winner, the large crowd erupted in cheers and applause, confirming the comments Brendan Gallagher wrote in the UK’s The Telegraph:
“He not only represents New Zealand; he is the Maori heart and soul of an All Blacks team, an individual who brings great pride in the considerable Maori hinterland of New Zealand rugby.
“The way he steadied the New Zealand ship has seen him morph into a superman figure in the adoring local press and poignancy was added to the Weepu story when he walked off the pitch after kicking seven penalties to defeat the Pumas only to be told that his much loved grandfather, Billy, had just died.”
Piri wasn’t in attendance at the award to collect his trophies; he instead chose to stay by his ailing father’s side.
The Maori Sports Awards – established by the late Albie Pryor – fosters, promotes and encourages Maori sportspeople in the pursuit of excellence. Other award recipients included:
ALBIE PRYOR MAORI SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR Rongomaraeroa:
Piri Weepu (Te Whakatohea, Ngai Tahu) rugby
SENIOR MAORI SPORTSMAN – Te Tama-a-Tanenuiarangi:
Piri Weepu (Te Whakatohea, Ngai Tahu) rugby
SENIOR MAORI SPORTSWOMAN – Hineahuone:
Lisa Carrington (Te Aitanga-a-Mahaki) canoeing
JUNIOR MAORI SPORTSMAN – Te Tama-a-Ranginui:
Trent Woodcock- Takurua (Ngapuhi)
BMX
JUNIOR MAORI SPORTSWOMAN – Te Tamahine-a-Papatuanuku:
Thea Awhitu (Taranaki Tuturu) boxing
MAORI WORLD CHAMPIONS IN TEAMS AWARDS – All Blacks, Rugby World Cup:
Piri Weepu (Te Whakatohea; Ngai Tahu); Israel Dagg (Ngati Kahungunu); Richard Kahui (Ngati Maniapoto); Zac Guildford (Ngati Kahungunu); Aaron Cruden (Ngati Raukawa); Corey Jane (Ngati Kahungunu; Te Atiawa); Corey Flynn (Ngai Tahu); Hosea Gear (Ngati Porou)
MAORI WORLD CHAMPION AWARDS:
Jason Wynyard (Ngati Maniapoto; Ngapuhi) – woodchopping; Luke Thompson (Ngapuhi) – tae kwon do karate; Sam Sutton (Te Arawa; Ngati Tuwharetoa) – extreme white water kayaking; Chelsea Marriner (Ngati Ruanui) – dog agility; Jayne Parsons (Taranaki) – tandam cycling; Lisa Carrington (Te Aitanga-a-Mahaki) – canoeing; Jan Khan (Ngati Rangitihi) – lawn bowls
MAORI WORLD CHAMPIONS IN TEAMS AWARDS:
Reuben Te Rangi (Ngapuhi) – 3 x 3 basketball
MAORI SPORTS MEDIA AWARD – Whakapaaoho Reo o Hinepukohurangi:
Maori Television/Te Reo – 2011 Rugby World Cup Final
MAORI SPORTS COACH – Te Maru o Tumatauenga:
John Love (Te Atiawa) – softball
MAORI SPORTS TEAM – Nga Ika a Whiro:
Jason and Karmyn Wynyard (Ngati Maniapoto, Ngapuhi) – Jack ‘n’ Jill Saw
MAORI UMPIRE/REFEREE – Te Aratiatia:
Miah Williams (Ngati Tamatera; Ngati Hako) – touch
DISABLED MAORI SPORTSPERSON – Te Toihuarewa:
Jayne Parsons (Taranaki) – tandem cycling
MAORI SPORTS ADMINISTRATOR – Maui Tikitiki-a-Taranga:
Tony Kemp (Te Atiawa) – rugby league
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