Scholarship for Newlands softballer

By Frank Neill

Tyla Pita-Kani is one of 12 recipients of the 2023 Tania Dalton Foundation Scholarship.

The Newlands resident plays softball for Poneke Kilbirnie, where she is a pitcher.

She has also played softball for Wellington.

She pitched for the capital in the 2022/23 Little League under 17 tournament, held at Hataitai Park from 12 to 15 January, where Wellington finished as runner-up to Canterbury.

The Tania Dalton Foundation has been established in honour of the New Zealand sporting legend, who played Netball for New Zealand. She was part of the 2003 Netball World Championships Silver Ferns Squad that won the title.

Tania believed in the power of sport to teach young people how to be their best.

Tyla and the 11 other scholarship participants will receive financial support ($5,000 a year), one-on-one mentoring, pastoral support and personal development during the three years in the programme. A key aspect is for each young person to have involvement in their community and to ‘pay it forward’ so that future generations can continue to enjoy the benefits of sport.

The Tania Dalton Foundation ex- ists to make a meaningful impact on young people in New Zealand. It has been established to help the recipients, from all kinds of circumstances and at different stages of their development, to unlock their best selves.

Since its beginning in 2018, the foundation has awarded 71 scholarships.

Tyla was one of two Wellingtonians who received a scholarship this year. The other was netball player Phoenix Schwalger, who lives in Papakowhai.