Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic are a New Zealand netball team based in

Hamilton Hamilton may refer to: * Alexander Hamilton (1755/1757–1804), first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States * ''Hamilton'' (musical), a 2015 Broadway musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda ** ''Hamilton'' (al ...

. The team were formed in

1998 1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''. Events January * January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for Lunar water, frozen water, in soil i ...

, following the merger of Waikato Wildcats and Bay of Plenty Magic. In 1997, Wildcats and Magic had been founder members of the Coca-Cola Cup/National Bank Cup league. Between 1999 and 2007, the new team continued to play in the league. Magic are the only team from the Coca-Cola Cup/National Bank Cup era to have retained their original name. Between

2008 2008 was designated as: *International Year of Languages *International Year of Planet Earth *International Year of the Potato *International Year of Sanitation The Great Recession, a worldwide recession which began in 2007, continued throu ...

and

2016 2016 was designated as: * International Year of Pulses by the sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly. * International Year of Global Understanding (IYGU) by the International Council for Science (ICSU), the Internationa ...

, they played in the

ANZ Championship The ANZ Championship, also known as the Trans-Tasman Netball League, is a former netball league featuring teams from both Australia and New Zealand. Between 2008 and 2016, it was the top-level league in both countries. The competition was owned ...

. Since

2017 2017 was designated as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development by the United Nations General Assembly. Events January * January 1 – Istanbul nightclub shooting: A gunman dressed as Santa Claus opens fire at the ...

, Magic have represented Netball Waikato Bay of Plenty in the

ANZ Premiership The ANZ Premiership is the top level netball league featuring teams from New Zealand. In 2017 it replaced the ANZ Championship, which also included teams from Australia, as the top level netball league in New Zealand. It is organised by Netbal ...

. Netball Waikato Bay of Plenty is the governing body that represents the

North Island The North Island ( , 'the fish of Māui', historically New Ulster) is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, islands of New Zealand, separated from the larger but less populous South Island by Cook Strait. With an area of , it is the List ...

regions of

Waikato The Waikato () is a region of the upper North Island of New Zealand. It covers the Waikato District, Waipā District, Matamata-Piako District, South Waikato District and Hamilton City, as well as Hauraki, Coromandel Peninsula, the nort ...

and

Bay of Plenty The Bay of Plenty () is a large bight (geography), bight along the northern coast of New Zealand's North Island. It stretches from the Coromandel Peninsula in the west to Cape Runaway in the east. Called ''Te Moana-a-Toitehuatahi'' (the Ocean ...

. During the National Bank Cup era, Magic were premiers in 2005 and 2006. During the ANZ Championship era, Magic were the most successful New Zealand team. In

they were minor premiers and they were grand finalists in 2008 and

2010 The year saw a multitude of natural and environmental disasters such as the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and the 2010 Chile earthquake. The 2009 swine flu pandemic, swine flu pandemic which began the previous year ...

before winning the overall title in

2012 2012 was designated as: *International Year of Cooperatives *International Year of Sustainable Energy for All Events January *January 4 – The Cicada 3301 internet hunt begins. * January 12 – Peaceful protests begin in the R ...

. They were the only New Zealand team to win the ANZ Championship.

History

Formation

In 1998 Waikato Wildcats, featuring Jenny-May Coffin, and Bay of Plenty Magic, with

Lyn Gunson Lyn Gunson (born 31 December 1953), also known as Lyn Parker, is a former New Zealand netball international and a former head coach of both the New Zealand and England national netball teams. She captained New Zealand when they won the 1985 Wor ...

as head coach, became founder members of the Coca-Cola Cup/National Bank Cup league. In 1999 these two teams merged to become Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic. Gunson became the new team's first coach. Amigene Metcalfe, Tania Nicholson and

Cushla Lichtwark Cushla Myra Arama Lichtwark (born 29 November 1980) is a New Zealand netball player and a former footballer. Career She played netball in the ANZ Championship for the Central Pulse since the inaugural season of the Wellington-based in 2008, and ...

were all members of the team's first squad.

Coca-Cola Cup/National Bank Cup

Between 1999 and 2007, Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic played in the Coca-Cola Cup/National Bank Cup league. During this era, they were coached by three future

New Zealand national netball team The New Zealand national netball team, commonly known as the Silver Ferns ( or ), represent Netball New Zealand in international netball tournaments such as the Netball World Cup, the Netball at the Commonwealth Games, Commonwealth Games, the ...

head coaches –

Ruth Aitken Dame Ruth Ellina Aitken (née Fathers; born 31 July 1956) is a New Zealand former international-level netball player and former head coach of the New Zealand national netball team, the Silver Ferns. Biography Aitken was born in 1956 in Paeroa ...

and

Noeline Taurua Dame Noeline Taurua (born 26 March 1968) is a New Zealand international netball coach and former representative player. She is currently head coach of the New Zealand national netball team, the Silver Ferns. Early life Taurua was born in Papa ...

. In 2005 and 2006, with a team coached by Taurua and featuring Amigene Metcalfe,

Irene van Dyk Irene van Dyk (née Viljoen; born 21 June 1972) is a former netball international who represented both New Zealand and South Africa. Between 2000 and 2014 she made 145 senior appearances for New Zealand. She was a member of the New Zealand teams ...

Casey Williams Casey May Kopua (née Williams; born 19 June 1985) is a retired New Zealand international netball player and former captain of the New Zealand national netball team, the Silver Ferns, and the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic. Kopua became a member ...

Laura Langman Laura Robyn Langman (born 16 April 1986) is a retired New Zealand international netball player, who last played domestic netball for the Sunshine Coast Lightning in the Australian Super Netball league. Primarily a midcourt player, Langman is ...

and

Joline Henry Joline Henry (born 29 September 1982 in Whanganui, New Zealand) is a New Zealand former netball player. Henry was a member of the New Zealand national netball team, the Silver Ferns, and has played for the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic (2008–20 ...

, Magic won two successive National Bank Cup titles. On both occasions they defeated

Southern Sting Southern Sting are a former New Zealand netball team that were based in Invercargill. Between 1998 and 2007, Sting played in the Coca-Cola Cup/National Bank Cup league. They were the league's most successful team. They played in all ten grand ...

in the grand final. Magic are the only team from the Coca-Cola Cup/National Bank Cup era to have retained their original name. ;Statistics

ANZ Championship

Between

and

, Magic played in the

. Magic were the most successful New Zealand team during ANZ Championship era. With a team coached by

, captained by Amigene Metcalfe and featuring

, Magic finished the

season as minor premiers and overall runners-up. During the regular season Magic won 10 of their 13 matches and finished above eventual champions

New South Wales Swifts New South Wales Swifts are an Australian professional netball team based in Sydney, New South Wales. Since 2017 they have represented Netball New South Wales in Suncorp Super Netball. Between 2008 and 2016, they played in the ANZ Championship. ...

. Magic subsequently lost to Swifts in the major semi–final, defeated

Adelaide Thunderbirds Adelaide Thunderbirds are an netball in Australia, Australian professional netball team based in Adelaide, South Australia. Since 2017 Suncorp Super Netball season, 2017 they have played in Suncorp Super Netball. Between 2008 ANZ Championship s ...

in the preliminary final before losing the grand final to Swifts. In

2009 2009 was designated as the International Year of Astronomy by the United Nations to coincide with the 400th anniversary of Galileo Galilei's first known astronomical studies with a telescope and the publication of Astronomia Nova by Joha ...

Magic were regular season runners up. In

, Magic were grand finalists once again. They finished the regular season third behind Swifts and Thunderbirds. They subsequently defeated

Southern Steel Southern Steel may refer to: * Southern Steel (netball) Southern Steel are a netball in New Zealand, New Zealand netball team based in Invercargill. Between 2008 ANZ Championship season, 2008 and 2016 ANZ Championship season, 2016, they played ...

in the minor semi-final and Swifts in the preliminary final but lost to Thunderbirds in the grand final. In

2011 The year marked the start of a Arab Spring, series of protests and revolutions throughout the Arab world advocating for democracy, reform, and economic recovery, later leading to the depositions of world leaders in Tunisia, Egypt, and Yemen ...

they were again regular season runners up. In

, with a team coached by Taurua, captained by

and featuring

Leana de Bruin Leana de Bruin (née du Plooy) (born 9 July 1977) is a South African and New Zealand international netball player. De Bruin played 34 tests for South Africa before moving to New Zealand in 2000. She made her on-court debut for the Silver Ferns i ...

Julianna Naoupu Julianna Naoupu (born 1 March 1990) is a Samoan New Zealander who played for the Samoa national netball team and who plays in the ANZ Championship for the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic. Career She was a member of the Silver Ferns wider traini ...

and

, Magic eventually won the premiership. Magic lost their first four matches. However, they subsequently won 12 matches in a row to finish third during the regular season and champions overall. In the minor semi-final they defeated Thunderbirds and in the preliminary final they defeated

Northern Mystics Northern Mystics are a New Zealand netball team based in Auckland. Between 2008 and 2016, they played in the ANZ Championship. Since 2017 they have represented Netball Northern in the ANZ Premiership. Netball Northern is the governing body t ...

after extra time. In the grand final they defeated

Melbourne Vixens Melbourne Vixens is an netball in Australia, Australian professional netball team based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Victoria. Since 2017 Suncorp Super Netball season, 2017 they have represented Netball Victoria in Suncorp Super Netball. B ...

41–38. As a result, they became the first, and only, New Zealand team to win the Championship. They were also the first and only team to start the season with four defeats and win the title and the first and only team to finish third in the regular season and win the title. In July 2013,

Julie Fitzgerald Julie Fitzgerald is a veteran Australian netball coach. Between 1997 and 2007, Fitzgerald served as head coach of Sydney Swifts in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy league. She guided Swifts to premierships in 2001, 2004, 2006 and 2007. Between ...

was appointed head coach of Magic. Between

2014 The year 2014 was marked by the surge of the Western African Ebola epidemic, West African Ebola epidemic, which began in 2013, becoming the List of Ebola outbreaks, most widespread outbreak of the Ebola, Ebola virus in human history, resul ...

and

, she guided Magic to the ANZ Championship Finals Series every season. In both

2015 2015 was designated by the United Nations as: * International Year of Light * International Year of Soil __TOC__ Events January * January 1 – Lithuania officially adopts the euro as its currency, replacing the litas, and becomes ...

and 2016, she guided Magic to the New Zealand Conference titles. ;Regular season statistics

ANZ Premiership

Since

, Magic have played in the

. ;Regular season statistics

Grand finals

;

National Bank Cup The National Bank Cup, originally known as the Coca-Cola Cup, was the top level national Netball in New Zealand, New Zealand netball league between 1998 in New Zealand, 1998 and 2007 in New Zealand, 2007. The league was organised by Netball Ne ...

;

Home venues

Since

, Magic's main home venue has been

Claudelands Arena Globox Arena (formerly Claudelands Arena) is a multi-purpose indoor sports and entertainment arena located in Hamilton, New Zealand. Globox Arena is part of Claudelands Events Centre which contains a 6000-capacity arena and four-star conference ...

, now known as the Globox Arena. They also play home matches at

Tauranga Tauranga (, Māori language for "resting place," or "safe anchorage") is a coastal city in the Bay of Plenty Region and the List of cities in New Zealand, fifth-most populous city of New Zealand, with an urban population of or roughly 3% of t ...

's ASB Baypark Stadium and

Rotorua Rotorua () is a city in the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand's North Island. It is sited on the southern shores of Lake Rotorua, from which it takes its name. It is the seat of the Rotorua Lakes District, a territorial authorities of New Zea ...

Energy Events Centre The Energy Events Centre is a venue for sports, conferences, exhibitions, banquets and concerts in Rotorua, New Zealand. The centre can hold up to 3,500 people and was finished in February 2007. The driving force behind the establishment of th ...

. Between 1998 and

Mystery Creek Events Centre Mystery Creek Events Centre is one of New Zealand's biggest events centres. Located in the outskirts of Hamilton, New Zealand Hamilton (, ) is an inland city in the North Island of New Zealand. Located on the banks of the Waikato River, it ...

served as Magic's main Hamilton home venue. During this era they also played their Tauranga matches at the Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre.

Notable players

2024 squad

Internationals

; ; *

Grace Rasmussen Grace Kara (née Rasmussen; born 18 March 1988 in Auckland, New Zealand) is a former New Zealand netball player of Samoan descent. Kara played in the National Bank Cup for the Auckland Diamonds from 2005 to 2007. She continued playing in Auck ...

* Hayley Saunders * Kristiana Manu'a ; *

Caitlin Bassett Caitlin Bassett (born 23 May 1988) is a former Australian netballer, who played for Giants Netball and the Australia national netball team. Between 2017 and 2021 Bassett captained Australia in international netball tests. Career Caitlin playe ...

* Kristiana Manu'a * Jamie-Lee Price * Peta Scholz ; *

Jade Clarke Jade Bridget Clarke (born 17 October 1983 in Manchester, England) is an English netball player. Primarily a midcourt defender, Clarke was selected for the England national netball team in 2002, making her senior debut the following year against ...

Joanne Harten Joanne Elizabeth Harten (born 21 March 1989) is a former List of England international netball players, England netball international. She was a member of the England national netball team, England team that won the gold medal at the Netball a ...

; *

Frances Solia Frances Solia (born 20 September 1976) is a Samoan netball player in the ANZ Championship, playing for the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic in New Zealand. She previously played for the Central Pulse Central Pulse are a New Zealand netball tea ...

; *

Lenize Potgieter Lenize Potgieter (born 2 May 1994) is a South African professional netball player who currently plays for Manchester Thunder and the South African national team. Early life Potgieter was born in Polokwane, Limpopo before moving to Pretori ...

* Liezel Wium

Captains

Award winners

ANZ Championship awards

; ANZ Championship MVP ;Notes *

and

Temepara George Temepara Anne Bailey (formerly Clark, née George; born 23 October 1975 in Auckland) is a New Zealand international netball player of Samoan and Māori descent. She was a member of the Silver Ferns national squad in 1996, and from 2000–2011 ...

shared the 2013 award. *

and

Kimberlee Green Kimberlee Green (born 5 March 1986) is an Australian former international netball player. Green was the captain of the Giants Netball team in the Suncorp Super Netball league and represented the Australia national netball team, Australian natio ...

shared the 2014 award. ; ANZ Championship Grand Final MVP ; ANZ Championship Best New Talent

Coaches

Head coaches

Assistant coaches

Main sponsors

Reserve teams

;National Bank Cup era During the

era, Magic also had a development team. Its head coaches included Hikitia Gallagher and Rhonda Wilcox while Hayley Stockman was a former player. ;National Netball League Since 2016, Netball Waikato Bay of Plenty have entered a team in the National Netball League. In 2018 and 2019 Waikato Bay of Plenty were NNL grand finalists. However, on both occasions they lost to Central Zone/Central Manawa.

Honours

**''Winners'': 2005, 2006 *

**''Winners'':

**''Runners Up'':

**''Minor premiers'':

* ANZ Championship – New Zealand Conference **''Winners'':

References

External links

Official website

Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic on Facebook
{{Netball in New Zealand Netball teams in New Zealand ANZ Premiership teams ANZ Championship teams National Bank Cup teams Sports clubs and teams established in 1998 1998 establishments in New Zealand