Stars in their e
Netball has finally recognised the importance of south Auckland and the e Stars franchise aspires to be more than just another team, reports Liam m
NEIGHBOURING the south Auckland base of New Zealand’s newest sporting franchise is an alternative education programme. Here, in Papakura, troubled teenagers with social and behavioural issues, often stemming from serious family problems, arrive after failing to fit within traditional schooling systems.
Aged between 13 and 16, their prospects are all too familiar in this area. Kicked out one too many times, this is a last chance saloon scenario. Fail here, and jail or worse probably awaits.
Dysfunctional worlds and horrific back stories fill individual folders. Those are largely confined to history as they walk through the gates, change into provided uniforms five days a week, and work towards a better future.
David Hopkins, a passionate man with an extensive army background, oversees this militarystyle centre run by the High Wire Charitable Trust that attempts to transform these kids, and provide a better path. Students are taught literacy and numeracy; cooking and fitness skills. Some venture to the beach for the first time.
Hopkins calls decorated former SAS corporal Willie Apiata a close friend, and his centre that’s been running for five years offers a snapshot of the south Auckland demographic, where the last census placed the median income at $24,200 and unemployment at 7.1 per cent.
Almost a decade into semi professional netball, only now is the sport finally grasping this area’s importance, both on and off the court.
Looking out the office block window of the newly-built base for the Northern Stars, the sixth team added to the New Zealand domestic league next year, high ropes courses and kids mingling serves a reminder of the people this team will represent, and hope to connect with.
The Trust has funded the new facility, complete with a decked out gym, spacious courts, mezzanine floor, kitchen and bathrooms. It sounds simple enough but a netball team not sharing with others is rare indeed. It even took the Blues 20 years to build a base they could call their own – and even then their training field sits in the middle of a race track.
Time will tell how much return on investment the Trust gets. Most New Zealand professional sports team endeavour to engage with their communities through hospital, school visits and the like. Some of it is token; in and out and made for cameras. Some of it is real. The partnership between the Trust and Stars offers a chance for this team to provide genuine pathways and inspiration to at risk youth. From the top down, the Stars at least appear to appreciate their collective responsibility is not just about scoring more points than the opposition.
‘‘This area of Auckland, of New
It’s really important in today’s society that athletes are role models; that they are selected not only for their ability to compete but also for who they are as people.’ NORTHERN STARS CHIEF EXECUTIVE TIM HAMILTON
Zealand, makes sense,’’ Stars chief executive Tim Hamilton, who returns home after leading the Waikato BOP Magic, said. ‘‘All the statistics back that up. The world is our oyster in terms of what we can provide the sport of netball and the community off the court as well.
‘‘To have an opportunity to start a new sports team with a female focus... it all fits. It’s really important in today’s society that athletes are role models; that they are selected not only for their ability to compete but also for who they are as people. And to influence the wider community in terms of how people can learn and grow whether it be through physical activity or nutrition or mental health. They can add a whole lot of value to a community.’’
The Stars squad alone resonates with the wider region. Silver Ferns shooter Maia Wilson and defender Kayla Cullen, along with Holly Fowler and Courtney Tairi harness Maori decent. Malia Paseka has Tongan heritage; assistant coach Temepara Bailey is a mix of Maori, Samoan and European. And the team’s import, Afa Rusivakula, is from Fiji. South African-born Silver Ferns defender Leana de Bruin is also in the mix.
‘‘I think everyone thinks girls out south don’t play netball already,’’ Cullen, whose father lives in Otahuhu, said. ‘‘They do, but they didn’t have those role models so hopefully having this new franchise based out there can amplify that and they can have some true south Auckland players to look up to. Us being closely affiliated with the Maori and pacific side we can relate easier to the demographic out there.’’
It’s staggering it has taken this long for netball to form an elite footprint in south Auckland. Netball numbers have grown there by 35 per cent since 2008 to 12,778 – a figure that includes over 5000 juniors. Talk about a talent haven.
Counties Manukau’s six centres – Pukekohe, Waiuku, Papakura, Manurewa, Howick, Mangere – have been crying out for a team to directly gravitate towards, other than the west Auckland-based Northern Mystics.
‘‘It’s massive,’’ Bailey, the former Ferns vice-captain and