Young New Zealand surfer Elliot Paerata – Reid has been nominated for Junior Maori Sportsman of the year at the 2012 Maori Sports Awards.  Paerata – Reid, who flew to Hawaii this week is one of three finalists in the caltegory which includes Jason Emery (Rugby) and Apirana Pewhairangi (Rugby League).

The Awards take place on the 24^th of November.

New Plymouth surfer Thandi Tipene was awarded the sportswoman of the year award at the Taranaki Maori Sports Awards.

The reigning New Zealand Open women's champion, Tipene was runner-up on the New Zealand pro circuit and finished fourth in the New Zealand Women’s Open.

An interior/spatial designer, who writes a column in the Taranaki Daily News, Tipene is in training and focused on defending her national title this summer.

"At the moment I'm on a break from competition apart from local events that I enter," the 26-year-old said.

Her next pro circuit event is in January. "So it's just a matter of getting in the water and training for that competition.

"This year I hope to win a title again and hopefully go one better than last year and win the New Zealand pro circuit."

International competition is also a possibility. "It's more a matter of getting my sponsor behind me and looking at doing some international events next year."

Tipene's husband, Bachelor, also a talented surfer, was a finalist in the sportsman of the year category.