In August, Taupo became the stage for a groundbreaking event in women’s football refereeing, the NZ Women’s Referee Development Academy, run by New Zealand Football. The week-long programme gave female referees a chance to sharpen their skills, exchange knowledge, and build connections in a space often dominated by men.
Among the group were two rising talents from the Pacific: Yantama Aota of Tonga and Jovita Ambrose of the Solomon Islands. Their journey, shared alongside New Zealand’s developing referees, marked an inspiring step forward for female officials across Oceania.
For Yantama, refereeing is more than a career path, it’s a family tradition. Encouraged by her mother and aunt, she swapped playing for officiating and never looked back.
“It’s in the blood! Friends and family all pushed me into it, and I’m so glad they did.”
Despite the chilly Taupō weather, Yantama found warmth in the knowledge exchanged.
“It was fantastic. We learned so much! Not just from the instructors, but from each other,” she said. “One highlight was being an assistant referee. It really pushed me to adapt, especially with this year’s new law changes.”
Jovita echoed the sentiment, finding her spark in refereeing through a friend.
“The experience was really good. We trained, we got feedback, and most importantly, we worked on improving ourselves,” she shared.
Her key take away was “Positioning. I learned how crucial it is, and the coaches gave great feedback I can carry into future tournaments.”
Both women said being surrounded by experienced female referees was transformative.
“They inspired me! They reminded me when I forgot things and gave helpful advice. That made me more confident.” Said Yantama
“Women’s football is growing. We need more female referees to support that.” Said Jovita.
Their goals are ambitious but grounded, both dream of earning a FIFA badge and one day officiating at a World Cup.
As Jovita put it: “That would be amazing. Not just for me, but for my country.”