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South Island’s Te Waipounamu Wāhine Māori side has been finalised ahead of the Māori Wāhine National Cricket Tournament, held in Heretaunga from 13th October to the 15th.
5 teams will compete for the Rona McKenzie Taonga in honour of the White Ferns’ first ever Māori captain Rona McKenzie (Ngāti Awa).
Te Waipounamu Wāhine Māori have named a young side, filled with budding cricketers across the South Island.
Otago swing bowler Harriett Cuttance and pacer Zarah Moana are big names in this squad.
Moana is yet to break into the Otago starting XI, but has made an impact for the Sparks pathways teams.
She took 4 wickets in the U19 National Tournament in 2021, and was added to the Emerging Sparks 2022-23 programme alongside U19 teammates Isy Parry and Louisa Kotkamp.
Cuttance earned her only cap for the Sparks in the 2021/22 Hallyburton Johnstone Shield Final versus then Super Smash champions Wellington Blaze. She picked up a solitary run at 11 from her team’s 220, and grabbed the wicket of Rebecca Burns in her 4 overs.
Otago went on to take home the silverware in front of the Queenstown crowd.
She featured for their U21 team in 2017 and 2018, then the U19 team from 2019 to 2022 following the change in the National competitions age range.
Outside of cricket, Cuttance has been prominent on New Zealand Netball radars having made the 2020 Netball NZ National Development Camp.
Right-arm quick Emily Evans and left-arm counterpart Grace Kitchen bolster the bowling attack alongside the Otago pair.
Kitchen has been plying her trade in the Wellington ranks whereas Evans has seen her place in Sparks setup.
Libby Burne and Danielle Hemi will look to give the top order some stability having played for Central Hawkes Bay College together last year.
Wicketkeeper Addison Stackhouse is likely to be the one behind the sticks for the Te Waipounamu Wāhine Māori team, playing alongside North West Cricket Club colleague Katriel Thomas, both representing Canterbury in the team.
Despite the strength in this youthful side, it’s the South Island’s coaching staff that really stands out.
Former Otago offspinner Tanya Morrison is named as head coach. With 65 List A games and 28 T20 caps under her belt, Morrison has put her experience to use having coached Otago Sparks’ U19s team and the Māori Schoolgirls (2020 and 2023).
She has also been included in this year’s NZC Coaching Pathway.
Tama Walker is Morrison’s vice, but carries a wealth of importance in Otago cricket. He was named head of the Sparks selection panel ahead of the 2022/23 season having worked as head of Women’s Cricket for Otago Cricket between 2016 and 2018.
Walker has also played his part in the Māori community, with a previous role as Kaitakawaenga Māori – Māori Community Liaison Officer at University of Otago.
Te Waipounamu Wāhine Māori Squad:
Libby Burne (Ngāti Mutunga), Harriett Cuttance (Waikato Tainui), Emily Evans (Waikato Tainui), Danielle Hemi (Ngāti Kahungunu), Brooke Huddleston (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa), Ana Kendrick (Ngāti Tūwharetoa), Grace Kitchen (Ngāruahine, Ngāti Raukawa), Zarah Moana (Ngāti Porou), Charlotte Morris (Ngāi Tahu), Addison Stackhouse (Ngāi Tahu), Katriel Thomas (Ngātiwai)
Head Coach: Tanya Morrison (Ngāi Tahu)
Asst Coach: Tama Walker (Ngāti Porou)
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