Central Manawa

Central Manawa are a New Zealand netball team based in Wellington. Since 2016 they have represented Netball Central in the National Netball League. Netball Central is the governing body that represents the Hawke's Bay, Manawatū-Whanganui, Taranaki and Wellington Regions. They are effectively the reserve team of Central Pulse. Between 2016 and 2018 they played as Central Zone. Since 2019, they have played as Central Manawa. Between 2017 and 2019, Central Zone/Central Manawa won three successive NNL titles. In 2022, Central Manawa won a fourth title.^[1]

Central Manawa

Founded	2016
Based in	Wellington
Regions	Hawke's Bay Region Manawatū-Whanganui Taranaki Wellington Region
Head coach	Ngarama Milner-Olsen
Premierships	5 (2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023)
League	National Netball League
Uniform

History

Foundation

In 2016, Central Zone where founder members of Netball New Zealand's National Netball League.^[2][3][4][5] In the inaugural grand final a Central Zone team coached by Yvette McCausland-Durie lost 51–46 to Netball South.^{[4][6][7][8][9][10]}

Three successive titles

In 2017, Central Zone won their first National Netball League title. With a team featuring Karin Burger, Rhiarna Ferris, Tiana Metuarau, Kimiora Poi and Ainsleyana Puleiata, they won the title after defeating Hellers Netball Mainland 43–41 in the grand final at The Trusts Arena.^[11][12] Central Zone retained the title in 2018 after defeating Waikato Bay of Plenty 62–53 in the grand final.^{[13][14][15][16]} Ahead of the 2019 season, the team adopted a new name, voted on by the public.^[17] The now renamed Central Manawa, completed a three in a row after defeating Waikato Bay of Plenty 49–46 in the 2019 grand final.^{[18][19][20][21]}

Fourth title

In 2022 with a team featuring Renee Matoe, Parris Mason and Amelia Walmsley, Central Manawa won a fourth title after defeating Mainland 49–41 in the grand final.^[22][23]

Fifth title

In 2023, with a team featuring Parris Mason, Central Manawa, won their fifth National Netball League title after defeating Northern Comets 45–43 in the grand final at TSB Bank Arena.^[24][25]

Grand Finals

Season	Winners	Score	Runners Up	Venue
2016[6][7][8][9]	Netball South	51–46	Central Zone	The Trusts Arena
2017[12][26]	Central Zone	43–41	Hellers Netball Mainland	The Trusts Arena
2018[13][14][15]	Central Zone	62–53	Waikato Bay of Plenty	Pulman Arena, Takanini
2019[18][19]	Central Manawa	49–46	Waikato Bay of Plenty	Horncastle Arena
2022[22][23]	Central Manawa	49–41	Mainland	Pulman Arena, Takanini
2023[24][25]	Central Manawa	45–43	Northern Comets	TSB Bank Arena

Notable players

Internationals

 New Zealand

Karin Burger Maddy Gordon Mila Reuelu-Buchanan

Tiana Metuarau Kimiora Poi Elle Temu

 Samoa

• Eseta Autagavaia
• Ainsleyana Puleiata
• Saviour Tui

 Tonga

• 'Api Taufa
• Salote Taufa

Central Pulse players

Te Amo Amaru-Tibble Sheridan Bignall Paris Lokotui Parris Mason

Renee Matoe Renee Savai'inaea Amelia Walmsley

ANZ Premiership players

• Abby Erwood^[27]
• Kelsey McPhee
• Grace Namana^[28]

Others

• Rhiarna Ferris, New Zealand women's rugby sevens international

Sources:^{[3][10][11][16][20][21][29][30]}

NNL Player of the Year

Season	Winner
2016[4][31][32]	Karin Burger
2017[12]	Mila Reuelu-Buchanan
2022[33][34]	Ainsleyana Puleiata

Coaches

Head coaches

Coach	Years
Yvette McCausland-Durie[3][4][6][8][10]	2016
Natalie Milicich[11]	2017
Pelesa Semu[16][21][20][35][36]	2018–2019
Anna Andrews-Tasola[30][37][38]	2019–2022
Ngarama Milner-Olsen[39]	2022–

Assistant coaches

Coach	Years
Frances Solia[3][10]	2016
Anna Andrews-Tasola[11][16][21][35]	2017–2019
Emma Weenink[30][40]	2019–2022
John Atkins[30][40]	2019–2022
Cushla Lichtwark[41]	2022–
Renee Matoe[41]	2022–

Honours

• National Netball League
  • Winners: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023
  • Runners Up: 2016