n Once again, the Eastern Bay of Plenty had several athletes don the silver fern in 2025. They represented New Zealand in a variety of sporting disciplines, showing the depth and breadth of the region’s talent.

■ Black Ferns XVs and Sevens
The Eastern Bay is strong when it comes to women’s rugby and that was no different in 2025 as Stacey Waaka, Mahina Paul, Mererangi Paul, Kate Henwood, Ruahei Demant and Luka Connor all wore black last season.

Waaka and Mahina Paul were part of the New Zealand Black Ferns Sevens side that won the Sevens World Series, while Waaka joined Demant and Henwood in the Black Ferns squad for the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England.

Mererangi Paul was a late addition to the side but didn’t play any games, however, she and Connor were part of the Black Ferns XV which toured South Africa for the first time.

Demant returned to England to play for Bristol Bears playing in the Premiership Women’s Rugby.

■ New Zealand hockey representative

It’s many years since Whakatāne has had a hockey player don the New Zealand colours but that happened at an adult level in September when Bradley Rothwell made his Black Sticks men’s debut against Australia.

It was a proud moment for hockey in the region.

Rothwell was also part of the New Zealand team which competed at the under-21 hockey world cup.

  Expect him to make many more appearances in black moving forward.

■ All Back Sevens duo and under-20 representative

Although it wasn’t the best year on the field performance wise for the All Blacks men’s sevens, the Eastern Bay can be proud of Rūātoki’s Ngarohi McGarvey-Black and Ōpōtiki’s Dylan Collier, who was captain at times during the season.

McGarvey-Black and Collier, two of the more experienced players in the NZ squad, still found time to show their class and are set to be involved in the 2026 campaign.    

Jai Tamati, 20,  is another Eastern Bay rugby standout who was part of the Baby Blacks team that finished second at the Under-20 World Cup in Italy.

■ New Zealand under-21 netball representative

The Eastern Bay has had a couple of talented netballers over the years such as Simmon Wilbore, Monica Falkner and Khiarna Williams to name a few.

Charlice Bryce looks as if she might be the next to add her name to that list.

The defender, capable of playing goal defence and goal keep, was invited to train for the New Zealand under-21 squad and during the trial impressed to make the New Zealand squad to play matches in Australia.

■ Volleyballers

Maia Westrupp, Campbell Forsyth, Rob Maxwell and Jamie Julian made sure the Eastern Bay had a strong influence in the New Zealand Volleyblacks as they were selected in the men’s team to face Australia in December.

Forsyth, Maxwell and Westrupp represented the Whakatāne-based East Coast Old Boys, while Julian is a former Whakatāne High School and Bay of Plenty representative.

Not to be forgotten, Monique Prasad made the new under-20 girls team for their Asian tour, and Isla Webster and Sua Te Whetu-Lomi are part of the New Zealand under-18 beach volleyball squads.

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■ Superstar triathlete

He was set for a big year before disaster struck. Hayden Wilde, Whakatāne’s elite triathlete had a nasty cycle accident in Japan, and it looked to have ruined his campaign.

Wilde wouldn’t let that be and was back racing three months later. He produced some incredible performances to dominate the T100 Triathlon Series and other than an officiating error, which saw him run an extra lap, he was dominant, winning his race and the grand final.

It was a remarkable comeback, and he will be one to watch in 2026 as he chases more success.

Others to represent New Zealand in 2025 include Steve Monk and Ranj Rapana for waka ama, and the Black siblings, Nikau and Arahina, who attended the Junior Golf World Championships in America and finished well.

The Christie twins Oliver and Xavier were two others to represent New Zealand on the world stage and do exceedingly, along with Mitch Rees at the Isle of Man and Macau Grand Prix.

Daniel Jones also had a standout year, winning his seventh Kepler Challenge and having a strong season in the United States.

The Eastern Bay can be proud of them all, and lookout for Dame Lisa Carrington to be more active in 2026.