Division 2 arrives: Taika make history as NPL’s newest chapter begins

Division 2 didn’t just share the stage with the Pro Tour at NPL Season 5 Finals - it helped define the weekend. In the first year the Division 2 ran alongside the Pro league, Taika became the inaugural Division 2 champions, defeating Outback 3-1 in a final that captured everything this new tier stands for: heart, pathway, and community.

A historic first season alongside the Pro Tour

Eight teams qualified through NSW, VIC, QLD and the new NZ conference, racing through an AFL-style double-chance bracket across Saturday afternoon and Sunday.

Taika’s path was anything but straightforward. After falling to Stingers 3-2 in the qualifying final, captain Ela Vakaukamea’s side responded with consecutive wins over Comets and 29ers to earn another shot at glory. Their opponents, Outback, led by 17-year-old captain Luther Ferris had fought through a demanding run of their own, beating Roos 3–2 in the semi-final and Stingers 3–2 in the preliminary final.

In the decider, Taika’s experience and composure told. A 3–1 victory sealed the title, with Ela named Division 2 Finals MVP for a campaign built on leadership, skill and calm under pressure. 29ers completed the podium, edging Stingers 3–2 in the bronze final, while Outback took silver after their brave run.

New Zealand brings the energy

If there was one story that defined Division 2’s debut, it was the trans-Tasman presence. For the first time, New Zealand teams competed in NPL Division 2 Kōura, Tuatara, Kauri, Taniwha, Moa and Taika. Tuatara and Taika competed in the Finals, and they arrived with families, supporters and a cultural heartbeat that lifted The Jar - Maidstone. The result was a palpable shift in atmosphere: louder, warmer, more connected. It's hard not to be drawn to Div 2. There’s a community feel - almost a ‘happy to be there’ feel”, said Dylan Hamilton- Ho, Tournament Coordinator at the NPL. “Division 2 players show more emotion… I encourage that because when people show emotion, that’s when the sport is at its most watchable point.” 

That energy wasn’t just noise. It reflected a deliberate approach from the NZ side: embedding culture from the outset. Team names and logos were developed in consultation with kaumātua and community elders to ensure cultural sensitivity and authenticity. From pōwhiri-style welcomes to the storytelling woven into each identity - Taniwha’s mythical monster energy, coastal ties, Moa’s South Island roots - the division felt like more than a competition. It felt like belonging.

What Comes Next

Division 2 provides foundation needed in pickleball in New Zealand, as well as in Australia. It’s where beginners become intermediates, where intermediates become competitors, and where competitors discover they can lead. As Reuben Waihi of Topspin put it: “We won’t have pro leagues if we don’t put money into developing at the grassroots level… You don’t have the future of sport” without it.

If Division 2 is where the sport builds its depth, the academy pipeline sitting underneath it is where NPL is finding its future. What's next for Division 2? We hope to see an expanded format, a longer schedule, and a genuine push to get more states involved.

The takeaway

Taika’s gold medal is historic. But the real win is bigger: Division 2 has arrived as a legitimate, emotionally resonant part of NPL. It brought new voices, new faces, and a renewed sense of why people play - not just to win, but to belong.