The 21-year-old Steel midcourter is one of four new players selected in a 17-strong Silver Ferns squad.
She joins team-mate Tiana Metuarau, Mystics shooter Grace Nweke and Stars shooter Jamie Hume, while Mystics midcourter Peta Toeava has been recalled.
Nine players were also named in a development squad. The intention is to build depth before next year’s Commonwealth Games.
Heffernan received the call on Monday while she was with her parents.
Her mother, Annette Heffernan, made nine appearances for the Silver Ferns from 1985 to 1990, so it was nice to be able to immediately share the news with her.
"You could see how excited and proud she was, so that was pretty cool," Kate Heffernan said.
Heffernan’s aunt, Maxine Blomquist, also played netball for New Zealand.
It is basically a family tradition, but Heffernan has the opportunity to go one better.
Before the Steel called dibs, she was a very talented cricketer. She played two twenty20 games for the White Ferns in 2018 but netball won the wrestle to secure her attention.
When she eventually takes the court for the Silver Ferns —and she will — she can lay claim to the title of dual international.
Take that, Mum.
"I haven’t got my first [netball] cap yet, so there is still quite a bit of work to do. But that’s the plan."
Heffernan’s first call was to twin sister Georgia, a shooter who was badly injured playing for the Steel last year but has fought her way back to fitness.
The sisters formed a deadly duo for St Hilda’s Collegiate and guided the team to the Dunedin club final in 2017.
Kate was at centre and her connection with Georgia was, well, a bit spooky.
Part of Heffernan’s success this season has been her switch from wing defence back to centre.
That was made possible by the departure of Gina Crampton, who had a mortgage on the bib while at the Steel.
"I love wing defence as well but that is the position I grew up playing and I’ve realised how much I do really love that position.
"I’d love to be able to play with [Georgia] again at centre and goal attack because that was what we did at school. I look back on those St Hilda’s days and that was so fun."
Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua said she would be working closely with both squads and providing opportunities for as many players as possible.
“We want to be clear that opportunities exist for all players, irrelevant of what squad they are selected in," she said.
"The squad selections are a foot in the door and I know that competition at our camps will be fierce.
“As long as they are physically capable and court ready, we really want to open the door for a number of these athletes and see who will put their hand up and grab this opportunity.”
Nweke, Metuarau and Hume impressed during the ANZ Premiership and join Maia Wilson, Ameliaranne Ekenasio, who is on maternity leave, and Te Paea Selby-Rickit in the shooting circle.
Netball World Cup-winning shooter Bailey Mes was unavailable for selection due to injury. Her priority is on preparation for the 2022 season.
Heffernan joins Crampton, Sam Winders, Shannon Saunders, Maddy Gordon,Toeava and Claire Kersten in the midcourt.
Tactix pair Jane Watson and Karin Burger join Mystics captain Sulu Fitzpatrick and Kelly Jury at the defence end, though Watson has just had surgery and is unavailable for the rest of the year.
The Silver Ferns will play the Australian Diamonds in a four-test series for the Constellation Cup in October.
