With Netball New Zealand finally talking publicly about repairing the sport’s reputation after a turbulent 2025, Nathan Limm outlines where things stand on burning issues.
Netball NZ (NNZ) interim chief executive Jane Patterson presents as an honest, capable and transparent leader - the exact kind needed after Jennie Wyllie’s convoluted exit and escape from the public eye. However, Patterson is only meant to be in charge until the end of the Commonwealth Games, meaning a limited window to improve NNZ’s direction.
Patterson has proactively reached out to the netball zones and has absorbed feedback from those at the grassroots level. She understands NNZ desperately needs to re-establish trust with its community and the public.
The interim CEO also emphasised the importance of showing the Silver Ferns and coach Dame Noeline Taurua their support. Taurua talked positively about Patterson when they fronted the media together last week after the appointment of Briony Akle as Silver Ferns assistant coach. The relationship between Taurua and the governing body looks, at least on the surface, to have been repaired.
The Herald asked Patterson whether being the permanent NNZ chief executive interests her.
“I’d like to answer that question by addressing my staff and the netball community before I share that widely. And at the moment, I’m just focused on doing the job that I’ve been asked to do in an interim capacity.”
A new CEO needs to be in place before they can appoint a permanent head of high performance. Chelsea Lane is filling the role in an interim capacity after the departure of Stephen Hotter.
Netball NZ is front-footing the bid to keep the Silver Ferns on television this year, but is discussing the future of the ANZ Premiership (ANZP) before approaching broadcasters.
The national domestic competition is currently on a one-year, free-to-air deal with TVNZ. NNZ is using its own cash reserves to make ends meet, and the players have taken a 20% pay cut.
The Herald last year revealed Sky decided not to make an offer for the 2026 ANZ Premiership rights, leaving TVNZ in a powerful position.
Sky has the rights for the Commonwealth Games, where Taurua will lead the Silver Ferns for the first time since her reinstatement as head coach. However, the still-to-be-confirmed Constellation Cup and Taini Jamison games this year do not have a broadcaster.
Patterson told the Herald she met Sky Television to gauge its interest in broadcasting the rest of the year’s Silver Ferns fixtures.
“There are two key broadcasters in the country, and I think it’s important for us to be able to ensure that we are having open discussions about the opportunity with both.”
Patterson said she could not speak about the details of their talks or give any specific timeline.
“Like all things in netball, I’d like to have it finalised yesterday. But it’s about doing things in the right order at the right time with informed decisions, not racing decisions to get them done and then finding that we didn’t quite get it right.
“It’s hard for me to give you a date, but it’s a real focus because we know it’s a critical part of taking our game to the public.”
Patterson said they are working hard on the ANZ Premiership as a product and will approach broadcasters afterwards.
“We’re trying to establish a model that has sustainability, but that is the right fit for netball in New Zealand. We know how important that is. And then that ties in slightly to the broadcast [deal] where we’re obviously enjoying the partnership that we have with Television New Zealand with taking netball free to air for the ANZP.
“But we need to understand what the future of our domestic league is before we start finalising a broadcast agreement.
“The broadcast market has changed incredibly, not just in New Zealand and not just netball, but across all of the codes and globally. And so it’s just important that we assess it within our own environment.”
The governing body has confirmed a replacement for Matt Whineray will be announced on Thursday.
NZ Herald understands the appointment is a prominent New Zealand director, but NNZ said the person will not be giving media interviews when the announcement is made.
Once a board chair is confirmed, they can be involved in appointing three new board members and a permanent chief executive.
Patterson last week said they have received more than 80 applicants for the role, with “some exceptional talent among them”.
It follows the appointment of former Silver Fern Anna Galvan to the board, who was elected at the NNZ’s annual general meeting in March. The Commonwealth Games medallist has been involved in netball for over 40 years, chaired the Christchurch Netball Centre and currently serves on both the Tactix Management Committee and the NNZ Life Membership Committee.
Galvan replaces former Silver Fern Julie Coney, who chose not to seek re-election. Replacements are still needed for Pavan Vyas, Stephen Cottrell and Aliesha Staples, who stepped down alongside Whineray in February.
Including the chair, this means five of the seven-strong board will be new.
Given the palaver that was 2025, the current Silver Ferns are accustomed to adapting on the fly. Given the broadcast deals, tight timeframes and an unconfirmed international schedule, uncertainty will very much remain a part of 2026.
Patterson said they are looking to lock in Constellation Cup fixtures against the Australia Diamonds for October, and a Taini Jamison series in November.
Patterson said they have not yet confirmed the Taini Jamison opponent, but are “very close to finalising it”.
NNZ said Taurua will name her Glasgow Commonwealth Games squad in mid-June, after the ANZ Premiership regular season finishes.
The Silver Ferns will meet for a three-day camp in early July once Super Netball and the ANZ Premiership have concluded. They’ll later fly to the UK, where they will have 10 days before game one against hosts Scotland on July 25.
The New Zealand squad will have only three weeks together before the Commonwealth Games. However, it is worth pointing out Australia, Jamaica and England also have key players in Super Netball who will be under the same turnaround.
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.