Kelly Shanks (Sport Manawatū CEO), Kylie Turuwhenua-Tapsell (Sport Manawatū General Manager), Oriana Paewai (Chair of the Iwi Māori Partnership Board), and Pareanna Simons (Te Pae Oranga o Ruahine o Tararua)
Sport Manawatū Honoured with National Award for Excellence in Māori Participation
NEWS & EVENTS
Sport Manawatū, in partnership with Te Pae Oranga o Ruahine o Tararua, has been recognised with the prestigious Jim Maniapoto Memorial Taonga at the 2025 New Zealand Sport and Recreation Awards, held on Monday 14 July 2025 at Tākina Events Centre in Wellington.
The award celebrates excellence in impacting Māori participation as Māori and acknowledges the mahi behind the He Oranga Poutama Activation Fund which is a pilot initiative designed to enhance wellbeing across all seven iwi in the region.
The kaupapa is grounded in genuine partnership. Te Pae Oranga leads with iwi governance and cultural expertise, while Sport Manawatū supports through infrastructure, administration, and additional funding streams. Together, they’ve enabled 29 Māori-led projects to access $120,000 in direct funding, with Sport Manawatū leveraging a further $100,000 to amplify rangatahi-focused initiatives.
From kapa haka on marae and kaupapa Māori swimming for pēpi, to waka ama that reconnect tamariki with ancestral awa, each project is steeped in mātauranga Māori, te reo, and tikanga.
Kelly Shanks, CEO of Sport Manawatū, says the award belongs to the community.
“This taonga represents the strength of authentic partnership and the collective vision we share with Te Pae Oranga. We’re honoured to walk alongside iwi as we support hauora and equity through physical activity that reflects Māori identity and values. This award recognises the power of kaupapa Māori-led solutions and what can happen when community leads the way.”
The Jim Maniapoto Memorial Taonga was independently judged by Te Miri Rangi, Wai Taumaunu ONZM MBE, and Veronica Thompson MNZM. Named in honour of Jim Maniapoto, the award celebrates those creating meaningful, enduring impact in Māori participation through the lens of te ao Māori.
For Sport Manawatū, the win affirms its commitment to equity, authentic partnership, and community-led change — and marks a significant milestone in the organisation’s journey to support thriving whānau across the region.
Read more about the awards and winners here.
