2025 G.J. Gardner Homes Tauihi Awards
The regular season is in the books and it is time to recognise the athletes and coaches who defined the 2025 GJ Gardner Homes Tauihi and Sky Broadband Rapid League campaigns. Voting has opened across all major awards, with shortlists below and clear instructions for how ballots are cast sent to the voting panel following the final game of the year.
Voting Explained
First up, how do we get the candidates?
Across the 10 rounds of Tauihi action after each game the head coaches of both teams (5 head coaches in total across the League) submit votes on a 5-4-3-2-1 for players from both teams, needing to select a minimum of 2 players from each team. Following the selection of the candidates to make the final list for consideration, a the conclusion of Round 10, the top 10 players on the season long Tauihi MVP Leaderboard advance to the final vote, which is decided by a panel of 8 people: the 5 G.J. Gardner Homes Tauihi head coaches and three media representatives - Casey Frank, Maia Williamson and Mike Lacey, with this voting group determining the MVP and the other league awards below:
- Coach of the Year - All coaches eligible
- Defensive Player of the Year - All players eligible, four finalists selected from a coaches vote following Round 9
- Most Improved Player - All players eligible, four finalists selected from a coaches vote following Round 9
- Youth Player of the Year - All players aged 21 years or younger at season tip-off eligible, four finalists selected from a coaches vote following Round 9
- All Star 5- To be selected from the 10 ten MVP voter getters in guards and top 10 forwards/centres for a total list of 20 candidates.
- Sky Broadband Rapid League MVP - Voted as per the Tauihi MVP
- Sky Broadband Rapid League All Star 5 - Voted as per the Tauihi All- Star 5
G.J. Gardner Homes Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa Most Valuable Player
Ten outstanding performers are on the MVP ballot. Voters must rank all ten, awarding 10 points to their first choice, 9 points to second, and continuing down to 1 point for tenth.
MVP finalists:
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Penina Davidson (Queens) - Season: 16.7 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 49% FG, 19% 3P, 64% FT.
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McKenna Dale (Pouākai) -Season: 12.4 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 4.4 APG, 40% FG, 19% 3P, 85% FT
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Jessie Edwards (Hoiho) -Season: 12.2 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 53% FG.
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Hannah Hank (Whai) :Season- 19.5 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 2.0 SPG, 46% FG, 85% FT.
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Haleigh Reinoehl (Kāhu) - Season: 14.9 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 45% FG, 29% 3P, 70% FT.
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Bec Pizzey (Hoiho) - Season: 13.8 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 53% FG, 41% 3P, 75% FT.
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Taylor Mikesell (Pouākai) - Season: 14.0 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 39% FG, 39% 3P, 91% FT.
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Emme Shearer (Whai) - Season: 14.9 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 3.1 APG, 38% FG, 36% 3P, 79% FT.
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Kristy Wallace (Queens) — Season: 19.9 PPG, 64.7 RPG, 6.6 APG, 46% FG, 44% 3P, 79% FT.
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Marena Whittle (Pouākai) — Season: 20.1 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 3.1 APG, 43% FG, 43% 3P, 60% FT.
Coach of the Year
All five head coaches are eligible. Voters allocate 3 points for their winner, 2 for second, and 1 for third. Coaches may vote for themselves.
Defensive Player of the Year
Four elite stoppers headline this category. Ballots are ranked 4, 3, 2, 1.
Finalists:
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Jessie Edwards (Hoiho) -T- 9th in rebounding, 2nd in blocks
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Kristy Wallace (Queens) - 7th in steals
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Laina Snyder (Whai) - 4th in steals, 14th in blocks, T-3rd in rebounding
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Stella Beck (Queens) -1st in steals, 5th in blocks, 13th in rebounding
Most Improved Player
Breakout seasons are celebrated here. Ballots are ranked 4, 3, 2, 1.
Finalists:
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Azure Anderson (Kāhu)
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Briarley Rogers (Queens)
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Emma Rogers (Pouākai)
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Laina Snyder (Whai)
Youth Player of the Year
The next wave of stars. Ballots are ranked 4, 3, 2, 1.
Finalists:
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Emma Rogers (Pouākai)
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Keriana Hippolite (Queens)
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Pahlyss Hokianga (Queens)
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Paige Burrows (Queens)
Tauihi All-Star 5
Voters will select either 2 guards and 3 forwards/centres, or 3 guards and 2 forwards/centres, from the positional shortlists below.
Guards (can pick 2 or 3)
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Emme Shearer (Whai)
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Jessica McDowell-White (Whai)
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Kristy Wallace (Queens)
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Lauren Mansfield (Kāhu)
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Lil Dart (Hoiho)
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Marena Whittle (Pouākai)
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Morgan Yaeger (Pouākai)
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Paige Bradley (Hoiho)
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Tahlia Tupaea (Kāhu)
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Taylor Mikesell (Pouākai)
Forwards/Centres (pick 2 or 3)
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Jessie Edwards (Hoiho)
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McKenna Dale (Pouākai)
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Hannah Hank (Whai)
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Jihyun Park (Queens)
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Haleigh Reinoehl (Kāhu)
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Penina Davidson (Queens)
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Taylah Simmons (Hoiho)
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Laina Snyder (Whai)
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Abi Curtin (Kāhu)
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Bec Pizzey (Hoiho)
Sky Broadband Rapid League MVP
As per the Tauihi process, ten players are on the Rapid MVP ballot. Voters must rank all ten, 10 points down to 1 point.
Finalists (alphabetical):
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Azure Anderson (Kāhu)
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Briarley Rogers (Queens)
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Charlotte Whittaker (Pouākai)
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Emma Rogers (Pouākai)
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Hana Lacey-Rameka (Pouākai)
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Keriana Hippolite (Queens)
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Lil Dart (Hoiho)
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Pahlyss Hokianga (Queens)
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Samara Gallaher (Hoiho)
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Sophia Locandro (Whai)
Rapid League All-Star 5
Same position rules as Tauihi: select either 2 guards and 3 forwards/centres, or 3 guards and 2 forwards/centres.
Guards (choose 2 or 3):
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Emma Rogers
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Emma-Kaye Schroeder
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Jade Kirisome
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Kavanah Lene
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Keriana Hippolite
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Lil Dart
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Pahlyss Hokianga
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Paige Burrows
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Samara Gallaher
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Stella Beck
Forwards/Centres (choose 2 or 3):
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Ava Jones
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Azure Anderson
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Briarley Rogers
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Esra McGoldrick
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Eva Langton
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Hana Lacey-Rameka
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Josie Trousdell
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Keeley Tini
- Charlotte Whittaker
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Sophia Locandro
Winners will be revealed Friday the 5th of December.
