The rapid rise of women’s football is being felt well beyond the world’s biggest stadiums, and a new player pathway in the Western Bay of Plenty is giving talented girls the opportunity to develop closer to home.

Since the Fifa Women’s World Cup was hosted by New Zealand and Australia in 2023, participation in women’s and girls’ football has surged across the region.

WaiBOP Football’s Te Ara Wāhine programme is building on that momentum by creating a pathway for talented local players.

Te Ara Wāhine, meaning “the women’s pathway”, supports more than 60 players across four squads – under-14s, under-16s, reserves and premier women – competing in the Northern Regional Football League (NRFL), the highest amateur competition in the upper North Island.

The programme is already producing promising talent.

Among those attracting attention are Mount Maunganui College student Lane Ririnui, 17, and 18-year-old Grace Duncan, who has also spent time training in the United States. Both have represented New Zealand and are considered players to watch in future.

A new player pathway in the Western Bay of Plenty is giving talented girls an opportunity to develop closer to home. Photo/ Rochelle Weller

The initiative is overseen by WaiBOP Football’s general operations manager Dr Alida Shanks, development coordinator Richard Lynch and development manager Ken Creswell, who represented the All Whites at the 1982 Fifa World Cup.

Little choice

For many years, talented Bay players often had little choice but to base themselves in Hamilton or Auckland if they wanted to test themselves against stronger opposition.

Lynch said the programme was created because talented local players previously had to get to training and games in Hamilton or Auckland to find the right challenges to support their development.

“This gives them the opportunity to stay local while still playing against quality teams throughout Waikato and Auckland,” he said.

He oversees the programme’s day-to-day operations while planning for future growth.

“It’s really about the day-to-day running, making sure everyone has what they need and looking ahead to how we can make the programme sustainable and even stronger next year.”

A new player pathway in the Western Bay of Plenty is giving talented girls an opportunity to develop closer to home. Photo / Rochelle Weller

Shanks, who has worked in football for more than 20 years and holds a PhD in gender equity in New Zealand football, said developing opportunities for women and girls is professionally and personally important.

Level playing field

“Women were banned from playing football for 50 years,” she said.

“They only really started playing again in the 1970s, and I think we’re still paying the price for that. That’s why supporting pathways for women and girls is so important. We’re trying to get girls back onto a level playing field.”

Today, more than 2000 girls and women play football across the Bay of Plenty and nearly 100 attended recent holiday development programmes, highlighting the growing demand, Shanks said.

The long-term vision is to create a pathway supported collectively by clubs throughout the Western Bay, allowing players to progress without leaving the region, she said.

“If we can make it sustainable and get all the clubs working together, then girls won’t necessarily have to travel to Auckland. They’ll have more opportunities to train and compete with other players who are just as passionate.”

Behind the programme is a dedicated volunteer coaching team including respected Bay coaches Maia Ririnui, Jack Boland, Rochelle Weller and veteran coach Dave Rayner, alongside Lynch and other volunteers.

“They’re incredible,” Lynch said. “Most of them work fulltime jobs and then spend evenings and weekends coaching. They might get fuel costs covered, but they’re basically volunteers giving up huge amounts of time because they care about the girls.”

Volunteer Phil Sanger, who moved from the United Kingdom to Tauranga last year, had thrown his support behind the programme.

Need support

A volunteer in youth football in Britain, he quickly recognised the enthusiasm surrounding the local programme.

“Women’s football is growing massively,” Sanger said.

“The World Cup really accelerated things, and there’s so much excitement around the women’s game now. It’s fantastic to see that enthusiasm filtering down into local football.”

Financial support remains one of the biggest challenges, with travel, competition costs and programme delivery requiring ongoing funding.

“We need support to keep it going,” Shanks said

“The enthusiasm is definitely there from the girls. We just need to match that enthusiasm with the resources to deliver the opportunities.”

With women’s football continuing to grow around the world, those involved locally believe the Bay of Plenty is well placed to develop the next generation of players – provided the pathway continues to receive community support.

“Our aim is simply to help every girl who wants that opportunity have the chance to reach her potential,” Lynch said.