Netball Waitākere in conjunction with Sport Waitākere are proud to celebrate the incredible success of our student development initiatives, which have already seen 94 secondary school students take part as either umpires or student coaches. This collaborative effort has been made possible thanks to the outstanding support and commitment of local schools, students, and our dedicated team.

The development days, held in partnership with several West Auckland secondary schools, have provided students with valuable learning experiences and leadership opportunities. Building on this momentum, we have launched the Coach Emerge programme—an initiative tailored for students who are eager to continue growing their skills in both coaching and umpiring.

So far, we’ve had fantastic engagement from students at St Dominic’s and Waitākere Colleges, with 16 students taking the next step in their development journey. We’re also in the process of finalising participation dates with Rutherford College, where students have shown great enthusiasm to stay involved and continue learning.

To everyone who has played a part so far—thank you. Your contributions are helping shape the next generation of coaches, umpires, and community leaders.

Article added: Tuesday 13 May 2025