There's a touch of Kia Toa Netball Club on the Gold Coast now all thanks to Manawa Ruki, daughter of Corinna and Damon Ruki.

CNC looked to find out more and started out by asking how Manawa found herself on the Gold Coast.

MW: I left Christchurch in 2015 because I was offered a job on the Gold Coast. At the time I was playing for Kia Toa A. I played Kia Toa's first season in Premier netball.

CNC: Up until now how have you been involved in netball in the GC?

I have been involved with indoor netball, playing Div1 and also Superleague for my main centre. I have made the Queensland open mixed squad as a training partner. I filled in for a team called Magic - another successful Maori club on the Gold Coast which also triggered my emotions about outdoor netball.

CNC: Can you tell us a little bit about the background to setting up the team, naming it and a little bit about your players?

MW: Kia Toa has always been my heart and soul. I started playing for Kia Toa 2007, as you know just like my parents I helped umpire for the club, I also coached one of our kids teams. Looking for another club was never an option. I always told my mum 'One day you will see Kia Toa on the Gold Coast'. When I moved here I would say to my friends 'Oh I'm going to make an outdoor team'.

And then one of my friends suggested a few months ago to make an outdoor team and I was like no I don't want to play. But then I thought here is my chance for Kia Toa, and friends were mentioning they wanted to play outdoor etc so I had a team. I messaged my mum to ask all the auntys who are on the Kia Toa committee if I could use Kia Toa name for my team and they all loved the idea and supported my suggestion.

Most of my teammates are from NZ, with some from Christchurch. But they all play Div1 netball.

CNC: You’ve had some amazing feedback on your uniforms. Can you please tell us about the design and who designed it?

MW: The reason for my design was I took the old Kia Toa pattern and I wanted the design to look like a sash however when my designer OZJT sports got the pattern what he showed me just didn't work. I kept the colours of Kia Toa blue white and black however I wanted to stand out when Kia Toa Christchurch and Kia Toa GC meet for a match game! 

CNC: The competition has been underway for a few weeks now, how are you going?

MW: The competition is definitely up to standard which we were already aware of however due to the team committing to indoor netball as we have all just finished playing superleague we are just working on playing on bigger courts and getting our fitness up for the hour games. 

We play on a Tuesday night, the grade is unconfirmed yet we are happy to play in either Div1 or Div2. There are two venues Carrara Stadium and St Kevins Gym.

CNC: Any advice for anyone moving overseas and looking to set up a netball team?

MW: If you want to set up a team it has to be the right time. For me everything has fallen into place. My captain Tamara Mamanu has stepped up and taken over responsibility to organising the girls, my coaches Raewyn Ngauma and Laurence West train teach and guide the ladies. So they have all supported me. Raewyn has a lot to do with outdoor netball so she has helped me a lot by organising this team and the support from my parents.

Manawa, from all of us in Christchurch congratulations and well done! We look forward to hearing about the Kia Toa Christchurch v Kia Toa Gold Coast clash when it happens!

Article added: Thursday 11 July 2019