New Zealand's Kaitlyn Watts spearheads the Kiwi women's team and arrived in Tauranga having won the U19 Oceania Junior Championships title as well as the Aon New Zealand Junior Open title. Watts made the quarter-final of the special plate at the World Junior Championships Individual event in Eindhoven in 2015.
The New Zealand team also includes Anika Jackson, whose auntie Leilani Rorani, was runnerup at the 2000 and 2001 World Open, and won 1999 and 2000 British Opens. Rotorua's Camden Te Kani-McQueen rounds out the team.
The men play as individuals only, and include Finn Trimble who was part of the 2016 World Junior Men's team where he was knocked out of the Individuals event in round three of the Special Plate.
Matthew Lucente is making his first appearance at the World Junior Championships. He and Gabe Yam are looking to gain a bit of experience as they are young enough to play in the men's team at next year's World Championship in Chennai.
The tournament is played at three venues in Tauranga, Mt Maunganui and Te Puke with an all-glass court inside the Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre the centrepiece. Seating for about 1000 spectators has been built around the court and entry is by a gold coin donation. Entry to the other venues is free.