Tūwharetoa, Te Whānau-a-Apanui
Head Coach – 2026 AMNSS

Taz Tawhara is a highly experienced high-performance netball coach with proven national and international success. She returns to the Aotearoa Māori Netball Secondary Schools programme as Head Coach after serving three years as Assistant Coach, where she played a key role in re-establishing and strengthening the programme’s high-performance foundations.

Holding Netball NZ Performance Coach Qualification (PCQ) accreditation and having completed the High Performance Sport NZ Core Knowledge programme, Taz brings deep technical and tactical expertise alongside values-driven leadership grounded in manaakitanga, unity and accountability.

Her coaching career includes leadership roles with the NZ Net Blacks, NZ U20 Men and NZ Men’s Fast 5 programmes, achieving world titles, Nations Series podium finishes and consistent pathway success. She has also contributed extensively to Māori netball spaces, championship campaigns and athlete development across youth and premier environments.

Passionate about empowering kōhine Māori to thrive in both identity and performance, Taz is committed to strengthening sustainable pathways and creating culturally grounded high-performance environments that elevate athletes — and future coaches — on the national and global stage.

Te Aupouri
Assistant Coach – 2026 AMNSS

Diane Pākau brings more than a decade of coaching experience across Māori netball, secondary school, representative and premier-level environments.

Since 2021, she has led the Netball Waitākere U18 programme to sustained national success, including 2024 runners-up and 2025 New Zealand U18 National Champions. Her coaching philosophy centres on player-centred development, cultural integrity and creating environments where rangatahi can flourish both on and off the court.

Diane has contributed widely across Indigenous and Māori netball pathways as a coach, selector, talent identification scout and mentor within UNISS, Northern Zone and regional programmes. She is currently completing her Netball NZ Performance Coach Qualification, further strengthening her high-performance capability.

Her appointment reflects her commitment to nurturing excellence, identity and confidence within the next generation of Māori netball talent.

Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Rangi, Ngāi Tūhoe
Manager – 2026 AMNSS

Murray Gardiner is an experienced netball manager and coach with a strong track record across community, representative and Indigenous Māori pathways. Over the past decade he has managed and supported teams from Year 5 through to premier, regional and national level, including Tāmaki Makaurau Poi Tarawhiti, Aotearoa Māori Secondary Schools, and New Zealand Men’s & Mixed national programmes.

Murray is known for his calm leadership, strong communication and ability to create positive, well‑organised environments where athletes and staff can thrive. His experience spans coaching and managing age‑group teams, leading national and international tours, and contributing to key administrative roles such as Secretary of Tāmaki Makaurau Poi Tarawhiti and General Manager of Netball Waitākere.

With a commitment to Māori netball pathways, manaakitanga and athlete development, Murray brings consistency, integrity and deep community connection to every team he serves.