19-year-old Monica Falkner is tipped to make the Silver Ferns in the near future. Her story is one of courage and determination after losing her biggest supporter, her father, to cancer last year.
Hanging out with baby brother Ryan at a local touch tournament, Monica Falkner believes these are the moments she treasures the most.
Her father David Falkner died last August after battling with brain cancer for seven years.
His death has motivated the netballer to continue with her dream of becoming a star shooter for New Zealand.
Monica says, "I just returned home with the Under 21s over in the Cook Islands. It was a tour and series against their home side, it was awesome!"
Monica was brought up in Matahi, Waimana, a small community outside Whakatāne, and says she loves being back home during summer.
Her holiday period might soon be over because Monica has been called up to train with the Waikato/BOP Magic as they head into their ninth season of the ANZ Championships.
At the moment she's relaxing with her whānau from Ngāti Rere before embarking on her 2016 journey.