The 2026 ANZ Premiership season gets underway this weekend, marking the 10th season of elite domestic netball in New Zealand.
The ANZ Premiership will celebrate its 10th season in 2026, highlighting a decade of elite domestic netball while ushering in a new era for the competition.
Heading into her second year at the helm, top of the wish list for Go Media Stars coach Temepara Bailey is an injury-free 2026 ANZ Premiership campaign.
Plenty of player movement is set to add extra intrigue to the start of the 2026 ANZ Premiership, with a new-look Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse kicking off the season at home against the AVIS Magic in the opening match of the draw confirmed today.
Based in South Auckland, the Stars became the newest elite level netball team in 2017, representing the south and east of Auckland. With the end of the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship in 2016, the Stars joined the five other established New Zealand franchises to form the six-strong standalone ANZ Premiership.
Former Melbourne Vixens head coach Julie Hoornweg became the Stars inaugural coach and Leana de Bruin their first captain.
The Stars are based out of Bruce Pulman Park Papakura with Pulman Arena being their main home venue.
Despite their short history, the Stars have quickly evolved into a quality team and have featured in three Grand Finals (2019, 2022 and 2023), finishing runners-up on each occasion. They have also built a strong and connected support base in south Auckland, representing one of New Zealand’s largest communities.
The Stars were named after the Matariki star cluster which also features on the team’s logo, and incorporates their club colours of purple and silver.
