A former Labour MP is rallying netball centres to push for a vote of no confidence in the Netball New Zealand board.
Meka Whaitiri – who quit Labour and stood for Te Pāti Māori in the last election – is urging the Gisborne, Wellington, Hawke’s Bay and Te Kapi Mana (Porirua) netball centres to support the Waikato Bay of Plenty zone’s call for a national special general meeting (SGM), at which a vote can take place.
The former Minister of Customs was critical of Netball New Zealand’s treatment of Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua.
“It’s a poor process, absolutely shocker – and I think the board was completely out of their depth, and they didn’t sound out or treat the situation with respect,” Whaitiri said.
Of the five zones, three must demand a national SGM for it to happen, with Netball New Zealand (NNZ) required to action the motion with 21 days’ notice.
A zone will host a regional SGM if enough centres call for it.
Waikato Bay of Plenty held its own SGM on December 7, at which it formalised becoming one of those three.
The Wellington, Hawke’s Bay and Kapi Mana centres fall under the Central Zone, which, at this point, has chosen not to comment on the situation.
Tauranga Netball Centre board chair Nicola Compton earlier declared her organisation had lost faith in the governing body due to a perceived lack of leadership and transparency.
She cited the handling of Taurua’s standing-down, a lack of planning around the ANZ Premiership and the struggle to secure long-term broadcast deals.
Whaitiri – who played netball alongside Taurua and even trialled for the Silver Ferns in years gone by – told the Herald that NNZ breached its own constitution by not providing Taurua with a formal complaint.
The Silver Ferns coach was sensationally stood down days out from the Taini Jamison Trophy series following a review, led by Bryan Stronach, into the high-performance environment. The review was triggered by player complaints about psychological safety dating back to a January camp in Sydney.
Taurua was reinstated two months later, with NNZ clearing her of any wrongdoing.
However, the 2019 World Cup winner did not go on the Ferns’ northern tour and will not be back with the team until July, two to three weeks out from the Commonwealth Games.
The Herald has not been able to secure an interview with Taurua since her media blitz on November 3, despite repeated attempts.
Whaitiri said she is stunned by the treatment of Taurua.
“I just think people should be held accountable. And if they can be more open and upfront about what caused them to take that action, perhaps people will then start saying, ‘Oh, okay, that makes sense.’ But in the absence of any transparency, this is what’s happening. People are left to speculate.
“I’m very clear that the board approved this. The highest accountability in Netball New Zealand is the board, and I believe the board needs to go.
“If the board believe they did the right thing, they should put all those facts out on the table so people can see the logic in the decision-making. We haven’t received it. They’ve been very quiet and cagey on what they’re releasing.
“You have to conclude that their processes weren’t sound, and that is what’s in the hands of the centres and the zones at the moment of who appoints the board. And so I wish those centres and those zones find the facts, find the courage, and make the appropriate decision.”
In a statement, NNZ disagreed with Whaitiri’s claims.
“Regarding Bryan Stronach’s review, Dame Noeline clarified on November 3 that she did receive a summary of the concerns raised by the players through the Players’ Association and responded accordingly.
“Netball New Zealand provided reasons for Dame Noeline’s proposed suspension. These were disputed by Dame Noeline as she engaged in the employment process and provided feedback. She has since been reinstated and both parties remain committed to moving forward constructively and working collaboratively.”
Whaitiri said she fully supports the push for a vote of no confidence in the NNZ board.
“This is around upholding the mana of our sport, which is what the constitution actually says the board is responsible for – not to put the sport into disrepute. Well, they’ve failed miserably in that regard. And they’ve also got a duty of care for all employees, including Noeline, and they have miserably failed in that sense.
“I’m encouraging my own centres to be strong. Please have the special general meeting. Please go in well-informed, not with emotion, but on facts, and then make the right decision.”
Whaitiri said they have to get cracking to force change.
“Unless the other centres come, then it obviously will end there. Which will be a shame because again, she’s [Taurua] reinstated, but no one’s been held accountable.
“It’s crazy. It would never happen in rugby or cricket. But somehow it’s acceptable in netball.”
Whaitiri said she has been in contact with Taurua throughout recent months.
“She just wanted her job back. She is passionate about the sport, as many of us are. She has delivered results. She’s got a unique style.
“She’s forever innovating and she surrounds herself with really good people – and the players’ welfare is definitely something that she holds really dearly.”
In October, Labour MP Willie Jackson called for Sports Minister Mark Mitchell to freeze NNZ’s funding until there was clarity about the suspension of Taurua.
Nathan Limm has been a journalist with Newstalk ZB and the NZ Herald since 2020. He covered the Netball World Cup in Cape Town in 2023, hosts The Big League Podcast and commentates rugby and netball for Gold Sport.