June 30, 2019
Hard to be humble as stars out for Matariki
It was a night of celebration at Eden Park on Saturday when the Māori Television's Matariki Awards were handed out to the high achievers of the Māori world.
Whale Watch Kaikoura, which won the supreme award for not only its contributions to New Zealand's tourism industry but for making the region one of the country's leading eco-tourism destinations despite the havoc caused by the Christchurch and Kaikoura earthquakes.
Other award winners included film producer Ainsley Gardiner, netball coach Noeline Taurua, software designer Kendall Flutey, educationalist Graham Hingangaroa Smith, and the Smear Your Mea campaign.
Kuini Moehau Reedy won the Te Toi o Ngā Rangi – Lifetime Achievement Award for her outstanding contributions to music, kapa haka and te reo, and Dennis Marsh was given a special Te Mata o te Ariki Award for his outstanding contribution to music.
Presenter Stacey Morrison says with tough competition in each category, the winners can point to long term achievements as well as having a noteworthy year.
"I know that we talk about being humble, 'kaore te kūmara e kōrero mō tōna ake reka,' but we actually do need to give ourselves the opportunity as well to celebrate, to be inspired, to definitely when you are there on the night network, and to look at how we can collaborate and work together for the benefit of all of our people," she says.
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