Courtney HAWKE

Province: Otago

Favourite...

Referee: Aleshia Ruaiti

Home cooked meal: Hummus and bread

Quote: Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get

First referee memory: Blowing the whistle for every touch

What do you love most about being a referee: The worldwide friendships made

What does it mean to you to represent NZ at the YTT: It’s a reward for not only myself but to my family, province and wider NZ squad for the time and support they dedicate to me 

Harley WALL

Province: Counties Manukau

Favourite...

Referee: Anyone that doesn't throw me under the bus

Home cooked meal: Mum's apricot brownies

Quote: Tūwhitia te hopo, mairangatia te angitū - feel the fear, and do it anyway! 

First referee memory: A plastic whistle, basketball shorts and a lot of anxiety

What do you love most about being a referee: Having a good laugh with all my mates

What does it mean to you to represent NZ at the YTT: Honoured to have this opportunity

Jonathan BROUGHTON

Province: Waikato

Favourite...

Referee: Paddy O'Brien

Home cooked meal: Pork chow mein & fried bread

Quote: Ehara taku toa i te toa,takitahi engari he toa takimano

First referee memory: Getting my very first TNZ Referee badge (Elementary Level 0)

What do you love most about being a referee: Making life long friendships

What does it mean to you to represent NZ at the YTT: It’s always and honour to go out in the middle and represent my family, our NZ referee contingent and Aotearoa

Michael BUTTERY

Province: Otago

Favourite...

Referee: Angus Gardner 

Home cooked meal: Steak and chips

Quote: Life is uncertain, eat dessert first

First referee memory: Refereeing at the Masters Games when I was 10 with Tufele Taufua and Neville Muir

What do you love most about being a referee: Meeting new refs from around NZ and the World, who have become friends and family

What does it mean to you to represent NZ at the YTT: It’s my first opportunity to referee at the International level and I can’t wait to get out there and have some fun

Moana WINIANA

Province: North Harbour

Favourite...

Referee: My big sister Michael-Lydia Winiana

Home cooked meal: Mum's roast pork belly

Quote: "May the force be with you" or "Nice touch but the ball was down first"

First referee memory: Attending the Level One Referee course at Harbour House with (Former Provincial Director) Nathaniel King

What do you love most about being a referee: Refereeing allows me to stay involved with the sport of touch at a high level. Our whole family are involved in touch - as players, coaches, team cook , manager and referee

What does it mean to you to represent NZ at the YTT: It is an honour for me to represent Touch NZ at the youth Trans-Tasman and to be able to go one higher than my big sister who refereed at the NYC in Australia about 6 years ago

Sam TAYLOR

Province: Kapiti Horowhenua

Favourite...

Referee: Brendan Mason

Home cooked meal: Hummus and bread

Quote: Push yourself, because no one else is going to do it for you

First referee memory: Refereeing at Maori Touch Nationals in 2016, it's one of my favourite tournaments

What do you love most about being a referee: Spending time outside in the sun

What does it mean to you to represent NZ at the YTT: Proud to show that a small province can get a referee to make it to the international stage

Alister STEVENSON - Referee Coach

Province: Canterbury

Favourite...

Home cooked meal: BBQ

Quote: XCash is king, queen and jack - (must be the accountant in me coming out)

An up and coming referee we should be on the watch for: To be honest I think the group we are taking over from this country are all ready for this event and I say watch out for them all

First referee coaching memory: Seeing a very young George Haswell ref as a TMRC at a Secondary School Nationals

What do you love most about being a referee coach: Being amongst some great people and personalities who have a passion for the game. We have some great laughs that helps bring everybody together

What does it mean to you to represent NZ at the YTT: I have represented NZ as a referee, on the field before, but this is another step up in my coaching pathway so I am sure I will learn a lot and with this comes pride that I have been chosen to represent my country at this event

Craig IRWIN - Referee Coach

Province: Manawatu

Favourite...

Home cooked meal: Lasagne

Quote: Never stop dreaming, never stop believing, never give up, never stop trying, and never stop learning

An up and coming referee we should be on the watch for: Riley Winiata is about to do his first nationals and has a great future ahead of him

First referee coaching memory: Being very nervous about coaching referees I had run with and looked up to

What do you love most about being a referee coach: Helping others to achieve their goals and the feeling you get when they succeed and you know you have played a small part in that success

What does it mean to you to represent NZ at the YTT: It means a lot to me as another step on my journey as a referee coach and another way to represent my country and referee whanau