Netball New Zealand today confirmed it was willing to step as replacement host for next year's world championships.
However, NNZ suggested the event be moved back to November instead of the originally scheduled month of July.
Two weeks ago, the International Federation of Netball Associations stripped Fiji of
hosting rights for the tournament after the military coup there.
NNZ said it had confirmed its offer to IFNA to take step in.
Chairman Don Mackinnnon said a scoping exercise that NNZ had undertaken pinpointed November as the best month to hold the event in New Zealand.
He said November gave NNZ the optimal timeframe to ensure that the staging of the tournament was not compromised.
"This will allow the organisation the opportunity to work successfully with key stakeholders such as sponsors and venues to host the pinnacle of international netball," he said.
"Currently NNZ is working through logistical details."
Mackinnon said there were several venue options if New Zealand were awarded the tournament.
New Zealand last held the tournament in 1999, while the 2003 event, in which the Silver Ferns claimed the title, was in Jamaica.
IFNA vice-president Kereyn Smith said yesterday that the world body expected to have an update by Christmas on progress in finding a replacement for Fiji.
However, a decision might not be made by then.
She said Jamaica, England, New Zealand and Australia had expressed initial interest in the sense that they had asked for further information.
IFNA was awaiting feedback from the four nations by the end of the week.
Later yesterday, Netball Australia said it had told IFNA it was out of the running if the event had to be held in 2007.
Chief executive Kate Palmer said the reason was the time needed to plan and deliver a championship of world standard.
"The most critical factors are because we are undertaking a major restructure at the moment and relocating the Netball Australia headquarters from Sydney to Melbourne," she said.
"It's unlikely that we will have a full complement of staff until April, so that could have a significant impact on our ability to deliver."
- NZPA
