23 minute read
Board Chair and Chief Executive’s Report
dynamic in terms of our leadership, innovation and operational excellence. These are all things we’ve had to be true to this year.
Popoia was met with an overwhelming sense of unity. This went a long way for us in 2020, setting the foundation that, as a collective, we are stronger than we are on our own.
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As part of the Silver Ferns’ brand project, the Pure As series was launched in February. An initiative inspired by the NNZ communications and marketing team after the Netball World Cup, the series featured Dame Noeline and a selection of Silver Ferns sharing their respective Netball journeys.
Launched through SilverFans.co.nz and screened on Sky Television, Pure As drew an outstanding response. Viewers were moved by the heartwarming and inspiring experiences of those involved in the World Cup victory.
This coincided with another spectacular occasion for Netball – a stellar night at the 57th ISPS Handa Halberg Awards.
The Halbergs Awards are the country’s pre-eminent celebration of New Zealand sporting achievements. On an unforgettable night for our sport, Dame Noeline was named 2019 Buddle Findlay Coach of the Year, and was recognised with the Sport NZ Leadership Award. The resurgent Silver Ferns then clinched the Team of the Year title and the Sky Sport Moment of the Year, voted by the public.
In another highlight for Netball, former Silver Ferns player and coach Yvonne Willering was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award, for her enormous contribution to Netball.
To complete a perfect evening, the Silver Ferns went home with the Halberg Supreme Award – a phenomenal achievement which touched many. It was so humbling for our sport to be recognised across so many categories.
And then, everything changed rapidly as COVID-19 took hold around the globe.
As New Zealand went into lockdown, NNZ had something of a reference point – as an organisation that has had to adapt and evolve in recent years. And while we’d built the foundation for change, this was different to anything we’d ever encountered before. However, as a team we came together and worked through each challenge.
This has been a very tough period. Tough on everyone, but particularly those who have been so impacted by the losses we have suffered. Losing staff from our Zones and Netball Centres has been incredibly difficult. It was devastating when Mainland Netball went into voluntary liquidation, but as a result, we are building ourselves to be stronger and better. We are grateful to the Mainland Board for guiding us through the process, and for the leadership they demonstrated.
We were also forced to make tough calls around the programmes we’d planned to run. And to ensure we didn’t face the worst financial scenario, we went hard.
That distilled our focus to participation opportunities, the delivery of the ANZ Premiership and a reduced Silver Ferns programme. We were very mindful of the financial-related burdens on Centres set to host events like the NZ Secondary School champs, age-group champs and the inaugural Open Champs. Our decisions provided some surety for Centres and their future planning. Cancelling domestic events allowed us to focus on the community game, and lessen the burden on delivery. It was distressing knowing our Netball courts were empty and the opportunities for our young players were taken away. After the nationwide lockdown, there was an urgency and desire to put that back in place.
At a time when so many members were struggling financially, we also decided that NNZ wouldn’t charge membership fees. Ensuring our fees were reduced materially went to the heart of Poipoia – making sure our game remained accessible and affordable while providing participation opportunities in 2020 where possible.
The second lockdown really took its toll on the Auckland region. Some players only had a few games this year and it was really felt at Centre level. We would like to acknowledge everyone for their work, in particular those Centres which had to cancel seasons.
For a long time, it seemed unlikely we would stage the ANZ Premiership in 2020. It was a sobering prospect, planning for ‘what does this look like if there’s no Netball this year?’ – whether it be community or elite. But again, we regrouped and introduced different ways to connect with our community.
From that emerged NETFIT – streamed and screened live on Sky Sport, demonstrating Netball remained relevant even in our changed circumstances. There was huge willingness and creativity to ensure a televised show went on air during the lockdown. Liaising with Melbourne from their home offices in New Zealand, our NNZ staff made sure that Netball enthusiasts, the young in particular, could participate in original content and activities while stuck at home.
Once the ANZ Premiership was given the green light to resume, we were able to get a largely uninterrupted season to the finish line. Changes in Alert Levels meant the draw was reshuffled – with the first six weeks played at the Auckland Netball Centre, which partnered with NNZ staff to do the lion’s share of running games. We give our thanks to the Auckland Netball Centre organisers for their enthusiasm and hands-on involvement. Matches were played on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, with chartered flights allowing out-of-town teams to travel safely. The level of detail to meet all COVID-19 requirements was carried out to the highest of standards.
The second half of the ANZ Premiership returned to the regions.
This was an important time for teams to reconnect with their supporters and play in front of home crowds again. We saw big turnouts on game day as the public embraced the nationwide return of elite-level Netball.
Unfortunately, we were unable to have full crowds at the Finals Series in Invercargill due to Alert Level 2 restrictions. It was still a great spectacle. Congratulations to Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse for winning back-to-back titles, and we acknowledge outgoing coach Yvette McCauslandDurie, for her successful four-year tenure with the team. She now focuses her attention on guiding the NZU21 team’s preparation ahead of the 2021 Netball World Youth Cup in Fiji.
We feel very privileged that the ANZ Premiership was the only Netball competition run in the world during 2020 that enjoyed the spectacle of full crowds.
In another inspired move, the NNZ High Performance team, led by Dame Noeline, worked out how, in this uncertain environment, she could continue to grow the base of elite players, coaches and managers by giving them opportunities.
So, the Silver Ferns, NZA and the NZU21 teams came together for two intense and challenging training camps ahead of two Cadbury Netball Series. This was a bold and innovative move which proved a great success with outstanding benefits. Those benefits were far-reaching, with players across the three teams interchanging during the series. All ANZ Premiership coaches were also involved through both series.
The first Cadbury Netball Series in Palmerston North, featured over 40 athletes across the Silver Ferns, NZA
The Power of Pure As
• Over 1.4 million video views on Silver Ferns channels
• Global reach 3.3 million
• 10,000 new SilverFans sign-ups
• All 6 episodes picked up by mainstream media and Sky Sport
• Significant increase in followers for Silver Ferns
and athlete channels
• International recognition from INF and partner countries
and NZU21s and the NZ Men’s team. All were given an opportunity to participate under the guidance of an aligned high- performance system, in front of full crowds. We would like to acknowledge the NZ Men’s contribution in ensuring this was a successful event, particularly those who came from Australia and spent two weeks in managed isolation to make it all possible.
The series was a terrific celebration of New Zealand Netball. The four captains spoke of their pride, who they were and what they stood for. This summed up perfectly what 2020 has done in achieving collectively, and what really matters.
It was an incredibly special moment welcoming the England Roses to New Zealand for the first Netball internationals since the world went into lockdown in March. We can’t speak highly enough of England’s positivity and willingness to adapt through such challenging circumstances.
On the eve of their departure, Roses coach Jess Thirlby was forced to stay in England after testing positive for COVID-19. Assistant coach Kat Ratnapala led the team on the ground in New Zealand while Jess lent her expertise via Zoom meetings and conference calls. The team followed strict protocols including regular testing while in isolation here.
England were fantastic opponents in a hard-fought battle for the Taini Jamison Trophy, eventually won by the Silver Ferns. The Government’s assistance in making this series happen cannot be underestimated. They acknowledged it was important for Netball, and for women, to have this platform alongside the codes of rugby and cricket. The frontline personnel at the Ministry of Health and the staff at the coalface of the quarantine facility made this experience an enjoyable one for the England Roses.
Our achievements in 2020 didn’t end there – demonstrating our compounding progress. Our NetballSmart programme entered a new three-year contract; this signifies the positive reinforcement the programme is making on the lives of our Netballers, reducing the injury rate and ensuring good practice is more deeply embedded. Our thanks go to Sharon Kearney, who leads this programme, for her expertise, integrity and the visible strides made in the injury-prevention space.
We continue to go from strength to strength in our futureFERNS programme, which, as the first step in the Netball experience, is vitally important for the progression of our young players.
The Cadbury Netball Volunteers programme adapted to the everchanging environment also, finding new ways to recognise our volunteers. It was a wonderful occasion, during the second Cadbury Netball Series in Hamilton, when they were all acknowledged publicly.
We have been working on a number of projects with Sport NZ, including Strengthen and Adapt. This has given us the opportunity to think more broadly about our future, so that whatever comes our way in the future, we are sustainable. While 2020 saw unprecedented support from Sport NZ and government, we can’t take that for granted. Change is inevitable and we must adapt accordingly.
Earlier in the year, we farewelled two icons of our game – Laura Langman and Maria Folau – who both called time on their impressive Silver Ferns careers. These two stalwarts began their international careers winning the 2005 Netball World Youth Cup, and ended as 2019 Netball World Cup victors. Laura and Maria belong to a select band of Silver Ferns’ centurions who forged stellar careers over many years and we acknowledge their special contributions to the Silver Ferns’ legacy.
We offer huge thanks to our partners, who have stood by us this year, and were open to being flexible and innovative. And we thank our Netball Centres’ personnel, who’ve been at the frontline, many in a voluntary capacity, riding this uncertain year with us and trusting us to make good decisions for the game. The Zones staff have been at the forefront of ensuring we continue to have a viable and vibrant Netball community, and we appreciate their unwavering commitment.
The NNZ Board members have worked extremely hard this year. They have always been available when needed during some really tough and trying times. The NNZ staff always go above and beyond but this year, collectively, there has been an amazing sense of
goodwill. They found ways around every obstacle we encountered and worked tirelessly to deliver the incredible results we achieved despite the challenges. It has meant that for many of our staff, they have worked in physical isolation as resources have not enabled the team to be brought together. It has been a year like no other but it has galvanised us, and made us aware of what we’re actually capable of when we work collectively.
And of course, we are sincerely grateful to Netball people across the community, and the selfless goodwill from so many who pitched in and offered a hand through these difficult times. It is testament to our resilience, and we should be incredibly proud of the role we’ve all played connecting and inspiring communities through Netball.
Jennie Wyllie NNZ Chief Executive
Allison Ferguson NNZ Board Chair
Netball New Zealand Board and Staff President’s Report
Jennie Wyllie Chief Executive
Jacqui Swan Executive Manager
COMMERCIAL AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
David Cooper Head of Commercial and Business Development Rebecca Annan Business Development and Funding Manager Matthew Abbott (until August) ANZ Premiership Innovation Manager Hayley Smith (commenced April) Commercial Partnerships Manager Michelle McGrath (April–November) National Funding Executive
COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING
Kerry Manders Head of Communications and Marketing Troy Han Communications and Marketing Manager Madeline van Wichen Junior Graphic Designer John Whiting Digital Engagement and Content Manager
COMMUNITY NETBALL
Ruth Stanley Head of Community Netball Hayley Griffith Volunteer Advocate
Alysha Jensen National Programmes Manager Tania Karauria National Coaching Manager Tammy Mehrtens National Training Manager Ashvina Patel Community Netball Sports Co-ordinator Garratt Williamson National Technical Officials Manager Sharon Kearney NetballSmart Programme Manager Charissa Barham Youth Development Manager Hannah Coutts NetballSmart Development Officer – Mainland
Geni Tuilagi Community Netball Relationship Manager – Mainland
EVENTS AND INTERNATIONAL
Kate Agnew Head of Events and International
Shannon Courtney Event Co-ordinator
Emma Fowlie Event Manager Melissa Phillips Event Manager Ivan Harre Programme Manager – PSP Angela Carmody (Maternity Leave from October) Programme Co-ordinator – PSP Ruta Schwalger (commenced November) Programme Co-ordinator – PSP
FINANCE AND SERVICES
Lisa Greenaway Senior Finance Manager Claire Britton Accounts Assistant Paula Bos Accountant
Stacey Lawrence Finance Manager
HIGH PERFORMANCE
Keir Hansen Head of High Performance Noeline Taurua Silver Ferns Head Coach
Sammie Gordon High Performance Administrator Marianne Delaney-Hoshek Head Coach Tactix
Esther Molloy Silver Ferns Manager Elissa Phillips HP Player Development Manager
Netball New Zealand Board
Carole Maddix NNZ President
Allison Ferguson NNZ Board Chair, Appointed NNZ Board Member
Sue Gordon Elected NNZ Board Member
Shane Harmon Appointed NNZ Board Member Bernice Mene Appointed Board Member Lesley Murdoch Elected NNZ Board Member
Maxine Shortland Elected NNZ Board Member
Matt Whineray Appointed NNZ Board Member
Mai I Te Perehitini
Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou. It has been a significant year for us all where we have had to adapt to new ways of doing things and team up to respond to the challenges of COVID-19. While Netball has been disrupted this year, our community has stayed strong and continued to support our game in many ways.
I had planned to get out and about visiting Netball Centres this year; however, this was impacted by restrictions on travelling outside of Auckland. I was pleased to get to the finals day at Taupō Netball in September. It was such a privilege spending the day with the fabulous Taupō Netball community and seeing Netball thriving there. I also had opportunities to test my skills using Zoom and participate in some AGMs.
Thankfully we were able to complete the ANZ Premiership and the Cadbury Netball Series this year. It brought us great pleasure to watch strongly contested games played by superbly talented players and supported by outstanding coaches, umpires and administrators. Special mention to the NNZ staff who worked tirelessly to bring these games to us. Congratulations to Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse and The Good Oil Tactix for a great ANZ Premiership Grand Final. Pulse came out on top for a second year, with this year’s win being extra special for the team in honour of coach Yvette McCausland-Durie as she steps aside to pursue other commitments. Congratulations to those in our Netball community who received New Year’s and Queen’s Birthday honours: Dame Noeline Taurua (Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of the Merit); Laura Langman, Margaret Forsyth, Joan Harnett-Kindley (Officers of the New Zealand Order of the Merit); and Sharon Kearney and Mary Thompson (Member New Zealand Order of the Merit). We are extremely proud of you all. We acknowledge and recognise those who have passed away this year: Marion Law – Silver Fern #25, Jean Rountree QSM – NNZ Service Award Member (1967) and Nina Smith – NNZ Service Award Member (2017). While Netball is all about the team, it is important to also recognise and acknowledge our people. This year Laura Langman and Maria Folau announced their retirements from International Netball. They have both been staunch Netball supporters and Netball in New Zealand is all the richer from their extraordinary talent, leadership and compelling enthusiasm for the game. Sincere thanks to the NNZ Board led by Allison Ferguson, Chief Executive Jennie Wyllie and the NNZ staff for their continued dedication to ensuring that Netball remains the number one women’s sport in New Zealand and that Netball continues to thrive throughout the country. To the Netball community, thank you so much for everything you have done to keep our beloved game moving forward this year. I’m incredibly proud and honoured to be a part of our Netball whānau.
Mahia te mahi, hei painga mo te iwi. We strive every day to do the work for the betterment of the people.
Carole Maddix, MNZM NNZ President
HALBERG AWARDS 2020
Halberg Awards 2020
Inspirational coach Dame Noeline Taurua headlined a night to savour as the accolades flowed thick and fast for Netball at the 57th ISPS Handa Halberg Awards held in Auckland in February 2020.
At the country’s pre-eminent event celebrating and honouring New Zealand’s sporting achievements in 2019, there was double delight for Dame Noeline who completed a memorable evening after being named Buddle Findlay Coach of the Year while also picking up the prestigious Sport NZ Leadership Award.
The resurgent Silver Ferns clinched the Team of the Year title, as well.
Having slipped to fourth in the pecking order heading into the sport’s pinnacle event, Dame Noeline took the Silver Ferns on a heady ride following her appointment as head coach 11 months out from the 2019 Netball World Cup. With just the smallest window of opportunity, Dame Noeline defied the odds by guiding the Silver Ferns from the depths of despair to become world champions without a backward glance, galvanising a team and the country.
It was the Silver Ferns’ first world title in 16 years. Dame Noeline headed off fellow coaching contenders Eugene Bareman (mixed martial arts), Gary Hay (rowing), Gordon Walker (canoe racing) and Roly Crichton (Para swimming) to clinch the award.
In the hotly-contested Team of the Year category, the Silver Ferns won out over the Black Ferns Sevens (rugby), BLACKCAPS (cricket), Women’s Eight (rowing) and Women’s Double – Olivia Loe and Brooke Donoghue (rowing). Sixteen years on, the class of 2019 followed in the footsteps of the 2003 Netball World Cup-winning Silver Ferns, who also went on to claim the Team of the Year Award at the Halberg Awards.
Stalwarts Casey Kopua, Maria Folau, Laura Langman – affectionately dubbed the fossils – and Katrina Rore ended a long barren run for the Silver Ferns which highlighted the benefit of experience. The steely nerves of shooting sensation Ameliaranne Ekenasio, the dynamic athletic ability of defender Jane Watson and the steadying hands and feeding vision of midcourters Gina Crampton and Shannon Saunders all shone through in wholehearted team efforts during defining semi-final and final moments. Bailey Mes, Karin Burger, Te Paea Selby-Rickit and Phoenix Karaka all added invaluable impact throughout the tournament and ensured the Silver Ferns remained fresh at the business end.
This achievement also earned the Silver Ferns New Zealand’s Favourite Sporting Moment, voted by the public, at the evening’s awards.
Former Silver Ferns player and coach Yvonne Willering put the stamp on a perfect evening when she was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
From being an international player and coach, Yvonne has made an enormous contribution to Netball, not only in New Zealand but also around the world, in helping grow and develop the sport.
Yvonne was made a Netball New Zealand Life Member in 2018, adding the icing with her Lifetime Achievement Award at New Zealand’s premier annual sporting event which acknowledges the pinnacle of achievement across the codes.
From outstanding player to umpire to coach, and now international coaching advisor, Yvonne has had a rich and wideranging Netball career spanning 50 years.
She went from being a Netball novice, plucked from obscurity as a 15-year-old, to making it to the Auckland Under-21 side in her first year of playing.
Yvonne was chosen to play for New Zealand in 1974 where, for the next
decade, she made her mark as one of the best defenders to wear the Silver Fern and was part of New Zealand’s 1979 Netball World Cup-winning team. She went on to become the seventh coach The achievement of the Silver Ferns also earned the from 1997 to Silver Ferns 2001, guiding them New Zealand’s through 51 Tests, in total.
Favourite Sporting
Moment, voted by the public, at the Her coaching influence has been widespread and for evening’s awards.” 30 years Yvonne has conducted coaching sessions throughout New Zealand – and overseas – guiding players, coaches and administrators in her inimitable style.
COVID-19
COVID-19
Netball became one of the many casualties of the COVID-19 pandemic following an eerily silent match played behind closed doors with no spectators in the final game of Round 1 of the ANZ Premiership.
Just four days after the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel and Splice Construction Magic had completed their opening match of the season in the most unusual of circumstances, the ANZ Premiership was postponed for two weeks on 20 March as the situation was monitored.
Community Netball was suspended for the foreseeable future on the same day, while the Beko Netball League was cancelled for 2020 as NNZ aligned with government procedures and the strict policies set in place during Alert Level 4 and the country going into almost complete lockdown. With a resumption of the season in limbo, it was a challenging time for all involved but the health and welfare of players, team management and the wider Netball community remained the top priority. This meant that players had to train in their own bubbles after group trainings were ceased due to the regulations at Alert Level 4.
Tough decisions
The ongoing effects of COVID-19 also resulted in NNZ making the decision to cancel two new domestic events planned for 2020. The Netball NZ U18 Champs and the Netball NZ Open Champs, replacing the former Netball NZ U19 and Netball NZ U17 national events, will now be launched in 2021.
The continuing financial impact cast by COVID-19 had a telling effect across many businesses in New Zealand and none felt it more keenly than Netball Mainland Zone which was placed in voluntary liquidation in early April.
Despite a huge amount of work towards ensuring the organisation was in a positive position during 2020 and exploring potential alternatives, the uncertainty around the resumption of community and high performance games during lockdown meant that pressing forward was unviable.
Bubble training
From players at the elite level to those at the grass roots, including umpires, Netballers showed their collective competitive spirits and inventiveness during lockdowns with some inspiring training regimes, all undertaken from their garages, lounges and backyards.
One of the more visible initiatives was the partnering of NNZ and ANZ New Zealand with global Netball fitness, skills and wellbeing organisation NETFIT and with it the launch of NETFIT NZ.
The partnership offered the New Zealand Netball community free access to live online workouts delivered by elite Netball players during New Zealand’s COVID-19 Alert Level 4 lockdown, screened live on Sky Sport three times a week. It was also available via the NETFIT website.
For those missing their Netball fix, it was a welcome opportunity for players to stay motivated, fit, build new routines and skills, and have some fun while having a positive effect on their mental wellbeing, too.
The online workouts also included health, fitness, coaching, nutrition and wellbeing sessions. The NETFIT NZ programme was hosted by former Silver Ferns Courtney Tairi and Laura Langman.
The popular weekly magazine-styled Netball Zone on Sky Sport returned also but with a twist, morphing into Netball ISO-Zone.
During lockdown, the Netball ISOZone team caught up with players and coaches from around the country while also delving into the archives in reliving highlights of the best matches and thoughts from the people who played in them.
The audience was taken around the globe virtually as well, to check in with the international Netball family. Many other online opportunities were provided for the Netball Community. Coaching courses were adapted, the coaches Kōrero was also acknowledged by International Netball Federation (INF).
Alert Level 2 brings new optimism
On 7 May, there was an excited buzz in the air when the Government announced that professional sport, including the ANZ Premiership, could resume under COVID-19 Alert Level 2.
The key priority during this time remained the safety of all those involved with the ANZ Premiership which meant ensuring that systems were in place to implement the public health measures, including contact tracing and hygiene requirements.
In accordance with the advice given by the Sport and Recreation Minister regarding some modifications needed for training, play and competition, NNZ worked closely with Sport NZ and WorkSafe on how these would be put into place.
There was a further welcome boost for the ANZ Premiership when NNZ received $2.2 million from Sport NZ’s $4.6 million financial relief package to help professional sports clubs remain viable and assist with costs required to get their competitions back up and running.
The rules around mass gatherings still applied during Alert Level 2. This meant that the ANZ Premiership, at that stage, could not be played in front of crowds.
Still under Level 2 restrictions, the six teams were given four weeks to prepare after a revised condensed 10-week ANZ Premiership schedule was announced. Matches were scheduled for every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday at the Auckland Netball Centre starting on 19 June.
The Robinhood Stars, Northern Mystics and Splice Construction Magic commuted by road, while chartered flights were scheduled for Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse, The Good Oil Tactix and Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel to allow for safe and controlled travel.
A sense of normality returns at Alert Level 1
With things changing on an almost daily basis, New Zealand quickly moved into Alert Level 1. As a result the ANZ Premiership became the first professional women’s sporting competition to return to action in front of crowds since the start of the global COVID-19 lockdown in March. In a hectic reshuffle The popular behind the scenes, weekly magazine- it also meant that styled Netball games for the Zone on Sky Sport second half of the season, starting returned also on 30 July, were but with a twist, rescheduled to home morphing into matches with elite Netball ISO-Zone.” Netball returning to venues around the country. The revised schedule included round-robin games in Invercargill, Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Porirua, Hamilton and Auckland. In a massive joint effort between NNZ and the ANZ Premiership teams, venue availability, accommodation and travel options were reworked to take the competition back around New Zealand while a triple-header Finals Series was planned for Invercargill on 23 August.
