The Samoan Sports Awards have been held every year since 1997. Recipients of the Awards have been some of New Zealand's - and the world's - most respected athletes. Count among them Olympians, Commonwealth Games and World Champions in their respective sporting codes.

Traditionally, the Awards have had six basic categories - Junior Sportswoman of the Year, Junior Sportsman of the Year, Coach of the Year, Senior Sportswoman of the Year, Senior Sportsman of the Year and the overall award - Sportsperson of the Year. In 2005 and 2006 the following categories were also awarded: Administrator, Team and Referee of the year awards.

A tenth category was awarded in 2005 for Sports Personality of the Decade, won by internationally renowned boxer, David Tua. In 2006 this was replaced with the Pacific Sports Personality, acknowledging contributions of the wider pacific community to sports in Aotearoa, which was awarded to Ruben Wiki.

A special award in commemoration of the life and contributions of the late Rev. Leua Iusitini Sio was established in 2006 with the inaugural presentation made to Rev. Leao Siitia by Faletua Rosalina Sio. The award highlights community service.

Nominations are welcome from anyone, as long as nominees can show their Samoan connection. Nominations are accepted for sporting achievements that fall between 1 st November to 31 st October, in the relevant year. Every year we invite a different panel of judges made up of sportspeople and people associated with sport in some way, an administrator or sports journalist, for example. We look for expertise and knowledge in a number of sports when inviting a new judge to the panel. The outcome of judging is kept strictly under wraps until the night of the Awards.

Judges follow criteria outlined by the Samoan Sports Association Executive Committee. One of our most important standards considers a nominee's general conduct as well as their sporting achievements - that is, actions off the field can make a difference.

The 2009 Samoan Sports Awards will be held on Saturday 12th December at TelstraClear Pacific in Manukau in the Sir Woolf Fisher Arena.  Contact the Association or email tickets@samoansports.co.nz for ticket information.

The Samoan Sports Awards continues to be a great celebration of our Samoan community, culture and sporting achievements.

Keep checking this website for more details of the 2009 Samoan Sports Awards