In the flurry of signings for next season's ANZ Premiership, one player stands out for the Northern Stars.
The Stars have lured versatile Queensland Firebirds defender Remi Kamo, with heritage playing a big part.
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Brisbane-born Kamo is eligible to represent New Zealand and will bring two seasons of experience in Australia's Super Netball with her, although the Firebirds last month decided not to extend her contract.
The 20-year-old of Ngāti Mutunga heritage has played predominantly as a goal keep but also at goal defence for the Queenslanders, who recently finished seventh in the eight-team league.
The 1.87m Kamo liked what she saw when the Firebirds played the Auckland-based Stars in a pre-season game this year.
"I lost my enjoyment of netball last year, so I'm really hoping to be in an environment that's supportive and allows me to be myself and lets me enjoy the sport I love," said Kamo.
"I really got that sense of feeling welcome and safe and I got to know the team during the pre-season tournament and we learnt a beautiful song together. There were so many moments of feeling a sense of home and belonging which was really nice."
Kamo will come under the eye of new Stars head coach Temepara Bailey, the former Silver Ferns midcourter taking charge ironically as long-time Stars coach Kiri Wills moves to Brisbane to coach the Firebirds.
Kamo already has a connection to New Zealand, with her father being born in the Chatham Islands.
"Unfortunately, Dad had quite a difficult upbringing, so moved to Australia when he was quite young and disconnected from his culture," she said.
"We grew up being aware that is our heritage, but only able to explore it over the past five to 10 years, because he wasn't as open to it before.
"Thankfully, I have a half-brother who lives in Christchurch with his family and he's been big on understanding where our family is from and our connections in New Zealand and done some digging into our ancestry."
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