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.
The Board
John Bongard (Chair)
John Bongard joined the Stars Board in November 2018 and brings more than 30 years’ experience in high to executive level positions within the Fisher & Paykel Group, most recently as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer before retiring in 2009. He was involved with netball for more than 13 years through the Fisher and Paykel sponsorship before joining the Board.
John was awarded an ONZM for services to business in the New Year’s Honours List 2010. He is currently on the Board for Narta Australia Pty Limited, HJ Asmuss & Co Limited, Chairman of The Rising Foundation and Chairman of South Auckland Partners – BNZ. John is also Deputy Chair of the Counties Manukau Pacific Trust Board and Deputy Chair of Totara Foundation.
Louisa Wall
The career of double international Louisa Wall spans sport, social policy and parliament. A Silver Fern at 17, Wall played netball for New Zealand for four years from 1989. She then took up rugby, becoming a world champion Black Fern in 1998. With a Masters’ degree in philosophy, she has held a variety of roles across the public sector as an advisor and community advocate in social and public policy.
Dianne Lasenby
Dianne held the role of General Manager of the Stars from December 2017 -December 2022 and remains on the management committee to bring continuity with her extensive knowledge of the franchise. Dianne is CEO of Auckland Netball and holds governance roles on the boards of Sport Auckland and Bruce Pulman Park.
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
