Each year, on King’s Birthday weekend, the Sacred Heart Colleges and St Joseph’s Māori Girls’ College come together for netball and hockey competitions. The tournament dates back to the 1950s, when Sr Mary Euphrasie, Principal of Sacred Heart College Lower Hutt, was a passionate supporter of netball and was regularly seen encouraging teams from the sideline. Originally, the Mission Cup netball tournament was contested between Sacred Heart Lower Hutt and Sacred Heart Christchurch, with the two schools hosting the event in alternate years. On the occasion of Sr Euphrasie’s Golden Jubilee of Religious Profession, the Hanratty family donated the Mission Cup trophy.
At a gathering of the RNDM principals in 1972, the Mission Cup tournament was revived with the aim of fostering the Mission spirit among the six colleges. The tournament weekend later came to include Sacred Heart College, Oakleigh, Melbourne, giving it an international flavour. In 1982, Mrs Valerie Stephenson of Sacred Heart College Lower Hutt introduced hockey as part of the competition, and this event is now known as the Te Toa Shield.
This tournament provides an opportunity to celebrate the charism of the Mission Sisters and to foster a spirit of sisterhood among students. Each year, the gathering includes a pōwhiri, a community celebration of the Eucharist, and fierce but fair competition.
2026 Winners:
Mission Cup Netball — Sacred Heart Hamilton
Te Toa Hockey — Sacred Heart New Plymouth
Anne Sklenars Rndm, Margaret Mullin Rndm, Mary Wyss Rndm