In February 2024, we we farewelled our club's founding member - Marama Whanarere.

Of the many legacies she leaves behind across the various spaces she was involved with, the establishment of our netball club is one that we will continue to cherish dearly. At just the tender age of 21, after a year playing for WHSOG followed by a year playing for Rangimarie, she saw an opportunity through the annual Maori Netball Tournament to get our wahine involved in playing regular Saturday netball and rallied up enough interest to enter a team under Kaiwhaiki.

Decked out in their newly purchased yellow Bob Charles t-shirts, their home made royal blue wrap around skirts and bibs (oh those bibs), they entered and won the Wanganui Netball Association's Fourth Division in their first year - 1982.

Today, Kaiwhaiki Netball is a thriving club that offers a place to call home, not just to those with genealogical ties but to any women seeking the enjoyment, benefits and support of a family based sports club.

A loved mum, nan, aunty, cousin, sister, friend and mentor. She will be sorely missed and as we embark upon the 2024 season, we will do so with love and remembrance.

"Kaiwhaiki Netball Club est. 1982" 

2022 saw the passing of our much loved Club Patron, aunty and nan - Gina Maihi.

Aunty Gina was a highly active member of the club since it's inception, starting out as a player in the club's foundation team in 1982.  Over the years she played, she coached, she managed, she fundraised, she coordinated, she served on our club committee as treasurer, mentored younger ones coming through on the committee and was elected as our club patron in 2015.  In the wider netball circle, she served on the Netball Whanganui executive and in 2015 was a recipient of the Sport Whanganui, Roll of Honour Sport Volunteer Award..

Performing to the best of our ability was a priority and she was always proud of teams that opted to train, constantly reminding us that in her day she loved to compete no matter what grade she was playing, because it was a waste of money to pay fees and not train to win

Representing our club with pride on and off the court and looking sharp was also important to her so look out if she caught you walking into the courts wearing your uniform to any standard other than immaculate, and a phone call was sure to follow if she'd spotted a player who might benefit from a larger size dress

Even when other commitments prevented her from being at games in person, she would be sure to post her best wishes and comments on the teams FB page and always tracked their progress and results.

She wouldn't hesitate to pull us in to line but likewise, was a top notch, number one supporter come what may.  If she called, you answered.  If she messaged, you replied.  If she wanted something, you made it happen, even if it wasn't really something within your control (like premium parking at Springvale stadium on Monday nights ).  Such was the love and respect we had for her.

Our love and thoughts are with her husband uncle John, her children and mokopuna.  We will sorely miss your guidance, support and love our beautiful aunty and Nan.  Rest in peace now.  E au to moe.