New whistleblower

Netball cook islands (NCI) has a newly capped regional umpire in its ranks, with Luciana Matenga officially earning her Oceania regional umpires badge.

The NCI development officer and national representative player is currently umpiring at the Upper North Island secondary schools tournament at Mt Maunganui, Tauranga, New Zealand.

Under the supervision of NCI umpire coordinator Janette Browne, Matenga sat her regional theory paper earlier this month and succeeded in passing the paper, marked by Netball New Zealand appointed markers, along with the accompanied practical assessment.

A regional badge is a pre-requisite to attempting a New Zealand graded badge.

NCI currently has five other Oceania regional umpires, with Matenga joining Autiare Luke, Tex Tangimetua, Punanga Kaveao, Janette Browne and Teva Simiona, who is based in Aitutaki.

Kaveao and Tangimetua are currently undergoing theory sessions and will sit for New Zealand tests in early September.

Browne said she was absolutely stoked with Matengas performance and that the result was more good news for the newly-revamped umpires pathway programme, which allows for more individuals to take up the whistle.

Browne said Punanga and Matenga, both national representative players in their own right, are also role models for anyone to transcend from one role to another within the code. Matengas travel, accommodation and domestic transport were provided through the PNP general professional development budget which oversees the Australian government funded Oceania high performance umpire development.

NCI would like to thank the Australian government for its continued support of its widespread development programmes.

NCI will be conducting Beginner Umpire and Centre Theory/Practical sessions in November for those on Rarotonga, in preparation for the 2012 Season.