Manawatahi Sports

Welcome to Manawatahi Sports Netball Rotorua.

2025

Our 2025 season kicked off with Manawatahi Green starting off in Prem 2 after grading. Our Manawatahi Black team (coached by Rochelle Bourke), which is the John Paul College Senior A team, is aiming to do well in Prem 3. It is great to be able to use players from the lower ranked team help the higher ranked team when they're struggling for numbers, and it's already proved useful in one of our first games.

Manawatahi Green: Linda Page, Ania Ehau, Mariao Ehau-Wihapi, Rochelle Bourke, Rachel Wood, Jordan Mackie, Erin Dender, Jodi Brodie, Maddison Hale, Moerangi Waimarie, Sam Houwers

Manawatahi Black: Isabella Evans, Maddison Kinsella, Matilda Kiss, Lucy Martin, Isabel McCashin, Rachel Rolfe, Ena Schuster, Coco Stevens, Grace Waitoa, Paige Waitoa, Liebling Rounds.

2024

We welcomed a John Paul College Senior A team to play under our club this year. They started in Prem 2 but ended up in Prem 3 and our original team started in Prem 3 but ended up in Prem 2! The deciding match between our two teams in the second banner round was fun, but ultimately meant we didn't stay in the same grade for the championship round. 

Many thanks to Len at Arete for your continued support for our team. 

HISTORY

In 2008 our independent netball team "Toiariki" constituted and became an Incorporated Society; Manawatahi Sports Inc. We have had successful seasons in the Rotorua netball league since 2006 and have built a very respectful reputation within Rotorua netball. 

Manawatahi "Toiariki" consistently represented at premier level. The name Toiariki - the pinnacle, something to strive for - is that of the business of our club's original sponsor: Toiariki Contemporary Maori Art -  a Ta Moko business owned and operated by Mr. Richard Francis. Richard Francis purchased our first uniforms and his sponsorship was fundamental to our union, stability, and development. 

We have had two teams since 2008...once was "Karaunia", "Professionals" and  "Toiururoa" - the embracing ones.

From 2016 - to 2017 we were simply known under the names "Manawatahi Green" and "Manawatahi Black" - our 2 teams.

In 2018 we had the exciting new edition of a youth team run by Maylene Meroiti called "Manawatahi Taiohi". Together with team "Black" Manawatahi has had an exciting season around the middle of the grades in Rotorua. 

2019 saw the continuation of our youth team "Manawatahi Taiohi" managed by Maylene. Furthermore, we had an additional team join the mix, called "Green". Team "Black" had such a fun time in 2018, they rolled over for 2019 with minimal changes.

2019 finished with both Taiohi and Black in Prem 3, with Taiohi consistently beating Black - congratulations to both teams. Team Green did well to finish in the middle of the A Reserve grade.

2020 saw the departure of Maylene and her rangatahi team, with only one team taking part in the competition, sadly very disrupted by COVID 19. 

2021 saw the arrival of several shooters to the mix which really lifted our game and allowed others to explore different positions. We had a very successful season finishing one (measly) point behind Lifeys who denied us a win all season. We won the banner round for Senior A and came second in Prem 3. 

2022 had our team win the Banner Round Prem 3 division which pushed us up to Prem 2. We would have played Lifeys again for 5th/6th but they withdrew from the comp, sadly, so we never found out who would win our ultimate battle for 2023. We had sponsorship for the first time in many years, thank you Brooke at Mercury and Len at Arete.

2023 Again we roll over most of our players, welcome back a few regulars, and farewell a few. We still aspire to compete in Prem 3 - competitive enough, but fun enough for us. If only there was a "Prem 2.5", we'd be perfect there. Prem 2 was a bit too serious for us last year.

The club is run on a volunteer basis, with everyone pitching in where needed. 

We carry a sense of whanaungatanga, manaakitanga, and wairua that is unique - we bring together many hearts, and together we are one…Manawatahi.

Founding Members: Charz Wiperi, Chick Morrison, Richard Francis

Toiariki OG's: Charlene Wiperi, Deborah White, Nicola Smith, Trish Francis, Emma Redaelli, Stacey Warena (nee Manihera), Cherie Ngawhika (nee Tauroa), Dana Hikuroa, Jo Goosens, Lani Aperahama, Ada Hadfield, Jennifer Sandison