Waikato Bay of Plenty Netball has announced Anneke Hepi as its new netball development officer based in Kawerau.
Hepi is passionate about netball and eager to help grow younger netballers in the Kawerau area.
In a statement, Waikato Bay of Plenty Netball said the role of development officers was key across the zone to build young netballers' skills and ensure players were provided with pathways to high performance sport while encouraging fun and active lifestyles, and injury-free netball.
Hepi said she was excited to take on the new role.
"My role will see me working with our local schools and community to support and enhance the development of our ANZfutureFERNS players, coaches and umpires," she said.
Hepi has a history of coaching and was enjoying the programmes available to help develop up and coming young players. She believed the programmes provided for young netballers by the Waikato Bay of Plenty Netball Zone and Netball New Zealand were crucial for growing the depth of netball talent in New Zealand.
"As a coach myself and in my new role, I see huge benefits in the new ANZfutureFERNS program. I believe the structure of the programme will be highly beneficial to all players and coaches, with the result being a much stronger generation of netballers all across the Waikato Bay of Plenty zone and the nation."
Kawerau residents were taking advantage of all the knowledge and skill Hepi brought to her new role.
"The community are already showing strong interest in development opportunities to further develop the raw talent we have here in our young aspiring netballers and volunteers."