Broadcaster recognised at Ngā Tohu Matariki o te Tau Awards

A broadcaster, an activist, and a nurse were among the many stars to be acknowledged at Ngā Tohu Matariki o te Tau 2023 annual awards.

The awards night recognises excellence in the fields of education, arts and entertainment, health and science, sports, business and innovation, community, te reo and tikanga Māori, lifetime achievement and young achievers.

Tame Iti, Tā Haare Williams KNZM and Joelle King MNZM were among the winners recognised during the prestigious awards on Wednesday night.

Rotorua school Te Wharekura o Ngāti Rongomai was awarded Ngā Mata o te Ariki Tāwhirimātea the Supreme Award for leading the school in resetting its calendar to the maramataka (Māori lunar calendar).

READ MORE:
* Ka kitea a Tame Iti rātou ko Maisey Rika, ko Hōhepa ‘The Hori’ Thompson i M9
* He pūkenga e hiahiatia ana i te whakaputanga reo Māori o te kiriata Encanto
* Leaders pay tribute to Sir Wira Gardiner: ‘His legacy has helped shape Aotearoa’

The kura kaupapa Māori school was also awarded the Tupuānuku – Education Award earlier the same night.

Tā Haare Williams KNZM (Te Aitanga a Māhaki, Ngāi Tūhoe, Rongowhakaata, Te Whakatōhea) and Lyvia Marsden QSM (Ngāti Whātua) were both awarded Te Huihuinga o Matariki Lifetime Achievement Awards for their achievements in broadcasting and health respectively.

Williams, a “pioneer broadcaster” was acknowledged for inspiring future generations of Māori broadcasters, and Marsden was recognised for her work as a Māori health champion, working tireless on the frontline during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Leaders and luminaries, including international guests, gathered at Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre for the awards night hosted by Peata Melbourne and Julian Wilcox. They were joined by entertainers and broadcasters Whirimako Black, Kings, Marei, Hawaiki Tū & the Black Quartet, Jackson Owens, Aja Ropata, Whenua Patuwai and Pere Wihongi.

Past winners of the prestigious Ngā Tohu Matariki o te Tau have included Tā Tīmoti Kāretu, Witi Ihimaera, Dame Lisa Carrington, Rob Ruha, Six60, Stacey Morrison, Taika Waititi, Te Māhurehure Marae and Emeritus Professor Whatarangi Winiata.

2023 Winners of Ngā Tohu Matariki o te Tau:

• Tā Haare Williams KNZM (Te Aitanga a Māhaki, Ngāi Tūhoe, Rongowhakaata, Te Whakatōhea) – Te Huihuinga o Matariki Lifetime Achievement Award (Sponsored by Te Māngai Pāho)
• Tame Iti (Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Wairere, Ngāti Hauā, Te Arawa) – Tupuārangi – Arts and Entertainment (Sponsored by Toi Māori Aotearoa
• Maia Mariner (Ngāi Tai, Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Hāmoa) – Hiwaiterangi – Young Achievers Award (Sponsored by University of Canterbury)
• Te Arawa Lakes Trust – Waitī – Health and Science (Sponsored by Mental Health Foundation)
• Te Wharekura o Ngāti Rongomai – Tupuānuku – Education Award (Sponsored by Te Wānanga o Raukawa)
• Joelle King MNZM (Ngāti Porou) – Ururangi – Sport (Sponsored by Accident Compensation Corporation
• Arama Kukutai (Ngāti Tipa, Waikato, Ngāti Maniapoto, Te Aupōuri, Parihaka) – Waitā – Business and Innovation (Sponsored by ANZ
• Dr Ruakere Hond (Taranaki, Te Āti Awa) – Waipunarangi – Te Reo Māori me ngā Tikanga (Sponsored by Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori
• Teresea Olsen QSM (Ngāti Porou) – Matariki – Community (Sponsored by Whānau Ora)
• Lyvia Marsden QSM (Ngāti Whātua) – Te Huihuinga o Matariki Lifetime Achievement Award (Sponsored by Te Mātāwai)
• Te Wharekura o Ngāti Rongomai Ngāti Rongomai – Ngā Mata o te Ariki Tāwhirimātea – Supreme Award (Sponsored by Te Puni Kōkiri)