He Hītori o te Māori ki ngā Taumāhekeheke o te Ao
A HISTORY OF MĀORI COMPETING AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES

The Olympics are spread over three sections:

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E ngā mātāwaka o te motu, tenā Koutou katoa. In promoting and recording Maori participation in the Olympics, we attempt through research to collate and record correct names and their Iwi, however there will be times when data collated is not correct, including athletes that have been missed off the list, please contact info@maorisportsawards.co.nz with any error or additions that need to be rectified correctly.

Tiki Garratt, CEO Maori Sports Awards

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“A reminder to all, that the roots of our Aotearoa nation began before 1840 – and the fruits of our whakapapa tree continue to remind us that our sweetness comes from that diversity. “

Ta Tamati Reedy KNZM

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New Zealanders first competed in the 1908 Summer Olympic Games in London as part of an ‘Australasian’ team.

The first Māori to compete at a Summer Olympic Games was in 1932 at the Los Angeles Olympics were John Hoani MacDonald and Lawrence Jumbo Jackson competing in the rowing eights.

Māori Olympians and Paralympians to date have won a total of 28 Gold, 12 Silver and 14 Bronze medals.

 

• Lisa CARRINGTON MNZM (Ngāti Porou, Te Aitanga ā Māhaki) New Zealand’s most successful Olympian with eight gold and one bronze medal.
  Competed in four (4) Olympics, 2012 London, 2016 Rio, 2020 Tokyo, 2024 Paris in Canoe/Kayak.
  Lisa was the Flag Bearer at the closing ceremony at 2016 Rio Olympics and Flag Bearer at the closing ceremony at 2024 Paris Olympics.

• John Hoani MacDONALD (Rangitane) NZ flag bearer at the 1932 Summer Olympics at Los Angeles USA, in Rowing Eights.

• Simon Wi RUTENE (Te Arawa) competed in four (4) winter Olympic games, 1984 Yugoslavia, 1988 Canada, 1992 Albertville, 1994 Norway, in Alpine Skiing. Simon was the NZ flag bearer in 1988.

• Ian FERGUSON MBE (Ngāti Tūwharetoa) with four gold medals, competing in five (5) Olympic Games, 1976 Montreal, 1980 Moscow, 1984 Los Angeles, 1988 Seoul, in Canoe/Kayak and was the NZ flag bearer at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

• Jai TAURIMA (Ngati Kahungunu) representing Australia, won silver at the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney in the long jump.

• Peter MARTIN (Tainui) NZ flag bearer at the 2004 Paralympics at Athens Greece, winning two (2) Gold and one (1) Bronze in Field Athletics (Shot Put, Discus, Javelin).

• Cameron LESLIE (Ngāpuhi) 4 Paralympics – Triple Gold medalist and world record holder at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, 2012 London Paralympics and 2016 Rio Paralympics in the150m individual medley swim events. 2024 Paris Paralympics (flag bearer at the opening ceremony)

• Kayla WHITELOCK (nee Sharland) (Rangitane) (3 Summer Olympics) – 2008 Beijing, 2012 London, 2016 Rio in Hockey. Was selected for the Tokyo Olympics but was injured before departure.

• Holly ROBINSON (Ngāi Tahu) (3rd Paralympics) 2016 Rio Paralympics, Silver in the Javelin F46 Flag Bearer, 2020 Tokyo Paralympics Gold in the Javelin F46, 2024 Paris Paralympics Bronze in the Shot Put.

 

 

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Compiled by Te Tohu Taakaro o Aotearoa Charitable Trust in partnership with the NZ Olympic Committee