Reinstated Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua says she still doesn’t know why she was stood down and has called the whole process with Netball New Zealand “horrific”.
In her first interview since being reinstated as coach, Taurua told the Mike Hosking Breakfast she still didn’t know what complaints players had made to Netball New Zealand (NNZ) that led to her being stood down six weeks ago and revealed no investigation has taken place over that time.
“In real simple terms, I don’t know. And I can’t tell you, and that’s that’s my truth ... I actually don’t know, but I can tell you that I am 100% open, it’s my 101, if I’m going to be honest, of listening to players, listening to anybody as to what concerns they have, and then looking for solutions to make it better.
“That’s just what I do and how I do it, and I haven’t stopped that at all. And over my 25 years, that’s what I’m synonymous with in regards to the culture and the environment that I build. That’s all I can say in that matter, but the question that you’ve asked, I don’t know.”
NNZ last week confirmed Taurua’s return following weeks of negotiations after she was stood down early in September. It was determined that Taurua’s integrity is sound, more than nine months after player complaints about feeling “unsafe” in the Ferns environment.
While Taurua is technically back as head coach, she will not rejoin the team until next year. NNZ said the 2019 World Cup-winner will sit out the impending Northern Tour of Scotland and England to “minimise disruption”.
Taurua called the whole ordeal since being removed from the head coaching role on the eve of the Taini Jamison series as “horrific”.
“Look, I’m back. It’s probably the thing that I’m holding on to. And as I say, as a coach, my happy place is on court. So on the it’s training with the players, it’s in team meetings, it’s what I do, it’s how I do it. And until I sort of really get back in my eyes, then there’s still a bit to go.
“It’s been a long journey over the last two months, very horrific in my eyes, but you know, I’ve got to where I am and I’m proud of that I’ve been able to stand in my own truth, so to speak.”
Stand-in coach Yvette McCausland-Durie will remain with the team as the Silver Ferns this week embark on a Northern Tour with five tests against Scotland and England, starting in Glasgow on Monday. It remains unclear when Taurua will rejoin the team with the Commonwealth Games looming as their next big event in July.
Taurua said she was constrained in what she could say about the process with Netball New Zealand but understood no investigation had taken place.
“Yes, I am constrained, mainly because of what’s been signed and I will really want to honour that in regards to the integrity that I have. But also the balancing act, I suppose, that I have to be able to put my truth out there. So, I’m in my conscious space. Never been so conscious in my life. But, you know, I don’t want to be the shortest reinstatement. I’ve had enough excitement over the last two months, but I also need to put my truth out there. So, this is a balancing act that I’m prepared to walk.
“My truth is I don’t know. So, that’s where my lawyers came to help in regards to negotiations, and to find out the truth, and then to work through the process for me to come back. I was always adamant on my reinstatement, and that was my number one option, with number two going legal if we needed to.
“But I state once again that I am happy to listen to any concerns, put the solutions forward. But what I also want to stand in as well is that it’s not environmental. I’m happy for individuals to tell the truth, and if anything, I encourage that.
“But there’s some things once again, if it’s environmental or the around the team, I’ll stand strong in that because I know it’s not.”
Hosking asked Taurua: “Just for clarity’s sake, you were never told why you were being stood down and there was no investigation,” to which she responded “Correct”.
Taurua said she believed she had the support of the majority of the Silver Ferns. Goal shoot Grace Nweke made an impassioned plea for the return of Taurua in the post-match ceremony after New Zealand’s last-second 57-56 win over South Africa last month.
“What I was really strong on, I felt that I had the support of the players and the team, the majority. It was really important for me to get my name cleared, but also for the people that I work with as well.
“There’s a massive reputational damage around when things are put out around psychological harm, and fear in the culture and the environment that we work in. And, you know, it’s really standing up for those people and what’s right.”