Stars - In the beginning
Netball is New Zealand’s leading women’s sport. Traditionally regarded as a winter sport, netball is now a year-round engagement, particularly for elite players.
It is not only a game, but a way of life; when not involved on court or volunteering on the side-lines, fans and supporters watch it, read and talk about netball.
The Stars have the honour of not only being netball’s latest top-level club, but New Zealand’s newest sports team. The team is based at Bruce Pulman Park Papakura.
The team was born out of a new elite netball league, the ANZ Premiership, which began in 2017.
The Stars have aligned with the five netball franchises formed in 2007 for the highly-successful trans-Tasman competition, the ANZ Championship - the Northern Mystics, Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic, Central Pulse, Mainland Tactix and Southern Steel.
While each team has forged their reputations, and built strong followings over the past decade, the ‘new kids on the block’ are still building and promise more exciting netball as they grow each year together.
The Stars represent the south and east of Auckland. It is a natural evolution for this rapidly growing area of New Zealand to have a powerful netball team, built on strong foundations and supported by passionate fans.
The Stars certainly enhanced this revitalised national competition in 2017, which aims to fortify New Zealand’s netball base and amplify the characteristic style of the New Zealand game – athleticism, flair, instinct and strength. You will find all of those traits in the galaxy of exceptional players who form the Stars.
The Stars team was proudly a Grand Finalist team in the 2019, 2022 and 2023 ANZ Premiership.
Home of the Stars
The Stars are based in the south Auckland area, which represents one of the largest communities in New Zealand. Sport plays a vital role in the south Auckland community and netball there is thriving.
The Stars will provide vital role models to this fervent generation of netballers, and to those that follow.
The Stars training base is in Takanini, where the team is privileged to be housed in a state of the art facility at Pulman Arena, part of the Pulman Park sports complex. The Stars have forged a partnership with Pulman Arena training and playing at the facility with it being their home venue for the 2023 season.
Aside from their goal to succeed on court, the Stars are also aiming to give back to the wider community – influencing and helping people to learn and grow through physical activity, nutrition and mental health.
The logo
The name “Stars” was inspired by Matariki, the small cluster of stars which appear low on the northeast horizon just before dawn in mid-winter.
Also known as the Seven Sisters, or Pleiades in Greek legend, Matariki’s appearance heralds the start of the Maori New Year.
The concept captures the spirit of a new team – seven players ready to take on the challenge of a brand new dawn in New Zealand netball.
Matariki is incorporated into the team’s logo, which also features the Stars’ colours of purple and silver.
The larger star in the logo represents the team captain – or the leadership of the team and of sport in the community.
The dividing "swoosh" and stylised ball represent "shooting for the stars", as they head-upwards towards their goals.
Team Management Committee
Dianne Lasenby
Dianne held the role of General Manager of the Stars from December 2017-December 2022 and has continued on the management committee taking over as Chair in February 2025.
Dianne has been CEO of Auckland Netball for a number of years and brings an extensive knowledge of the sport from grassroots to high performance level.
She has a strong governance background, is currently Chair of Sport Auckland and also is a board member of Bruce Pulman Park, Kootuitui ki Pakapura, and as a local Justice of the Peace, is a member of the Franklin Justice of the Peace council.
As local resident, she enjoys being part of our diverse communities.
Jenny Solomon
Jenny’s early career focused on corporate learning and she managed Westpac Australia’s Registered Training Organisation (RTO). On her return to Aotearoa, she co-owned the highly successful Māori PTE – Solomon Group. This kaupapa Māori organisation supported members of the community for 16 years to gain qualifications, employment and access support to achieve their own mana Motuhake.
Since 2018, Jenny has moved into governance and consulting roles with a focus on Organisational Development including cultural competence. She is committed to achieving social outcomes and equality in Aotearoa and is a Trustee on five Boards that focus on these kaupapa. She loves many sports and is passionate about supporting high performance womens teams.
David Comery
After graduating from Hotel School both in NZ and New York, David embarked on a career in the hotel business (mainly in NZ but also the Pacific Islands and Africa).
Prior to his role as CEO of the Waka Pacific Trust (WPT), David was CEO of the Mount Wellington Licensing Trust. There, apart from the hospitality and property assets that the Trust owned, he was exposed to the charitable sector from a
In joining the Waka Pacific Trust, David was keen to be actively involved in returning value to the community and this continues through his new role on the Stars Management Committee.
Married to Carmel with three adult children all sport is enjoyed with special attention given to golf.
Keir Hansen
