In 1987, following the publication of "Rapuora - Health and Māori Women" by Dr Erihapeti Murchie with Te Roopu Wahine Māori Toko i te Ora, (the Māori Women's Welfare League), a partnership proposal based on Healthy Lifestyles for the prevention of cardio-vascular disease among Māori was accepted by the then Department of Health.

The League's new National President, June Hinekahukura Mariu (CNZM, QSM, JP), lead the new initiative as her commitment to making a healthy lifestyle difference for Māori women and their families using netball as the vehicle for change.

June is renown for her personal sporting achievements.  She was the New Zealand Netball Team Captain in 1960, one year prior to the formalisation of the International Netball Rules and also achieved National Caps in Indoor Basketball and Softball.  After her playing years she was appointed Auckland Netball coach where she masterminded the effective playing strategy of full court zone defence that lead her team to National Championship titles and can still be seen today to full effect in international netball play.

Her years in netball provided the first Healthy Lifestyles' Field Day in Waitakere City and promoted positive attitudes of personal health and sporting participation in netball, by organising teams and including interested sideline spectators.  The first Field Day was attended and supported by Dame Whina Cooper who presented a pingao brooch she had personally made, to a deserving player.

June's example of netball field days was replicated by groups of League ladies, netball enthusiasts and whanau within their local communities throughout the eight regions.  As well as spreading a range of health education messages, they trialed and selected regional representative teams in three grades - 16 years and under, Under 21 and the Open Grade.