Courtney Tairi
Height 5'10.5" Bust 33.5" Waist 28.5" Hips 33.5" Dress 8 US Shoe 9 US Hair Brunette
As the saying goes, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity,” and it’s a concept that quite neatly sums up former Silver Fern Courtney Tairi’s career path to date.
After nine years as a professional netball player, both in Australia and NZ, Courtney transitioned from playing for the Sliver Ferns and Magic, into a dream broadcasting career with SKY TV.
It was whilst living in the “Magic House” with her netball teammates that a film crew from SKY Sport came through the player residence to see if a team member would like to do give a house tour.
A natural in front of the camera and always up for trying anything once, Courtney volunteered; she hasn’t looked back, as her on-screen career continues to flourish.
It was a surprisingly natural progression from mid-court player to side-court reporter for the Australian-born Kiwi, whose journey to the Silver Ferns was very unique. Courtney and her two sisters were raised in Sydney by a pakeha mother and father of Tainui, Ngati Koroki-Kahukura descent, so immersed her Maori heritage that she has always referred to herself as a Kiwi.
Courtney took to the netball court at the tender age of seven, where she demonstrated an innate ability for the sport, playing competitively throughout her school years. She was first spotted by Julie Fitzgerald at 14 years old. Courtney went through the Australian Netball pathways, and after winning the Netball World Youth Cup in 2009, Fitzgerald selected Courtney to play with the New South Wales Swifts at age 21.
Her instinctive talent saw her lured to the land of her whakapapa by Southern Steel; she went on to cement her career playing for the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic and Northern Stars; being selected for the Silver Ferns in 2013 aged 25.
Courtney represented NZ in the 2013 Constellation Cup against Australia. Her debut for the Silver Ferns was in her mother's hometown of Invercargill, which was also where Courtney had made her ANZ Championship debut for the NSW Swifts three years earlier.
But a series of surgeries to rectify injuries left her in ongoing pain. It was at this time that the opportunity with SKY TV came up; and she decided it was the moment to hang up her bib.
These days you can find Courtney fulfilling her passion for showcasing NZ sport and its athletes, co-hosting the weekly Netball Zone show and Warriors TV; as well as a variety of sports for SKY including the ASB Classic, ANZ Premiership, NRL and the NRLW.
She names one of the highlights of her broadcasting career as interviewing Serena Williams at the ASB Classic tennis in 2020, and her stint interviewing at the Youth Olympics inspired her commitment to encourage young athletes to follow their sporting dreams.
Courtney has extensive MC experience, including hosting the Special Kids Christmas 2020, Monty Betham’s Gala Night 2019, the ANZ Premiership Courtside 2019, and events for Tag Heuer and Counties Rugby.
Loyal, hardworking and passionate, Courtney believes it's important to remember where she came from and who supported her journey. She travels to Australia as often as possible to spend time with family; she is happiest with whanau having BBQs or beach days together. On the rest of her downtime, you’ll find Courtney at the gym or in a pilates class (or feeling her foodie vibes at cafes!).