September was another exciting and rewarding month for the Mainland Pathway programme, highlighted by the opportunity to bring together our selected and talented Year 11 and 12 athletes from across the Mainland Zone for the Mainland Development Camp (MDC). 

The MDC is a key Netball New Zealand pathway event, giving athletes the chance to showcase their potential and earn selection to the National Development Camp (NDC), which will be held in Ashburton from 14–16 January. Mainland is able to nominate 15 athletes and five reserve athletes, with reserves potentially called upon should a selected athlete be unable to fully participate due to injury. 

A camp of this scale would not be possible without the incredible support of our netball community. A sincere thank you goes to everyone who contributed to the MDC. From coaches, umpires and selectors to volunteers who travelled significant distances to assist, your commitment and generosity were greatly appreciated. It was inspiring to see so many people willing to invest their time and expertise into supporting the next generation of athletes. 

Our athletes were outstanding throughout the camp, embracing every opportunity with enthusiasm, professionalism, and a willingness to learn. They were fortunate to work alongside our experienced Mainland performance coaches, Kate Carpenter, Julie Seymour, Geni Ah Tong and Anna Kennedy, who provided valuable insights and challenged the athletes to continue raising their standards. 

As the first Zone in New Zealand to complete its development camp, our athletes now await the announcement of National Development Camp selections once all regional camps have been concluded. In the meantime, we will continue supporting and preparing athletes for the next stage of the pathway, as the NDC represents a significant step up to the performance environment beyond school, club, and representative netball. 

Following the MDC, we were also delighted to host a workshop and playing opportunity for our selected Year 13 athletes. This provided another valuable touchpoint for athletes approaching the next phase of their netball journey. The group benefited from a coaching session and match experience led by former Tactix coach Marianne Delany-Hoshek, including the opportunity to take on our Mainland Emerging Talent Squad (METS). The feedback from the athletes was overwhelmingly positive, and we extend our sincere thanks to Marianne for sharing her knowledge and experience. 

As the 2026 METS programme concludes, athletes are now transitioning into the off-season, focusing on the individual development opportunities that will best position them for future success. Whether their aspirations involve selection into a Premier 1 club team, a franchise environment, or achieving another personal performance goal in 2027, we look forward to supporting them on their journey. 

One particularly inspiring success story this year has been Leila Tu’inukuafe, who achieved a lifelong dream of representing her country on the international stage. Leila proudly represented Tonga at both the Commonwealth Games and the Netball World Cup Qualifying Tournament, helping Tonga secure a place in the upcoming Netball World Cup. We congratulate Leila on this outstanding achievement and look forward to seeing where her journey takes her next. 

Over the coming weeks, we will review the 2026 METS programme and identify opportunities for continued growth and development. We are pleased to confirm that the programme will return in 2027, continuing our commitment to supporting emerging talent across the Mainland region. 

If you know a talented athlete who may benefit from the programme, encourage them to follow @mainlandnnl on Instagram, where all information regarding the 2027 METS programme will be shared in the new year. 

If you would like to know more about the programme or have any questions about the Mainland pathway opportunities available to athletes, please feel free to get in touch. We are always happy to discuss how we can help support the development of talented young players across our region. 

jane.wf@mainlandnetball.co.nz

Article added: Tuesday 13 October 2026