Matenga refines skills at NZ comp

National netballer and umpire Luciana Matenga has gained a New Zealand Badge in netball umpiring.

Matenga is one of four top Oceania umpires being put through their paces this week at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Netball Championships in Auckland, getting vital match practice and taking skills and knowledge home to impart to others.

The group are in New Zealand for the week as part of Oceania’s High Performance Umpire Group which first came together at the beginning of the year with a week-long camp in New Zealand.

It’s invaluable ‘game-time’ for the umpires and continual up-skilling is important as all have been trained as Umpire Coaches and Assessors and lead the Umpire Development in their own countries.

Netball Cook Islands board member Autiare Luke, who is also the Oceania bench official trainer and an umpire mentor and tutor for zone as well as New Zealand theory exams, believe Matenga can attain the ultimate umpiring award – the International Umpire Award (IUA).

“This is just another level or tier (award) within the ranks to help her achieve the ultimate “IUA” - International Umpire Award,” says Luke.

There are five levels (tiers) within the NZ Umpire’s Award.

An umpire needs to re-sit their umpire practical and theory tests every four years to maintain their umpire levels or gain a higher ranking.

The late Mamia Savage held the highest umpire rank in the Cook Islands with an International Umpire’s Award.

Estelle Searle has a New Zealand B level umpire’s award.

“Luci is right up there and certainly has the ability to again the IUA status – that is a great achievement for any Cook Islander living here and not based full time in New Zealand or Australia.”

Congratulations to Luciana Matenga on her fantastic netball achievement.