Rugby league star Benji Marshall (Ngāi Tuhoe) is the supreme winner of the 2009 Māori Sports Awards. Having captained the Kiwis to win the world cup, Benji Marshall beat a world-class field of finalists to take the top prize – the Albie Pryor Memorial Māori Sportsperson of the Year Supreme Award. He also picked up the Senior Māori Sportsman of the Year Award and dedicated his win to his late father. Te Tohu Taakaro o Aotearoa Charitable Trust hosted the prestigious black tie ceremony at the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre in Manukau on Saturday 5 December 2009.

More than 500 people attended the ceremony to recognise the achievements of Māoridom’s sporting elite. “I would like to congratulate Benji and all the award recipients and finalists for their hard work and dedication to their chosen sporting codes,” says Te Puni Kōkiri Chief Executive Leith Comer.

“Te Puni Kōkiri is proud to support and be associated with the National Māori Sports Awards as it showcases the high-calibre Māori sporting success and achievement to the world,” he says.

There was a stellar line-up of entertainment including Australian Idol winner 2009 Stan Walker performing for the first time on New Zealand soil since winning the Australian Idol title. Other performances were by singer-songwriter Maisey Rika, Pātea Māori Club’s Jo Hopkins, 2009 Homai Te Pakipaki winner Roland Williams, world champion hip hop dance crew ReQuest and reggae band Box Juice.