New awards for Magic players

Magic player, Leanna de Bruin, fights for the ball with Tactix player, Anna Thompson. Photo/Alan Gibson

A new partnership with the Waikato Bay of Plenty Zone has been announced with the launch of "Mother Earth Player of the Day" awards.

Mother Earth has been a supporter of the Waikato Bay of Plenty Kia Magic netball team for five years.

Now seven netball centres in the Waikato Bay of Plenty region will take part in Mother Earth Player of the Day - Whakatane, Otorohanga, Cambridge, Te Awamutu, Tokoroa, Harbourside (Tauranga) and Matamata.

For ten weeks, each of the seven netball centres will select and award Mother Earth Player of the Day recipients with product from Mother Earth and a special certificate.

One of the first Mother Earth Player of the Day recipients, Kiefer Davies from Tauranga Intermediate, was presented a special basket of Mother Earth product from Mother Earth mascot, Basil McNuts at the Kia Magic game in Tauranga last night.

The new focus extends the reach of the current netball sponsorship beyond elite athletes and offers Mother Earth an opportunity to get behind every day Kiwis participating in sport and living a healthy active lifestyle.

Each netball centre will select their winners based on outstanding demonstration of teamwork, notable effort or improvement in netball skills, and passion for the game.

"The shift in focus and launch of this concept is a direct result of Mother Earth's commitment to supporting its local communities and being involved at a grass roots level," Mother Earth senior brand manager Caroline Potter said.

"Our hope is that through Mother Earth Player of the Day we are encouraging and rewarding young people in the community who are getting involved with local sport."

The programme kicked off with the first game of the season on May 10 where the first Mother Earth Player of the Day awards were handed out.

To celebrate the launch, one of the first recipients, Kiefer Davies, was randomly selected to attend the Kia Magic vs Mainland Tactix game in Tauranga last night.

At half time on court, Kiefer was presented with a certificate and product goodies from the Mother Earth mascot, Basil McNuts.

For more information on the Mother Earth 'Player of the Day' sponsorship visit www.motherearth.co.nz