People need to get in quick if they want to nominate an individual or team for the annual Mataatua Sports Awards.

Entries for the awards, which celebrate the best Māori athletes in the Eastern Bay, close on September 30.

Anne-Marei Kurei is pleased with the response.

“It’s been going pretty well so far; we’ve had some really good nominees come through, especially for the junior category.

“It’s amazing to see the calibre of nominations.

“We’ve got national and international representatives.

“One of our nominees is a captain of a national football team. They are all well-rounded athletes committed in their chosen field but also have great values and give back to their community.”

Award categories include sportswoman, sportsman, team, junior sportsman and woman, coach and official, volunteer and athlete with a disability.

Kurei said if any business or organisation wanted to sponsor an award, they would appreciate it.

“We’d love something like that … we’d be incredibly open to letting them support our kaupapa.”

She said the Turf Bar in Kopeopeo had jumped on board as a sponsor, but it was the only sponsor outside their own organisation so far.

The awards have been running for close to 30 years, with many quality nominations received in that time including William Warbrick, Lisa Carrington, Ruahei Demant and others.

Rūātoki’s girls’ basketball won team of the year last year.

Kurei said it was great seeing a wide range of athletes, teams and volunteers involved.

“We want the people to know who our athletes are, how they represent their chosen field and what they do in the community.

“It’s the whole holistic picture of who our athletes are. It’s a bit different, but that’s how we like to do it. It’s quite a simple but well done awards night.”

Last year, the awards were held during the Matariki celebrations, but Kurei said they’ve shifted them this year to allow people to complete their sporting campaign.

“We put it back to a time where it is warmer and not clashing with sports.”

She urges people to submit nominations as soon as possible.

“I know it’s something people don’t like doing as they like being incredibly humble.

“We need to nominate everyone doing well, so it gives younger ones inspiring role models to look up to.

“Take Ruahei [Demant] for example and what she has done coming from Ōmaio. If someone has done well, they deserve to be acknowledged.”

Mataatua Sports Awards will take place at the Awakeri Events Centre on November 14.