Netball: New uniforms jazz up team

DELIGHTED: The ANZ Horo-Whaka Hawks in their new uniforms. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Netball has proved a winner at Horohoro School and Te Kura o Te Whakarewarewa.

The two schools joined together in 2013 to field combined sports teams. The most successful partnership came in netball where three combined Horo-Whaka teams were started.

This year the netball teams have received new uniforms from ANZ and First Sovereign Trust.

Horohoro principal Eden Chapman said the new uniforms were greatly needed and appreciated.

"We played in really out-of-date uniforms and, while the girls had complete pride in representing their schools, the principals of both schools regretted not having modern uniforms," Chapman said.

"This year thanks to ANZ and First Sovereign Trust Limited the Horo-Whaka teams have beautiful new netball dresses for two combined teams and the Te Kura o Te Whakarewarewa's under-11 team."

The uniforms are jade and black, with the jade representing Horohoro School and black representing Te Kura o Te Whakarewarewa.

Horo-Whaka under-9 coach Jade Aislabie said the children loved playing together.

"The important thing is that the students are involved in sport and dealing with the challenges; highs and lows of competition," she said. "It doesn't matter to me if my kids are playing for another school if it means that tamariki from small schools are able to experience the same opportunities as students from bigger schools."