Harvey Norman athlete initiative launched in Nelson

Less than four weeks after being launched, the Harvey Norman Heartland Female Athlete Programme made an outstanding start when a group of 20 aspiring teenagers attended the initiative’s first camp in Nelson.

The brainchild of major sponsor and rugby league benefactor Harvey Norman in association with the One New Zealand Warriors, the programme provides promising sportswomen with a unique opportunity to experience what it takes to compete at the highest level while also developing the tools and confidence to become leaders beyond the game.

Held at Nelson College, the first of a series of camps in the coming months brought together participants aged between 15 and 18 years old representing leading high schools from the Tasman region.

“We’re thrilled with the first camp, the calibre of the young athletes and the input from everyone involved who helped to make it the success it was,” said One New Zealand Warriors recruitment and partnerships strategy manager Liam Turner.

“The feedback from the girls was very positive and we feel we have a fantastic model to work with for the benefit of so many young athletes around the country.”

Among the key figures involved in the three-day programme were two of Nelson’s most noted products in rugby league great Simon Mannering and Sky New Zealand CEO Sophie Moloney.

Nelson College old boy Mannering, who played a club record 301 games for the One New Zealand Warriors, assisted in a field skills session with Warriors NRLW head coach Ron Griffiths.

Moloney, just crowned the chief executive of the year at the Deloitte Top 200 Awards, ran a leadership session which had the participants engrossed.

Griffiths made his mark on the weekend continuing a year which has seen him heavily involved in a number of coaching roles, most recently helping the Cook Islands Moana to win the second tier Pacific Bowl championship in Port Moresby.

In Nelson he set the tone on the first night with a session encompassing the One New Zealand Warriors’ values and sport’s professional environment.

Also playing a leading role across the weekend was experienced One New Zealand Warriors NRLW front rower Harata Butler.

Connection was a constant theme while other off the field sessions looked at player agents and sports management, NRLW and New Zealand pathways, wellness, nutrition and social media.

Of the 20 young athletes involved eight were from Nelson’s Waimea College while five were from Marlborough Girls’ College.

Harvey Norman Heartland Female Athlete Programme
Nelson College, Nelson
November 28-30, 2025

Participants
Bridie Dench (Golden Bay High School)
Isabella Baldwin (Marlborough Girls’ College)
Samara Bright (Waimea College)
Qaloibenau Waqaituakana (Marlborough Girls’ College)
Ella MacDonald (Garin College)
Sienna Todd (Waimea College)
Tillie Young (Waimea College)
Riria Graham-Wineera (Nelson College for Girls)
Aspen Storer (Waimea College)
Mariana Arthur (Marlborough Girls’ College)
Keira Allan (Motueka High School)
Livvy Giles (Queen Charlotte College)
Nevaeh Cairns (Marlborough Girls’ College)
Ania Morgan (Nayland College)
Siuila Musika (Nelson College for Girls)
Isabella Morrow (Waimea College)
Sophie Pemberton (Waimea Colege)
Makenna Holland (Waimea College)
Ella Brereton (Waimea College)
Denyce Pousima (Marlborough Girls’ College)