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Ed. 8 - September 2026 Umpire Highlights during September.As the month draws to a close, tournament season is officially in full swing! A huge congratulations to all players, coaches, umpires, and bench officials who represented our Zone so brilliantly across UNISS, AIMS Games, and the Netball Smart NNZ Open Championships. September has been packed with high-energy netball and rich opportunities for growth and development. It has been inspiring to watch so many individuals from across our Zone step up, embrace new challenges, and shine on the tournament stage. With local Centres now wrapping up their winter competitions, it is also an exciting time as many begin casting an eye to the future and planning for what 2027 may look like for our netball community. None of these tournament experiences would be possible without the incredible passion and commitment of our volunteers, managers, and support personnel. We are deeply grateful to everyone who gave their time and energy to support our teams and officials throughout this action-packed month. In this edition, we celebrate all the tournament action and highlights from across the Zone, acknowledge the growth of our teams and officials, and reflect on a fantastic finish to the winter season.  |
UNISS 2026: WBOP Umpires Shine in Pink at Hamilton City Netball CentreThe excitement was palpable at Hamilton City Netball Centre on Sunday, 30 August, as umpires gathered for the official briefing to set themselves up for the week-long Upper North Island Secondary Schools (UNISS) tournament. Dressed in vibrant pink shirts, our umpire community proudly championed the "Positive Vibes Only" campaign, setting an inspiring, supportive tone on and off the court. Our Waikato Bay of Plenty (WBOP) umpires performed at an exceptional standard throughout the week. We are immensely proud of everyone who took the court, and we extend a special congratulations to the following zone umpires who secured a final appointment: Behind every great umpire is a dedicated mentor. A heartfelt thank you goes out to all the umpire coaches who served on the tournament coaching panel throughout the week. Without your endless support, knowledge, and time, we would not be able to develop and nurture our officials in the way that we do. The tournament also brought major coaching milestones worth celebrating: Congratulations to all our umpires and coaches on an outstanding UNISS 2026! |
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Netball Smart NNZ Open ChampionshipIt was fantastic to see our WBOP Zone proudly represented at the NetballSmart NNZ Opens by our superstar team. Connor Pascoe and Keni Kingi represented our Zone in the umpiring space, alongside Jan Teesdale and Pam Clayton providing Umpire Coaching. It was amazing to see our people in action or the national stage, showcasing the talent, commitment and passion that exists right here in the WBOP Zone. |
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Celebrating our NZ Theory CandidatesA huge congratulations to the following candidates who passed their NZ Theory Exam earlier this month. We are looking forward to observing your progress through the umpire pathway. Jazmine Birchall - Morrinsville Netball Centre |
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Umpire ResourcesHave a look at some of our resources that shape who we are as a community. |
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What's coming up…Although tournament season is drawing to a close, the action across our Zone isn't stopping just yet! We have a fantastic lineup of upcoming events to officially wrap up the season, including the Zone Centre Forum, Youth Forum, Umpire Coach Developer Day, and the Magic in the Making Advance camp. There are still so many wonderful opportunities for our people to stay involved, keep growing, and be an active part of our netball community. As Centres begin turning their focus toward 2027, Ruth and Minda are here to support your team. If you are busy planning for next year and would like to discuss what your umpire development plan could look like for 2027, please don't hesitate to reach out to either of us. We would love to connect, share ideas, and help set your Centre up for success in the season ahead. Thank you once again for your ongoing dedication, energy, and hard work throughout this incredible month and season! Ruth: ruth.robinson@netballwbop.co.nz 021 663 303 |
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