2026 ANZ Premiership Previews – Round 1

The 2026 ANZ Premiership season gets underway this weekend, marking the 10th season of elite domestic netball in New Zealand. 

All six teams take the court across three matches, with new combinations, key milestones and fresh rivalries setting the tone for the opening round. 

The season follows a historic 2025 campaign, where the VIP Frames & Trusses Tactix claimed their first title, becoming the first team from the Canterbury/Mainland region to win a national league title in 28 years.  

Four of the six ANZ Premiership teams have won titles since 2017, highlighting the competitiveness of the league heading into its milestone season.  

Round 1 also brings a number of key storylines: 

• GoSweetSpot Mystics defender Phoenix Karaka is set to play her 150th National League match  

• Several players are in line to make their National League debuts, including Avis Magic’s Sarah Guiney and Brooklyn Murray  

• Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse and VIP Frames & Trusses Tactix headline significant squad changes, while the GoSweetSpot Mystics enter with the most continuity  

Pulse v Magic 

Saturday 11 April, TSB Arena, Wellington, 4pm 

The 2026 season opens in Wellington, where the Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse host the Avis Magic. 

The Pulse have won 21 of 25 previous ANZ Premiership meetings between the sides and remain strong at home, winning all five encounters at TSB Arena.  

The Avis Magic will be looking to shift momentum after finishing fifth in 2025, while the Pulse begin the season with a significantly new-look line-up. 

Key points: 

• Ameliaranne Ekenasio faces her former Avis Magic teammates for the first time  

• The Pulse have finished in the top three in eight of nine ANZ Premiership seasons  

• The Magic are chasing their first finals appearance in the ANZ Premiership era  

Tactix v Steel 

Saturday 11 April, Wolfbrook Arena, Christchurch, 7pm 

The defending champion VIP Frames & Trusses Tactix open their title defence at home against the Ascot Park Hotel Steel. 

The Tactix have won their last 10 matches against the Steel and were unbeaten at home in 2025, making them a formidable opponent in Christchurch.  

Both teams enter 2026 with fresh line-ups, with the Tactix undergoing one of the biggest rebuilds of the off-season. 

Key points: 

• The Tactix begin their premiership defence with a new-look squad  

• The Steel will look to break a long losing streak in this match-up  

• Christchurch proved a fortress for the Tactix in 2025  

Stars v Mystics 

Sunday 12 April, Pulman Arena, Auckland, 4pm 

Round 1 concludes with the Northern Challenge, as the Stars host the GoSweetSpot Mystics at Pulman Arena. 

The Mystics have won eight of the last nine meetings between the teams and claimed the minor premiership in 2025 before finishing runners-up.  

The Stars will be aiming to reset after a challenging 2025 season. 

Key points: 

• Maia Wilson comes up against her former Stars teammates  

• Phoenix Karaka is set to reach her 150th National League match  

• While recent results have favoured the Mystics, many match-ups between the teams have been decided by six goals or fewer  

Round 1 at a glance 

• Saturday: Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse v Avis Magic (Wellington)  

• Saturday: VIP Frames & Trusses Tactix v Ascot Park Hotel Steel (Christchurch)  

• Sunday: Stars v GoSweetSpot Mystics (Auckland)  

All matches available live and free on TVNZ 2 and TVNZ +