Acknowledging one of the greats of the game, the launch of the Sandra Edge Medal will honour the Silver Ferns Player of the Year at the 2023 New Zealand Netball Awards.
Much admired for her invaluable contribution across many facets of the game, former national President Beverley (Bev) Douglas has been awarded Life Membership of Netball New Zealand.
Without the large band of dedicated volunteers operating from all corners of New Zealand, who give their time, energy and passion, netball would struggle to function. We pay tribute to them all for the selfless contribution they make and acknowledge those who went above and beyond in 2023.
Twelve of netball’s most influential figures, including administrators, umpires and players have been included in the first intake of inductees to the Netball New Zealand Hall of Fame, including three who have been awarded Icon Status.
In a history-making year, the long-awaited Netball New Zealand Hall of Fame will be launched at a special evening of celebration during Netball New Zealand’s 97th AGM in Auckland on 24 February.
Netball New Zealand (NNZ) is pleased to extend their partnership with Summerset Retirement Villages, who are set to continue their support of netball for another two years.
Holding a unique position in this country, netball is poised to mark a special milestone with key events and activities planned throughout 2024 to celebrate Netball New Zealand’s (NNZ) centenary.
On May 21, NNZ will become the first national netball body in the world to reach 100 years of existence, with a nation-wide day of celebration planned to highlight the occasion.
From humble beginnings around the turn of the 20th Century, by 1924 netball was being played on grass fields and asphalt courts throughout the country by women and schoolgirls in gym frocks and black stockings, to steadily evolve into a showpiece of athletic and skilful excellence.
In 1922, the four original associations of Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury and Otago drove the initiative towards forming a national association which came to fruition in May 1924 with the inauguration of the New Zealand Basketball Association. The colours of black with a silver fern emblem were adopted.
Coming into step with the rest of the world and changing to the seven-a-side version of the game in 1959 was the catalyst for huge growth in the game. A new breed of radical netball administrators and the political climate of the time subsequently pushed the sport into the mainstream.
In 1970, New Zealand became the last country to adopt the name ``netball’’ which until that time was still referred to as ``women’s basketball’’ but NNZ has led the way on many other fronts in propelling the game forward.
The rise of the national team, marketing expertise, indoor stadiums and television coverage followed with netball holding a strong stake on New Zealand’s sporting landscape.
The development of franchise netball only added to the popularity with the optimal breakthrough coming in 2008 when NNZ and their Australian counterparts joined forces to create a new semi-professional league, and pushing the game into a bold new era.
The pioneering spirit of hundreds of administrators and volunteers over the years has put netball in a place where it successfully holds its own against male sporting codes while becoming the blueprint for netball bodies around the world through its broadcast and commercialisation achievements.
New Zealand has also been at the forefront of men’s netball which continues to grow in numbers. The Silver Ferns and New Zealand men’s team made history when becoming the first televised match of women and men competing on the same court, in 2019.
Key events/activities that are planned for the 2024 NNZ Centenary celebrations include:
A stalwart of the Kapi Mana Netball Centre, Ngahiwi Meroiti has been awarded a Queen’s Service Medal (QSM) in the 2024 New Year Honours.
Honoured for her services to netball, Meroiti (Ngāti Toa, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Tama) is a Life Member of the Kapi Mana Netball Centre, having been a member for more than 30 years.
A qualified umpire, Meroiti has been the Umpire Coordinator, Coach and Assessor for the Centre intermittently since the late 1990s.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic she resumed this role and was instrumental in revitalising the umpire cohort and growing the number of qualified umpires in the Centre. She served as a Board member from 2002 until 2012 and was the President between 2012 and 2016. She has held various positions with the Centre including Draw Convenor and responsibility for finances and grant funding.
Meroiti has also been a prominent figure in coaching where she has coached at Premier 1 Level and has led her club team to eight Premier 1 championships.
She has successfully coached and managed Kapi Mana representative teams, coached at secondary school levels for Tawa and Mana Colleges and coached and managed at regional levels as well.
She served as assistant coach of the Capital Shakers in 2005 and as a representative selector. Meroiti has also been involved in Māori netball for more than 15 years as a coach, manager, and is now treasurer for lkaroa ki te Tonga.
Established in 1975, the Queen's Service Medal is awarded by the government of New Zealand to recognise and reward volunteer service to the community. It replaced the Imperial Service Medal as an award of New Zealand.
When Kate Hastie hears about young umpires achieving at her netball centre, it only reinforces her reasons for volunteering in a sport she loves.
Prioritising player safety, World Netball has made several changes to its rules, which will come into effect on 1 January, 2024, following a comprehensive consultation process.
Netballers Caitlin Lafaele, Priscilla Rasmussen and Grace Tiko have been included in the 2024 cohort of Tania Dalton Foundation Scholarship Programme recipients.