Zones
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Managers Tips
- Prior to your season/campaign/tournament starting, have a discussion with your coach to understand what their expectations are of your role. This will lead to clarity of expectations and responsibilities, hopefully preventing any misunderstandings.
- Clear communication is imperative. It is important that players, coaches and other management staff are aware and understand what is required of them at all times.
- Have a good understanding of netball rules (especially around injuries/blood/substitutions/stoppages) and of your relevant competition/tournament rules.
Resources
http://www.mynetball.co.nz/community-netball/managers/abcs-for-managers.html
Ann Hay
CEO
Introducing Ann Hay, our CEO. Ann's journey with The Zone began in 2018 as Umpire Lead, in August 2021 she took on the additional responsibility of Community Relationship Manager, further expanding her impact within our organization.
Ann has an extensive background having served as NDO, Regional Manager, Board member and Chair with Netball Wellington Region. Ann boasts a rich coaching history across schools, clubs, and representative teams bringing a wealth of experience to our team. Her commitment to grassroots development coupled with her deep-seated passion for community engagement, uniquely position her to strengthen our ties within the community.
As a retired international and national squad umpire, Ann's involvement in high performance umpiring provides insights into high performance environments to support the performance arm of the Zone.
Lenore Anderson
Office Manager & Finance.
Lenore joined Netball Central Zone in March 2013 as the Finance Administrator and has brought tremendous enthusiasm to the role. She has plenty of experience of working in netball, having previously been employed by the Netball Wellington Region between 2000 and 2005, and is delighted to once again be involved with netball in the Zone.
Waimarama Taumaunu
Director of High Performance
Wai joined Netball Central Zone as Director of High Performance in 2016.
The former Silver Ferns captain and coach has carved out a strong netball pedigree across all facets of the game over the last 30 years and now turns her hand to helping foster the next generation of talent in her home region. Wai will work closely across the Central Pulse and Beko teams as well as Centre representative level while providing support to the various deliverers in these areas.
Wai’s vision in the long-term is working towards creating a home-grown Pulse team that wins. Wai sees her role as ensuring that we have a seamless and effective pathway for players that extends from their local Centres right up to the Pulse.’
Wai has twice been honoured for her services to netball, receiving a MBE in 1992 and an ONZM last year and was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.
Dr. Carla van der Merwe (PhD)
NetballSmart Development Officer
Carla is a sport scientist with a particular interest in biomechanics and injury prevention. Prior to immigrating to New Zealand, she was a coach, facilitator, and mentor in sport as well as the health and fitness industry.
In New Zealand, Carla completed her PhD in sports biomechanics at Massey University in 2021 focusing on preventing lower limb injuries in female athletes. She is passionate about sharing evidence-based knowledge to empower participants to confidently apply best practice and reduce their risk of serious injury.
Jill Clapcott
Pulse Operations and Team Manager
Jill joins the Central Pulse as Team Manager in October 2019, following over 18 years experience in the Team /Operations area including 2019 Northern Comets, 2017 World Champion NZ U21, NZ A, NZ Secondary Schools to name a few.
Jill is responsible for all off-court requirements for the team including travel and logistics for ANZ Premiership matches, trainings and activities, game management, player schedules, management of player promotional requirements with sponsors/community, player/coach management support, coordinating/supporting service support staff and financial management of the team budget.
John Atkins
Emerging Talent Lead
John joined Netball Central Zone in March 2022 in the new role of Emerging Talent Lead. The purpose of this role is to lead and implement NCZ's Talent Development plan, from Centre age group level to the NNL team, helping to produce a large pool of quality players and coaches.
John initially became involved in coaching netball via his 3 daughters and has been involved with;
- Central Manawa Assistant Coach 2020 - 2022
- Netball Manawatu Rep Coach (Y7, Y8, U17, U19, NPC) 2006 - 2021
- Massey University Club Coach 2008 - present
John's involvement in netball from primary school level through to High Performance with the NNL team, gives him a wide range of experience to draw on and assist others to attain their goals.
Rebecca Huddleston
NetballSmart Development Officer
Becs joined Netball Central Zone at the beginning of 2025 as the NetballSmart Development Officer. Through targeted programmes and initiatives, she supports centres to develop and embed effective NetballSmart strategies and practices that enhance performance while reducing the risk of injury. A key focus of her role is working closely with our Central Zone communities to deliver NetballSmart principles to coaches, players, parents, and umpires in engaging and practical ways.
With previous experience as a Netball Development Officer and NetballSmart Activator, Becs brings a wealth of knowledge in community engagement and collaboration, with a strong emphasis on prioritising player wellbeing and welfare. Based in Manawatu, she is passionate about building strong relationships and creating safe, supportive environments that allow netball communities to thrive.
Liana Leota
Game Development Lead
Netball has shaped who I am, both on and off the court. I was born in Taihape and from a young age I loved the skill and connection that the game brings. Over time, that passion turned into a professional career that allowed me to represent my country, compete internationally and now give back to the sport through coaching.
Transitioning into coaching felt like a natural next step. I’ve always been curious about the “why” behind performance and team culture. In the UK, I worked within the England Roses environment as a Technical Coach and also served as Director of Netball for Leeds Rhinos Netball. These roles challenged me to grow as a leader and think beyond individual performance to programme development and long-term success. Returning home to New Zealand, I’ve had the privilege of coaching with the Southern Steel and the Central Pulse, and contributing within the Silver Ferns coaching space.
I’m excited to be joining Netball Central in the Game Development space. This role allows me to give back to the sport at a grassroots and pathway level, helping grow participation, support coaches and create positive experiences for our communities across the region. After many years in high-performance environments, I’m passionate about strengthening the foundations of the game — ensuring young athletes and coaches are skilled and educated with knowledge and communities feel connected, supported, and inspired. Being part of Game Development is about building the future of netball and helping the next generation fall in love with the game just as I did.
Emma Mulhern
Relationship Manager
Emma joined Netball Central Zone in 2025 and brings a wealth of experience in community and sport. Before immigrating to New Zealand in 2014, she worked as a Community Physiotherapist. In New Zealand, Emma completed her Master’s degree at Massey University in 2023, focusing on Male Allyship and Gender Equity for Women High Performance Coaches in New Zealand.
Her background in sport, governance, and community engagement drives her passion for the positive social impact sport, and in particular netball, can deliver. Emma’s vision is for a highly connected and collaborative Central Zone that nurtures players of all abilities, fostering a lifelong love for the game, and one that empowers coaches to create environments where players thrive and remain engaged for life.
Arama Jackson
Umpire and Bench Development Lead
Ko Whakapunake te maunga
Ko Ruakituri te awa
Ko Takitimu te waka
Ko Te Aitanga o Pourangahua te hapu
Ko Pourangahua te Tangata
Ko Erepetiu te Marae
Ko Ngati Kahungunu te Iwi
For me, netball has always been more than just a game — it’s a passion. Now serving as the Umpire and Bench Official Lead at Netball Central Zone, I bring my experience both on and off the court.
Joining Netball Central in February 2024, I stepped into the role with a deep understanding of the sport, shaped by years as a player, administrator, and official. My journey in netball began as a player, most notably representing the Northern Mystics Men’s team in 2023 and Central Men in 2025. However, my passion for the game extended beyond playing, leading me to become a New Zealand Umpire — a role that allows me to contribute to the game from a different perspective.
Before taking on my current role, I built a strong foundation in sports administration. I worked with Sport Hawke’s Bay and Hawke’s Bay Netball, first as a Development Coordinator and later as a Communications Administrator. These roles gave me invaluable experience in supporting and growing the game at the community and regional levels.
Now, as a leader in umpiring and bench officiating, I am committed to developing officials, ensuring high standards, and fostering a strong officiating culture within the Netball Central Zone. My unique perspective, having been both a player and an official, allows me to support umpires and bench officials in a way that enhances their confidence, skill, and enjoyment of the game.
- Pukekohe Netball Centre Rep Tournament - All Age Groups - Sunday, May 26
- Auckland Netball Centre Rep Tournament - All Age Groups - Sunday, June 9
- North Harbour- All Age Groups - Sunday, June 16
- Howick Pakuranga - All Age Groups - Sunday, June 23
- Waikato - U17, U15, Yr 9 - Sunday, June 30
- Tauranga - U23 Local Derby Games (Netball Northern & Waikato BOP) - Saturday, June 29 and Sunday, June 30
- Waikato - U19-U23 - Sunday, 30th June at ASB Arena, Bay Park
- Waitakere - All Age Groups - Sunday, July 7
- Wellington - NZAGC - U19 & U23 - Monday, July 15 to Thursday, July 18
- Hastings - U17 (1), U17 (2) - Monday, July 22 to Thursday, July 25
- Dunedin - LFNC - Monday, September 30 to Saturday, October 5
Tournament Review
Netball Northern Zone A Team Report - Helen Wilson - Head Coach
The Northern Zone U23 A team came together from across the greater Auckland area and committed to a campaign that was short but intense. A commitment from all ensured they were exposed to the reality of what was required to transition into playing ANZ one day. Quickly it was highlighted that to be good enough to represent Mystics, game skills and a sound work ethic were key attributes that they would develop. Trainings were a gruelling six hours on a Sunday each week where all players were both physically and mentally challenged and pressure scenarios were explored. This grew a greater understanding of each other as a team, how each individual reacts under pressure and what everyone had to go away and work on in their own time to ensure they could perform under pressure at nationals.
As expected, the U23 tournament was challenging and every team evenly matched which gave us ample opportunity to test the skills learnt from training. After the Tauranga derby weekend we needed to win one more round robin game at Nationals to reach the semi-finals. Although we were well planned to do this, we didn’t plan for the weather to stop us from flying into Wellington to play! Luckily our focused and problem solving expert – aka manager Jill Clapcott ensured a flight to Napier and drive to Wellington in ‘Mr Apple’s’ vans was organised without a hitch adding to the adventure of getting to the court to play. Every game was built on throughout the tournament with really promising performances from many players in the team. Beating Central in a physically challenging game put us into the semi-final playoff against WBOP. This was an opportunity to show our growth and improvement after losing to them by 16 goals in the derby weekend. Improve we did! Carli Botes did a ton of work at GA receiving 28 centre passes throughout the match and shooting a competent 21/26, she was feed accurately by Annie Rasmussen whose goal assists topped the stats for both teams. It was a pressure cooker game where every error was converted into points by the other team. We continued to supply our attackers with opportunities to score by a strong defensive line up who contested every ball, allowing our GK Temalisi to come through to collect a whopping 17 defensive gains throughout the match. Going into the last few minutes of the match both teams were even and WBOP came out winners on the scoreboard 45-42. Not the result we were after but what an awesome match and huge learning!
The journey in this campaign was new for all, the limited time together ensured everyone trained hard and held each other accountable. Training didn’t always encompasses the whole team (with Mystics commitments) so efforts were concentrated on skill improvement and understanding principles of play. Learning that high performance is about being uncomfortable at all times helped to feed the continuous desire to be better each day. The campaign can be measured as successful by the individual growth of team members in the team. Watching them take calculated risks, learn and adapt to mistakes, implement game plans successfully and feel confident to strive towards their potential was inspirational. I am a very proud coach who looks forward to seeing the continued growth of these players as they continue to work hard in the world of Netball.
Netball Northern Zone ‘B’ Team Report
Team Preparation – We “Set the Tone” early. Understanding the “Purpose of the Campaign”,
The priority of this campaign was to develop and grow players to Elite, high performance athletes, to ensure readiness to progress to ANZ. To prepare them in every component required including fitness levels and skill level. As important, to introduce them to a professional environment that demanded their full commitment, a high work ethic and work rate. The traits expected, being no different than what would be expected and required at ANZ level.
We also set clear team goals and personal goals as clarity of expectations.
Highlights of best games – This team had many highlights. As the “B” Team, we showed character and guts against top teams, pushing teams and forcing them to keep main line-ups on court. I felt we were consistent throughout the week.
Stand out players or any achievements in terms of stats – Tuaine and Jessica were our co-captains and both led by example all week on and off court. They stood up when we needed them to, they were both professional and always had the team’s best interest at heart.
A mention of thanks to the managers, physio etc – Debra was outstanding – she had everything off court covered. She is very experienced and its great as a coach when you can focus totally on the team and whats going on on court. Vicki was fantastic as well – always supported me with my decisions. She also had lots to offer and we worked extremely well together. Must also mention Ben, he put his heart and soul into the girls fitness and conditioning sessions. He was fabulous aligning his expertise with my requirements as a coach for the team. I had the fantastic group of people to work with.
A personal ending to it all - ie : How the coach enjoyed it, or key learning’s –
It was great to have the opportunity to field two competitive teams from the Northern Zone. This group of players worked really hard, were put under pressure, were taken out of their comfort zone and built a great team environment, which was reflected in their on court performances. Key learnings for me as the coach – was how you can build a team that believes they can compete and wants to continuing lift and prove themselves everytime they took the court.
Team Managers Workshop
Strategic planning
The last two months have been spent meeting with as many of you as we could from the netball centres across the Zone. We were really pleased with the number of people who attended the meetings and the open and frank discussion that was held with everyone. The staff and board of the zone feel that we have been given a really good steer around the issues that are facing a lot of you and we thought that there were a lot of similar issues but perhaps in some places, different priorities. There is certainly not a one size fits all solution to a number of the concerns raised. There are also a huge amount of really good projects underway and really positive feedback about what is working well. It's been a really interesting time meeting with the centres and we have all enjoyed it. I would like to thank all of you for the time that you have put in so far.
I have now attached a DRAFT strategic overview of the future direction of the Zone. The board would like your feedback now about what has been drafted. At the same time we are also preparing an action plan that will fit under this strategy - and we intend to present the complete and final document to you before the end of May. Can I please have any feedback to me by Wednesday 24 April? There will be further opportunities to tweak the document again before it is finalised.
Communication
The Zone web site is underway and the Zone face book site is up and running. You can check this out under Netball Northern Zone.
One of the consistent concerns I have coming back to me is that we are not always communicating with the right people and that there are a number who have not been receiving the newsletter. To increase our ability to communicate better with the all of our stakeholders, Tash's role has evolved from managing just the Mystics communications, to a whole of Zone approach. Can you please let Tash (
Organisational Chart
I have attached an organisational chart which details the staff working within the zone.
Please note that the Mystics team and coaching team are fully funded by the LG Mystics. In addition to this the development staff (Tania, Tamara and Jan) and all also funded from external funding - not the Zone.
We are starting to gain some clarity around the Community Netball and High Performance roles. Hamish's HP role is not strictly High Performance, his role begins at developing performance pathways through to HP pathways. Performance has recently been defined as the U17 rep team level, so Hamish will be your point of contact for support ( if required) for U17's up and Trish will be involved with any age groups or community netball aspect up to U17. Trish and Hamish will work together in terms of filtering information and guiding centres around U15 player and coach development.
Teams
LG Mystics
Next home game is on Monday June 10 against the Central Pulse - WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!! Come along and cheer your team on.
Lion Foundation Funding NPC Teams
The Lion Foundation application was placed and will be heard this month.
If you have any feedback – or questions, please let me know - have a great weekend!
Julie Paterson CEO
Ph (09) 913 0834 or 021438955