Awards and honours

Each year, Aoraki runs an Awards Presentation night to mark the end of a season. See below for descriptions of the criteria for these awards.

Awards

Sportswoman of the Year (Paddle)

2018 - Amber Murphy
2019 - Cherie Prangnell
2020 - Melinda Griffiths
2021 - Teagan Killick
2022 - Karen Lloyd- Griffiths
2023 - Lauren Morris
2024 - Dana Goodwin

Sportsman of the Year (Paddle)

2018 - Isaac Sutherland
2019 - Sione Areli
2020 - Cam Knauf
2021 - Shaun Brown
2022 - not awarded
2023 - Ray Hanson
2024 - Simon Crawford

Coach of the Year (Cup)

2015 - Rick Smith
2016 - Peter Mitchell
2017 - Evan Roper
2018 - Russell Stocks
2019 - Peter Johnson
2020 - Noel Anderton
2021 - Marie Childs
2022 - Mike Brown and Evan Roper
2023 - Ray Cooper
2024 - Mike Robinson

Manager of the Year (Shield)

2018 - Marie Childs
2019 - Ian Stothers
2020 - Sharon Moody
2021 - Amy Meikle-McClurg
2022 - Sharon Moody
2023 - Cathy & Shaun Butler
2024 - Marie Childs

Most Improved Team of the Year

2018 - Rangiora High School
2019 - Wahine Toa
2020 - Amazon Hearts
2021 - Pegasus Dragons
2022 - Waimak Vibe
2023 - Ōtepoti Dragons
2024 - Waimak Vibes Wahine

Team of the Year

2018 - Abreast of Life
2019 - Southern Dragons
2020 - Southern Dragons
2021 - Wahine Toa
2022 - Ngā Anahera Hoe
2023 - Rangi Ruru GHS
2024 - Amazon Hearts

School Team of the Year

2019 - Marian College
2020 to 2023 - not presented
2024 - Papanui High School

Presidents Award

This is a burnt Sweep Oar mounted on a wooden base.

2021 - not awarded
2022 - Cynthia Brown
2023 - Mike Robinson
2024 - Amy McClurg

Julian Yee

Aoraki also awards the "Julian Yee Award" Awarded annually to the team that best represents the ideals of: sportsmanship, competitiveness and collegiality throughout the season. Those were the values that Julian drove at Sampan Warriors.

Julian is one of the Legends of Christchurch Dragon Boating. Jubes was a key paddler in Sampan Warriors for many years even before becoming an inaugural Aoraki Dragon Boat board member. In 2012, Jubes was in Rarotonga for a wedding, and went with family members for a walk, but suffered a fatal heart attack. His massive funeral in Christchurch was testament to his warmth, and the mana of the man. Even before he helped found Aoraki, Julian had done so very much for Dragon Boating. If you wanted to know anything about the history of Dragon Boating - Julian had the answers...

2022 - Ōtautahi Paddling Club
2023 - Northern Phoenix
2024 - Rainbow Warriors

Life Membership

While not necessarily members of Aoraki Board, the following have been granted Life Membership of Aoraki Dragons:

Year	Life Member
2017	Noel Anderton
2017	Meri Gibson
2018	Dale (Scruff) Hewinson
2019	Rick Smith
2019	Janice Melville
2021	Peter Mitchell
2023	Sampan Warriors
2024	Evan Roper

Criteria for the annual awards have been as follows:

Sportsman (or Sports Woman) of the Year is committed to the sport, exhibits a positive attitude, is a strong paddler, exceptional sweep and/or an inspirational caller, exhibits “coachability” (accepts and puts into use coach’s suggestions), is a role model within their team, is willing and able to help fellow athletes and encourages team development and exhibits leadership qualities (as a team member).

Coach of the Year is committed and passionate about the sport, engages and collaborates with other teams, effectively communicates and leads their team, articulates a plan (and follows through), inspires confidence and motivates performance, analyses problems and provides solutions, shows perseverance and patience, shows empathy and is supportive, has the respect of their team, is a role model for their team, and has lead their team to improve over the season and perform well in events.

Most Improved Team of the Year has made significant improvement throughout the year, Times have improved over the season, and/or in relation to previous season(s), Membership shows growth and retention rates are high, and Exhibits a positive team spirit.

Team Manager of the Year is committed and passionate about the sport, can effectively communicate and lead their team and has the respect of their team/club.

Team of the Year, and School Team of the Year represents our region with respect, engenders Community engagement and collaboration, shows Leadership within the sport, has strong membership throughout the season (and membership is likely to show growth and retention for the coming season), and produces competitive outcomes relative to individual team dynamics.

President’s Award is granted to a person or group who represent Aoraki with respect, puts Dragon Boating first, exhibits and encourages Sportsmanship, Competitiveness and Collegiality.