Months of travelling from Mohaka to Gisborne for trainings and wānanga were all part of Hinewai Joe’s commitment after being selected to represent the Tairāwhiti U19 Māori Netball team at the Aotearoa national tournament in Whangārei.

Representing Tairāwhiti already carried plenty of meaning for Hinewai and her whānau. With her mother being Ngāti Porou, pulling on the Tairāwhiti colours was a proud opportunity to represent that connection through a sport she loves.

But just two weeks out from nationals, Hinewai’s tournament took an unexpected turn.

Three players were no longer able to commit, and Hinewai was given the opportunity to step up from the U19 side into the Tairāwhiti Open Women’s team.

Suddenly, she wasn’t only heading to nationals. She was stepping onto the court alongside some of Tairāwhiti’s most talented and experienced netballers and competing against some of the country’s best Māori players. Rather than being overwhelmed by the challenge, Hinewai embraced it.

In her own words, she “loved every moment” of being part of a Māori-based sport and tournament.

The experience became even more memorable when the Tairāwhiti Open Women’s team finished third at Nationals, achieving the highest ranking the team has ever reached.

For Hinewai, being part of that milestone was something she was incredibly proud of, and understandably so. What began as an opportunity to represent Tairāwhiti at U19 level became a chance to test herself at Open Women’s level and contribute to a piece of Tairāwhiti Māori Netball history.

Her story is also a reminder of what can sit behind these opportunities. Months of travelling, training and attending wānanga came before the tournament itself. When circumstances changed at the last minute, that preparation meant Hinewai was ready to take the opportunity that came her way.

WYAT is proud to have supported Hinewai as she took that step and represented her whānau and Tairāwhiti with pride.

From preparing for U19 nationals to standing alongside the Open Women’s team with a third-place finish, this became an experience Hinewai certainly hadn’t expected, but one she can be very proud to have been part of.