It's no secret the Central Pulse have transformed themselves from cellar-dwellers to the queens of the ANZ Premiership.
The Central Pulse say tapping into Te Ao Māori has been a key part to their success and the foundation of their winning culture on and off the court.
This different approach started when the struggling netball franchise started their partnership with Te Wananga o Raukawa, a Māori university in Otaki. The wananga not only supports the team financially but culturally as well.
Central Pulse coach Yvette McCausland says Te Wananga o Raukawa is their turangawaewae.
"When they talk about, you know, your marae that for us, for the Pulse it's home".
Te Wananga o Raukawa also helped facilitate monthly Reo classes with Tipi Wehipeihana, where the team not only learn the language but waiata and haka too.
Fluent team member Tiana Metuarau is proud of the progress her team in making.
"We wanted to make sure it was kind of an inclusive environment and we wanted them to feel like they were capable. But it's been a really huge part of our team culture now, which is really cool.
"Everyone uses Māori kupu (words) in the gym, we count in Māori on court. We have songs and little games that we like to play, card games and things like that."
After winning their debut premiership last year, the Central Pulse performed their team haka to celebrate the victory and acknowledge their fans, families and Te Wananga o Raukawa.
Clearly the Central Pulse have found a winning connection to Te Ao Māori and will draw on that when the competition restarts again next month.
The Hui
