U14 & U16 North Island Junior Championships, New Plymouth

From July 4th to 7th, New Plymouth turned on the pressure cooker for the U14 and U16 North Island Junior Championships. While the region’s best young players were battling it out on court, another elite team from Netball Waikato Bay of Plenty was working just as hard—our incredible team of umpires.

Getting appointed to a tournament like the North Island Juniors is no small feat. It requires fitness training, rule study, local league officiating, and dedication. Our WBOP umpires stepped onto the courts in New Plymouth ready to work, and they did an outstanding job representing our zone.

For these officials, the tournament wasn't just about blowing the whistle; it was a massive growth opportunity. Every single match served as a live classroom. The umpires worked closely with the Umpire Coaching panel, taking constructive feedback on board between quarters and games, refining their positioning, game management, and decision-making in real-time. The growth seen across the three days was immense.

The ultimate testament to our zone's standard of officiating came on finals day, with several WBOP umpires earning prestigious appointments to the tournament's final matches.

A massive congratulations to:
Mihitai Tamihana (representing Eastern Waikato) – Appointed to the U14 Final
Michelle Lang (representing Cambridge Netball Centre) – Appointed to the U16B Final
Justin Ross (representing Eastern Bay of Plenty) – Appointed to the U16A Final

Earning a final at this level means consistently performing at the top of the pack all week, and we could not be prouder of Mihitai, Melissa, and Justin for their stellar achievements.

Adding to the tournament's celebrations, we also want to extend a huge congratulations to Holly Carr-Patterson from Otorohanga, who was successfully re-endorsed for her Zone Award during the event. Maintaining a Zone Award requires consistent excellence, and Holly proved she has it in spades.

Thank you to all the umpires, coaches, and supporters who travelled to New Plymouth. You represented WBOP with absolute professionalism, integrity, and passion. We can’t wait to see where your umpiring journeys take you next!

WBOP Umpires and Umpire Coaches Well Represented at the Netball NZ U18 Championships

The Netball New Zealand U18 Championships were once again a fantastic showcase of the country's emerging umpiring talent, with the standard of umpiring reaching an exceptionally high level throughout the tournament.

Netball WBOP was proudly represented by five talented umpires – Caitlyn Forrest, Joanie Coles, Shelly Carden, Evie Reid, and Will Kopa. They were supported by Tania Fink and Ruth Robinson, who were both appointed to the Umpire Coaching Panel, providing coaching and development opportunities to umpires.

Across the four days of competition, our WBOP representatives demonstrated professionalism, resilience and a commitment to continual improvement, representing our Zone with pride both on and off the court.

A special congratulations to Caitlyn Forrest and Joanie Coles, who were appointed to officiate the 3rd/4th playoff. Finals appointments are earned through consistent performances across the tournament and are a wonderful recognition of the work they put in throughout the week. While these appointments are certainly an achievement to celebrate, every WBOP umpire should be proud of the way they embraced feedback and represented our Zone with excellence.

This year's tournament also saw Netball New Zealand introduce a new initiative, with Court-side Kōrero trialled during Days 1 and 2. Following each game, the captains and coaches from both teams met with the umpires, facilitated by the Umpire Coach and Coach Leads, to discuss the specific goals each person had taken into the match. The initiative was to help create meaningful conversations between all participants. It was encouraging to see our WBOP umpires engage confidently in these discussions and represent themselves so well.

The tournament once again gave great learning opportunities for the umpires and the umpire coaches alike.  The environment created reinforced the positive direction of umpire development across New Zealand.

Congratulations to all of our WBOP representatives on a successful tournament. Whether on court or on the sideline, each person contributed to the success of the event and represented our Zone with professionalism, commitment and pride. We look forward to seeing the continued growth of our officials as they build on the experiences gained at this year's championships.

Article by: Minda Busch and Ruth Robinson, WBOP Zone Umpire Leads
Photo Credit (below right): Jessica McIntyre-Tate 
Article added: Tuesday 25 August 2026