Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse and AVIS Magic will herald in a new era of ANZ Premiership netball when they meet in the opening match on Saturday 10 May for the 2025 season with the schedule confirmed today.
After seven seasons as a head coach in the ANZ Premiership, Kiri Wills will be departing the Stars to take up an opportunity as head coach of the Queensland Firebirds in the Super Netball competition in Australia.
With a place in the Finals Series on the line, the MG Mystics were pushed all the way before nailing a hard-fought 63-55 win over the Stars in Auckland on Sunday.
A storming all-court effort propelled the Mystics Men to a tight one-goal win in game three of the men’s series with a last gasp 47-46 victory over the Stars.
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.
