The annual Taranaki Daily News Sportsperson of the Year Awards are an opportunity for the years sporting achievements to be publicly recognised  by sports codes, fellow athletes and the Taranaki community.

Taranaki Swimming established the Taranaki Sportsperson of the Year Awards in 1964 and the first ever Sportsperson of the Year was Ross Brown in 1965.  Sport Taranaki took over the organising of the awards from 1993, and have done so in conjunction with the Taranaki Daily News.  A more detailed history of the development of the Taranaki Sportsperson of the Year awards to what they are today can be found in the article by Ian Russell, previous Convenor/Chairman of the Taranaki Sportsperson of the Year Committee. 

Sportsperson of the Year 2008 - Shane Reed

The 2008 Sportsperson of the Year Awards were held on Friday 28th November at the Quality Hotel-Plymouth International with Shane Reed receiving the award for overall Taranaki Sportsperson of the Year.