Photo Credit: NZ Cricket Museum
Inaugural squads have been finalised ahead of the ground-breaking Māori Wāhine National Cricket Tournament in Heretaunga between Friday 13th and Sunday 15th October.
Five teams will compete for the newly developed ‘Rona McKenzie Taonga’ – a nod to the late Rona McKenzie (Ngāti Awa), the first Māori WHITE FERNS captain.
McKenzie, a pioneer in the women’s game, appeared in seven test matches for New Zealand (captaining all matches), and played domestically for Auckland.
McKenzie famously led the 1957 WHITE FERNS tour to England, travelling for a month by sea. The playing group were required to raise their own funds, make their own uniform, and organise accommodation amongst other challenges.
McKenzie was appointed as a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 1975 New Year Honours list for services to women’s cricket.
Rona McKenzie’s Grand Nephew, Darren McKenzie-Potter (Ngāti Awa) commented on what the naming of the trophy meant to the McKenzie whānau.
“The whānau are incredibly happy to see Rona honoured for her contribution to women’s cricket both on the field as a player and after her retirement as a coach, mentor, manager and administrator,” said McKenzie-Potter.
“Rona would be very humbled, but also proud to have the trophy named after her.”
The five competing teams have named squads featuring up-and-coming prospects, along with some domestic and international experience.
Auckland Hearts domestic representative, Skye Bowden (Ngāti Hine, Ngāpuhi), will lead a Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) side which boasts exciting young talent.
Sophie Court, Mollie Drumm, Holly Lightbourne, Christelle McGuire, Jess Smith, Anika Tauwhare and Anika Todd all represented Auckland last summer in domestic age-group cricket and will be an exciting group to watch.
The inaugural McCaw Lewis Northern Māori wāhine will look toward Northern Districts representatives Holly Topp (Ngāi Tahu), and star batter Sam Barriball (Ngāti Rangitihi, Ngāi Tūhoe), for leadership both on and off-field.
Barriball has appeared in 20 One Day Internationals and eight Twenty20 Internationals for the WHITE FERNS, while Topp has made 33 appearances for the Northern Brave.
NZ Maori Schoolgirls representatives; Elle Archer and sisters Dayle and Kiri Anderson (Tainui) are also players to watch.
Central Districts Wāhine Māori boast three contracted Central Hinds in their side, namely; Georgia Atkinson (Ngāti Kahungunu), Ocean Bartlett (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Porou) and Kerry Tomlinson (Te Whānau a Apanui, Ngāti Porou).
Tomlinson will player-coach the team, on the back of a recent appointments with the Samoan National Women and NZ Māori Secondary Schoolgirls.
Recent CD U19 Women’s representatives; Olivia Clark (Kai Tahu), Reese Drager (Ngāti Porou) and Macy Lyford (Ngāti Kahungunu) will be rearing to go, after finishing as runners-up in the National U19 Women’s Tournament last summer.
Capped WHITE FERNS wicketkeeper, Jess McFadyen (Ngāi Tahu), headlines a strong Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington) Wāhine Māori squad.
She will be joined by fellow Wellington Blaze contracted player, Caitlin King (Ngāti Tūwharetoa), who will captain and spearhead the bowling attack.
Te Waipounamu (South Island) Wāhine Māori have named a young side, also filled with former age-group representatives across Canterbury & Otago.
Fast bowler and capped Otago Spark, Harriett Cuttance (Waikato Tainui), will be key to her side’s success, alongside fellow quick, Zarah Moana (Ngāti Porou).
Northern Māori captain, Holly Topp, is excited about the tournament, and what the opportunity signified to the players.
“What I am most looking forward to about the tournament is the cricket, obviously, but more so the fact that we will be gathered, connected by whakapapa and a common love for the sport.” said Topp.
“This being the inaugural event makes it even more special to attend,”
“Ngā mihi nui New Zealand Cricket and Northern Districts for putting the pathways in place to help us get to this point. Now we’re excited to make our whānau proud.”
Look below for full squads and further tournament information.
Tournament Details:
- Fri 13th – Sun 15th October
- Cornwall Park, Hastings (3 x grass pitches)
- 5 teams, T20 format, four games with a bye
- All games live scored on PlayHQ
Tāmaki Makaurau Māori Wāhine:
- Skye Bowden (c) – Ngāti Hine, Ngāpuhi
- Claire Crooks (vc) – Ngāti Hine, Ngāpuhi
- Sophie Court – Ngāti Awa
- Mollie Drumm – Ngāti Porou
- Billie East – Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa
- Kaitlyn Halliday – Ngāruahine
- Raiha Jeory Reynolds – Ngāti Porou
- Holly Lightbourne – Te Rarawa, Te Aupōuri
- Christelle McGuire – Ngāpuhi
- Jess Smith – Ngāpuhi, Tainui
- Anika Tauwhare – Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Ngāi Tahu
- Anika Todd – Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara, Te Uri-o-Hau
Head Coach: Corey Todd – Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara, Te Uri-o-Hau
Asst Coach: Katie Perkins
McCaw Lewis Northern Māori Wāhine:
- Holly Topp © – Ngāi Tahu
- Dayle Anderson – Tainui
- Kiri Anderson – Tainui
- Elle Archer – Ngāti Māhanga, Tainui
- Sam Barriball – Ngāti Rangitihi, Ngāi Tūhoe
- Jessica Benge – Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi
- Mia Chatterton – Te Rarawa
- Ella Farrell – Ngāpuhi
- Mereana Hyde – Tainui, Ngāpuhi
- Zamera Ikiua – Ngāpuhi
- Elizabeth-Rose Pengelly Woodhead – Te Aupōuri, Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Hine
- Sadie Stewart – Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Kuia, Te Āti Awa
- Olivia Tremain – Ngāpuhi, Ngātiwai
Head Coach: Michael Rameka – Ngāti Tūwharetoa
Asst Coach: Mereana Hyde – Tainui, Ngāpuhi
Central Districts Wāhine Māori:
- Georgia Atkinson (c) – Ngāti Kahungunu
- Ocean Bartlett (vc) – Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Porou
- India Bartlett – Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Porou
- Olivia Clark – Kai Tahu
- Reese Drager – Ngāti Porou
- Madison Greenaway – Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Hauā, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Raukawa
- Macy Lyford – Ngāti Kahungunu
- Sam Mackinder – Te Whānau-ā-Apanui
- Olivia McKnight – Ngāti Porou
- Molly Noema-Barnett – Tūhoe
- Jasmine O’Dell – Te Whānau-ā-Apanui
- Kerry Tomlinson – Te Whānau a Apanui, Ngāti Porou
Head Coach: Dustin Emms-Healy – Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha
Asst Coach: Kerry Tomlinson – Te Whānau-a-Apanui, Ngāti Porou
Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wāhine Māori:
- Caitlin King (c) – Ngāti Tūwharetoa
- Nicole Baird (vc) – Ngāti Ruanui
- Gemma Guiney (vc) – Waikato, Ngāti Maniapoto
- Greta Abbott – Ngāti Maniapoto
- Sasha MacArthur – Ngāi Tahu
- Jess McFadyen – Ngāi Tahu
- Millie Newell – Te Ātiawa
- Emma Parker – Ngāpuhi
- Keisha Pegg – Te Ātiawa
- Taylor Pewhairangi – Ngāti Porou
- Isabella Quin – Ngāi Tahu
- Faye Tahere – Ngāpuhi, Ngāi Te Rangi
- Estella Wallace – Ngāi Tahu
- Jo Wawatai – Ngāti Porou, Tūhoe, Te Whānau-a-Apanui
Head Coach: Rochelle Roddick
Asst Coach: Damian Parker – Ngāpuhi
Te Waipounamu Wāhine Māori:
- Libby Burne – Ngāti Mutunga
- Harriett Cuttance – Waikato Tainui
- Emily Evans – Waikato Tainui
- Danielle Hemi – Ngāti Kahungunu
- Brooke Huddleston – Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa
- Ana Kendrick – Ngāti Tūwharetoa
- Grace Kitchen – Ngāruahine, Ngāti Raukawa
- Zarah Moana – Ngāti Porou
- Charlotte Morris – Ngāi Tahu
- Addison Stackhouse – Ngāi Tahu
- Katriel Thomas – Ngātiwai
Head Coach: Tanya Morrison – Ngāi Tahu
Asst Coach: Tama Walker – Ngāti Porou
