Mason Back For Pulse In 2026

Rising young defender Parris Mason couldn’t imagine being anywhere else after confirming her intentions to remain with Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse for the 2026 ANZ Premiership netball season.

Having forged her career through the Netball Central pathways, home is hugely important to Mason and where she wants to grow and develop the next stages of her game.

”I will be heading into my sixth year living in Wellington and with that, it is definitely turning into my home away from home,’’ she said. ``Pulse keeps me connected to my childhood home (Taranaki), my boarding school home (Palmy) and now my netball home (Welly). It's a privilege that I can represent the regions that gave so much to me growing up.”

First making the Pulse team straight out of school in 2021, the rangy and athletic defender stamped her mark with a standout 2024 season when she made the goal defence bib her own with a string of potent contributions, culminating in Silver Ferns selection.

While the winds of change have blown forcefully through the Pulse in the off-season, the poplar and vibrant Mason, 22, is ready for a new-look landscape in 2026.

”Despite all the changes and movement happening around me I'm happy to be re-signed with the Pulse,“ she said. ”At the end of the day I know I have more to give to this franchise and I couldn't see myself in another dress.

”Pulse next year is going to look very different and I'm ready to embrace whatever that brings.”

A recent review of the Silver Ferns selection policy by Netball New Zealand has resulted in the Pulse losing a host of frontline players to the Australian league, leaving Mason poised to be the backbone of what is shaping as a young defensive end for next year and with it, an opportunity for her to develop a leadership presence in the environment.

”Being one of the few 2025 players coming back and someone who has been with this franchise for a while now, I do understand I will most likely have some responsibility in helping or guiding the new members into our environment,“ she said.

”That next step with leadership is uncertain but I've spent many years under one of the best captains in Kelly Jackson and all I hope to do is take my learnings from witnessing her grow in the leadership space and implement it myself, in the hope that I represent what Pulse stands for and support the people around me in whatever way I can.”

Highlighting the next generation of talent to come through their system, the Pulse are delighted to retain Mason’s services.

”We’ve watched Parris develop from raw school girl talent to international calibre player through our programme,” Netball Central Director of High Performance Waimarama Taumaunu.

”It’s a credit to her and the hard work she’s put in. She’s still very young in terms of her career, there’s plenty more to come from her and we’re delighted with the way she’s been going. We couldn’t be happier that she will continue building on her all-round credentials with the Pulse.”

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