Dubbed the "hunt for height", the national body is seeking 16 to 19-year-olds — netball players or not — who are are 1.9m tall and above.
The tall teens will then be given specialist coaching.
The move is intended to keep pace in the arms race as tall shooters increasingly dominate the circle.
Jamician shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Reid is 1.98, while Australia shooter Caitlin Bassett is 1.93m.
Bassett held a handy height advantage over Silver Ferns’ defensive duo Jane Watson (1.81m) and Katrina Grant (1.85m) in the first Constellation Cup test at the weekend.
Netball New Zealand chief executive Jennie Wyllie said while there was plenty of talent coming through, there was a lack of height.
Statistics suggest there may only be 75 girls in the country at that height and age with the athleticism required to play netball.
The Otago Daily Times contacted several Dunedin schools this week.
Few had girls at that height, while one said it had a handful playing other sports.
The champion South Island St Hilda’s Collegiate team had several tall players.
"I can see why they’re wanting the tall girls, but I think there is a place for short, sharp, little, quick-moving players, I really do," St Hilda’s coach Lana Morrison said.
"We’ve just got back from the nationals and in the circle our goalkeeper against the St Kentigern [College] goalshooter sat at her shoulder. So all they needed to do, which they did skilfully, was feed the ball. Even though our goalkeeper was a good jumper, [it was] really difficult if [the goal shoot] held her space really well."
Morrison said she did not think the campaign would stop shorter players becoming involved, adding it was important to look at players’ skill sets before their size.
She said her midcourter, Abbey Johnston, despite being the team’s shortest player, was a talented athlete who would make an impact on the game.
Morrison said it was important not to pigeon-hole players.
Otago Girls’ High School coach Nicki Paterson agreed.
"Initially I thought it could be seen as just looking for height and forgetting about everyone else," she said.
"But reflecting on it I can understand where they’re coming from and it’s quite a novel approach.
"I do think there is still the need for different types of players with different statures, because they bring different components to the game.
"Those taller girls, just because they’re tall doesn’t mean they’re going to have the necessary skills and the athletic ability.
"They’ve got to want to do it too. It’s not just a matter of being tall; you’ve got to have the passion for the game and want to work hard."
Recruiting outside a sport is not new.
Rugby sevens and AFL have gone after athletes from other codes who they believed had the attributes to succeed.
