Netball has been played competitively in Rotorua since the 1930s, and the city hosts what is widely described as New Zealand’s largest club netball tournament.
This guide covers the courts, the organisation that runs local netball, the junior grades, and the Kurangaituku tournament that brings hundreds of teams to the city every spring.
Netball Rotorua Centre
Local netball is run by Netball Rotorua Centre, based at the Westbrook complex on Malfroy Road West in Pomare. The centre is affiliated to Netball New Zealand and administers club competitions, junior grades, umpire development and representative teams.
The centre can be reached on 07 348 6578, and its website is hosted on the Sporty platform at sporty.co.nz/netballrotorua.
The regional ANZ Premiership franchise covering Rotorua and the wider Bay of Plenty is the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic — see our Magic page for the franchise’s history.
The Westbrook netball courts
Westbrook Netball complex
| Location | Malfroy Road West, Pomare, Rotorua |
| Courts | 16 outdoor courts, resurfaced in recent years |
| Line markings | Standard 50mm width |
| On site | Pavilion, car park, spectator areas |
| Smoke-free | Courts, pavilion and car park |
| Run by | Netball Rotorua Centre — 07 348 6578 |
| Worth knowing | Exposed site — dress for wind and cold; limited shade in summer |
Rotorua’s netball is centred on one venue rather than spread across the city. The Westbrook Netball complex sits off Malfroy Road and has 16 netball courts. The courts have been resurfaced in recent years.
There is a pavilion on site with an upstairs area used by officials, and a car park adjoining Malfroy Road. The courts, pavilion and car park are all smoke-free.
The courts are outdoor and sealed, marked to the standard 50mm line width used throughout the sport. Full measurements are in our netball court dimensions guide.
Being outdoors and largely unsheltered, conditions matter here. Local players consistently mention wind and cold as the main factors to plan for, and shade is limited on hot days.
The Kurangaituku Netball Tournament
This is the event Rotorua is known for in netball circles.
Where the name comes from
The first Kurangaituku tournament was played in 1933. The Rotorua Borough Council ran a Spring Carnival to promote Rotorua as a tourist centre and commissioned master carver Pine Taiapa to carve a trophy from a solid block of wood — the Kurangaituku Trophy, named for the woman in the legend of Hatupatu and the Birdwoman, Kurangaituku.
The 2025 tournament marked the event’s 90th anniversary.
How it grew
It began with six representative teams playing on two courts at the Government Gardens. It expanded to 100 teams on 10 courts over two days at Kuirau Park, then to two weekends on 20 courts with 300 teams. It is now held over three weekends to accommodate a weekend for school-aged players — though with the courts resurfaced and numbering 16, entries are sometimes capped.
The three-weekend format
Kurangaituku: three weekends, three groups of grades
| Weekend | Grades | Who can enter |
|---|---|---|
| One | Social grades C, D, E and F | Club teams only |
| Two | A, B, C and D grades plus Masters (35+) | Club teams only |
| Three | Year 7–8, Year 9–10, Year 11–13 | School and rep teams |
| First played in 1933. The A-grade winner takes the carved wooden Kurangaituku Trophy. Dates and fees change annually. | ||
The first weekend covers the social grades C, D, E and F. The second weekend is the more competitive A, B, C and D grades plus Masters, for players aged 35 and over. The final weekend is for school grades, from intermediate through to secondary — Year 7 and 8, Year 9 and 10, and Year 11, 12 and 13.
Entry is restricted to club teams for the first two weekends, with school teams entering the third. The A-grade winner receives the large wooden trophy.
For the school weekend, teams must be affiliated to an association affiliated to Netball New Zealand, must nominate an umpire, and the tournament committee reserves the right to re-grade any team. Intermediate teams may include up to three boys in each area of the court under Netball Rotorua regulations; collegiate and senior secondary grades were girls-only in 2025.
Some clubs have made the trip for decades — Auckland’s Jolly Netball Club, founded in 1975, has attended every year since it formed.
Entry fees and dates change annually, so check the centre’s tournament pages before planning a trip.
Junior netball in Rotorua
Junior grades follow Netball New Zealand’s futureFERNS pathway, which replaces full adult rules with modified formats that get younger players more touches of the ball.
Junior netball formats by year group
| Year group | Format | Ball | Goal height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1–2 | 4 v 4, one third of the court | 20cm grip ball | Hula hoop or 2.1m |
| Year 3–4 | 5 v 5, two thirds of the court | Size 4 | 2.6m |
| Year 5–6 | 6 v 6, full court | Size 4 | 2.6m |
| Year 7–8 | 7 v 7, full court | Size 5 | 3.05m |
| Year 1 and 2 players get five seconds to pass or shoot, and passers and shooters are not defended. | |||
In Year 1 and 2, players use a 20cm grip ball with hula hoops or goals set no higher than 2.1m, play 4 v 4 on one third of the court, have five seconds to pass or shoot, and passers and shooters are not defended.
Year 3 and 4 play 5 v 5 over two thirds of the court with a size 4 ball and 2.6-metre goals. Year 5 and 6 play 6 v 6 on a full court, still with 2.6-metre posts and a size 4 ball.
Netball New Zealand has confirmed a Year 5 and 6 format update taking effect from 2027, with the hoop height staying at 2.6m. Nothing changed in 2026.
Ideas for training sessions are in our netball drills guide, and beginners can start with how to play netball.
Secondary school and representative netball
Rotorua’s secondary schools field teams across the age grades, with Rotorua Girls’ High School, John Paul College, Western Heights High School and Rotorua Lakes High School among the local schools competing.
For players progressing beyond club level, Netball Rotorua runs representative trials and enters teams in regional and national tournaments. The national calendar includes the Netball NZ Under 18 Championships, the Netball NZ Open Championships and the New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships.
Safety on outdoor courts
Netball New Zealand’s injury prevention programme applies at every level. ACC and Netball New Zealand developed NetballSmart in response to a high rate of serious knee and ankle injuries, and ACC states that a warm-up programme like NetballSmart can reduce ACL injuries by up to 50%. The official warm-up runs 15 to 20 minutes and is designed to be done two to three times a week.
Two equipment points apply everywhere, Westbrook included:
Goalposts must be padded with uniform padding no more than 50mm thick, extending the full length of the pole. Details are in our netball hoop guide.
Umpires check jewellery and fingernails before play. Nails must be short enough not to scratch or snag in a contest. Court shoes with proper lateral support matter more on sealed outdoor surfaces than on indoor timber — our netball equipment guide covers footwear.
Getting involved
Whether you are joining a club, entering a social team or bringing a team to Kurangaituku, the starting point is the same: Netball Rotorua Centre’s website and phone line. Grades, draws, entry deadlines and fees are published there each season and change from year to year.
This article is provided for factual and informational purposes only. Competition grades, dates, fees and entry conditions change every season — confirm current details directly with Netball Rotorua Centre or Netball New Zealand before making plans or travel bookings. Details on this page were verified in August 2026.
Reference sources
- North Canterbury Netball Centre — official website
- Want to play netball: grades, days and venues — NCNC
- Year 7 & 8 competition information and season dates — NCNC
- Year 5 & 6 draw and court duty requirements — NCNC
- Open grade and senior representative fixtures — NCNC
- Centre contacts and committee — NCNC
- Woolworths futureFERNS — Netball New Zealand
- Facilities, equipment and uniform requirements — World Netball
- NetballSmart — Netball New Zealand injury prevention programme
- NetballSmart and ACL injury data — ACC
Frequently asked questions
Where are the netball courts in Rotorua?
At the Westbrook Netball complex, off Malfroy Road in Pomare. The complex has 16 outdoor courts along with a pavilion and car park.
Who runs netball in Rotorua?
Netball Rotorua Centre, based at the Westbrook complex. It administers club competitions, junior grades, umpiring and representative teams, and is affiliated to Netball New Zealand.
What is the Kurangaituku Netball Tournament?
An annual club netball tournament in Rotorua, first played in 1933 and widely described as the largest in New Zealand. It runs across three weekends and is named after the Kurangaituku Trophy, carved by Pine Taiapa for the Rotorua Borough Council’s Spring Carnival.
When is the Kurangaituku tournament held?
Across three weekends in late winter and early spring. In 2025 the social grades played first, the competitive and Masters grades the following weekend, and school grades on 13–14 September. Confirm current dates with Netball Rotorua.
Can boys play in Rotorua netball?
At intermediate level in the Kurangaituku school weekend, up to three boys are permitted in each area of the court under Netball Rotorua regulations. Collegiate and senior secondary grades were girls-only in 2025.
What ball and hoop height do junior players use?
Year 1 and 2 use a 20cm grip ball with goals no higher than 2.1m. Years 3 to 6 use a size 4 ball with 2.6-metre posts. Year 7 and 8 move to the full-size game with a size 5 ball and 3.05-metre posts.
How do I enter a team in a Rotorua tournament?
Entries are handled through Netball Rotorua Centre’s website on the Sporty platform, where entry forms, fees and deadlines are published each year. Teams must be affiliated to a Netball New Zealand association and nominate an umpire.
