first Pacific Silver Fern representative and Cook Islands representative former Wellington representative former PIC player and coach

"... the first time we were able to break Wellington East and St Mary's stranglehold"
How did you come to play for PIC?
I came to New Zealand in the early 1970s and everybody was part of the church and it just seemed natural that I should play netball as part of the PIC Netball Club. My sister, and all the Rarotongans already played for PIC as well as the fact that Fanaura was coaching and really lifting the standard of play. Before coming to New Zealand I had played for our village, Tupapa, and had also achieved representative status.
What were the highlights?
During my years with PIC the highlights were winning the Senior 2nd Grade, twice! This meant that we had to be promoted. The players during that time were Esther Goodwin, Tangata David, Teuru Kekena, Silisa To'o and her sister Moe Letoa, Anna Wuffli, my older sister Tera'i Kamana, Mary Fletcher and Margaret Hill.
In my first year with PIC, I made the U21 rep team. This gave me a taste of NZ competition and inspiration to concentrate on developing my netball. It wasn't long before we were playing in the Premier 1 Competition. This was a great achievement for our small club. For the first time we were able to break the stranglehold that Wellington East and St Mary's had in the Wellington region. We were strengthened with the addition firstly of Rita Fatialofa and then Waimarama Taumaunu. This helped our resolute to win with confidence, the Wellington Premier Competition. PIC has since been well represented in this competition. While other clubs had begun to receive sponsorship, our PIC players were still fronting up to major events without travel, or training uniforms. In 1988, PIC won the National Club Championship and thus ensuring our sponsorship potential.
I was first selected to the Silver Ferns in 1975 as a non-playing reserve. In 1978, 1 played my first match for NZ.
Strength and vision
I believe that the strength that is still PIC, comes from the Club's great administration, the depth of playing capability within the Club and its closely knit Pacific community. My vision for myself was to get to the very top of netball in NZ. I have been fortunate to have represented NZ and my home country, the Cook Islands.

How did you come to play for PIC?
Mum was involved with the Church already and it was the Church team. I played netball back home in Rarotonga and when I got here I wanted to play netball. So I started my time with the Pacific Island Church in 1968. However after 1969 I left the Club so that I could play in a higher grade. PIC's highest team at that time was 5th Grade.
Just before 1972 I met up with Fanaura Kingstone and Mary Fletcher (nee Samuel). We had a good talk, so I decided to come back and I played in the Cook Island Associations tournament. Fanaura had the coaching skills and both Mary and I had played representative netball back home. So it was during that time that we got together to strengthen the playing capacity of PIC and our aim was to win the grade and get promoted. Other players of the time included Mambo, Vasa, Esther, Silisa and Moe, Teuru, Tata, Tera'i and Nane. From that time I stayed with the Club until I left to live in Auckland at the end of 1988.
What were some of the highlights for you?
Winning and seeing the Club being promoted to a higher grade, especially the crucial promotion in 1972. This was really wonderful because many of our Rarotongan players The community, everyone came together, not only the players but the whole family. The players were on the court, the mama's were on the sideline with our children and grandchildren. We had our own baby-sitting organisation; our children were more or less brought up at the netball courts. Our humble beginnings - we had no travel or training uniforms and everything we had, had to be fundraised for. Players, administrators, supporters and our families all fundraised so that we could play the best netball that we could. A major highlight was any time we beat East or St Mary's. They were the top clubs in those years and we had great respect for them and so beating them, was a great achievement for PIC and we enjoyed it. When PIC played, we drew the crowds. In the rain, shine, hail and the wind of Wellington the crowds came. We came from very little and we played because we enjoyed the game. I think it's a little different now, there's big money in playing netball.
What Is your vision for PIC?
To remember the past members and to enjoy every victory. That PIC keeps the family spirit that has always made us stand out from every other club in this country.

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