Coronavirus cancellations: Netball New Zealand postpones all community winter competitions

Murupara player Weka Kirk, (left) and Waikite player Tui Tango. Photo / Ben Fraser.

Netball New Zealand has postponed all community netball run at netball centres due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In a statement, Netball NZ said the organisation and the country's five netball zones have made a number of recommendations regarding the approaching community netball winter season due to the Covid-19 outbreak that has killed more than 7000 people globally.

"A meeting with Netball NZ and the five zones have seen an advisory delivered to all netball centres and competition organisers affiliated to Netball NZ, with a decision to postpone all winter competitions until at least Saturday 2 May," the statement read.

"Netball New Zealand's advisory relates to all community netball programmes and activities run by affiliated netball centres.

"The decision to continue to run netball programmes at schools (such as trials) fall under the guidance of the school's rules and policies."

The advisory includes the postponement of pre-season programmes, tournaments, workshops and other community competitions, including social leagues that are currently in progress.

Those involved with community netball, including umpires, players, officials, and committees are being encouraged to conduct any essential meetings online whenever possible. Any netball centres or zones who are yet to hold their annual general meetings are also encouraged to conduct these online.

Netball NZ chief executive Jennie Wyllie said the advisory to netball centres would be effective immediately.

"We are liaising with Government officials at national and regional levels in both health and sport, monitoring developments and will be reviewing the above advisory dependent on the changing environment," she said.

"The health and well-being of our members is our priority."

Any clubs in the process of trialling, naming teams and commencing trainings are to also postpone until four weeks before the start of their competition, or the first week in April at the earliest.