Northern

Events Report

We had the major satisfaction of completing some of our events in 2021 but in another year where COVID-19 produced significant challenges, it was a bumpy ride for others which faced major disruption or cancellation.

ANZ Premiership

To huge relief for all of the teams and NNZ, it was fantastic to be able to run an almost uninterrupted ANZ Premiership during 2021. We were able to deliver all scheduled matches with only one of them being delayed due to a fleeting COVID-19 outbreak in Wellington.

The Grand Final between the Northern Mystics and The Good Oil Tactix produced a memorable highlight when the match was hosted at the larger-than-normal venue of Spark Arena which provided the perfect opportunity to showcase the ANZ Premiership in all its glory.

Spark Arena enabled the largest crowd ever to attend an ANZ Premiership Finals Series while ILT Stadium Southland in Invercargill produced impressive numbers for the Elimination Final between Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel and the Tactix.

Demonstrating the popularity of the ANZ Premiership, a total of 7,500 were in attendance across the two matches, the most yet for a Finals Series.

Appearing in their inaugural ANZ Premiership Grand Final, the Mystics created history when taking out a major title for the first time.

National Netball League

It was heartening to be able to deliver all but one of the games in the National Netball League (NNL) in 2021 after the competition was cancelled twice in the previous year.

One game was cancelled due to COVID-19 but this had no bearing on the final standings.

In a first appearance for both, the Northern Marvels and Northern Comets contested the Grand Final with the Marvels going on to clinch the title.

It was a major boost for Netball Northern Zone to celebrate a breakthrough year when pocketing both the ANZ Premiership and NNL titles for the first time.

Domestic Events

As a result of COVID-19, both the Netball NZ Open Champs, proudly brought to you by NZ Police, and the FUJIFILM Business Innovation NZ Secondary Schools Champs were cancelled for the second year in a row.

There was, however, a ray of sunshine when the inaugural Celebration Box Netball NZ U18 Champs were successfully delivered in Rotorua.

Recognising the importance to Centres and their player pathways, it was great to be able to deliver at least one of those domestic events.

We welcomed Celebration Box as the naming rights partner for the first time with the inaugural title being won by Auckland 1.

NNZ now looks forward to reigniting the Open Champs and Secondary School Champs in 2022.

International

Of the 10 matches the Silver Ferns played at home during 2021, they only were able to play in front of a live audience once. All three series were affected by changes in location and event staff being unable to travel in a challenging environment.

Missing some of the normal matchday highlights, such as national anthems and entertainment, did not detract from the over-riding achievement which resulted in a run of high-quality, entertaining matches being delivered seamlessly for broadcast.

At times, there was doubt as to whether games would proceed but once given the green light, the willingness and adaptability of the Netball community ensured we achieved a terrific outcome and those opportunities were treasured.

With two matches scheduled for Christchurch and two for Tauranga, the Constellation Cup series between the Silver Ferns and Australian Diamonds was an eagerly anticipated opening to NNZ’s home international calendar. However, a change in COVID-19 alert levels resulted in all four matches being played in Christchurch. At Alert Level 2, that meant no crowds in attendance for the first three matches. A move to Alert Level 1 for the deciding final Test meant ticket sales were able to go ahead, for which there was an overwhelming sellout response within 24 hours. It was great to be able to have a crowd for the last clash and being on hand to cheer the Silver Ferns to a 3-1 series win.

For the second straight year, the England Roses completed two weeks of MIQ ahead of the Taini Jamison Trophy series against the Silver Ferns.

Originally, two matches were scheduled for Hamilton and one for Christchurch but with the latest outbreak of COVID-19 all matches were moved to Christchurch where England were completing their time in MIQ.

It was wonderful that we were able to get that series up and running and have the three Tests go ahead. Under Alert Level 2 restrictions, we weren’t able to sell tickets to the general public but 100 close family and friends were permitted to attend each of the matches.

Being in lockdown, the NNZ events team was unable to travel out of Auckland. However, it was great we had the support of the Tactix events crew and volunteers to be able to deliver those matches, with England recording a historic 2-1 series win.

With the second instalment of the Constellation Cup postponed and wanting to give extra game-time opportunities to the Silver Ferns ahead of next year’s Commonwealth Games, the Cadbury Netball Series against Aotearoa Men in October was a last-minute addition to the event calendar.

At short notice, Aotearoa Men made themselves available for the three-Test series, which featured back-to-back games on successive days. Again, planning was thrown into disarray when a change of venue was required after Globox Arena in Hamilton was ruled out due to a change in alert levels in the Waikato a week ahead of the event.

In what required a huge amount of work, the series was moved to TSB Arena in Wellington. So, in the ongoing spirit of cooperation and can-do attitude, a successful series was delivered.

Unfortunately, Aotearoa Men had several of their players and management unable to travel to Wellington due to the COVID-19 restrictions but they were still able to pull together a strong team, who provided a closely-contested series, with the Silver Ferns prevailing 2-1.

With the NNZ events team still locked down in Auckland, there was great support provided by Netball Central and their volunteers to ensure the series went ahead. Once again, crowds were not allowed to attend.

It was great to be able to have a crowd for the last clash and being on hand to cheer the Silver Ferns to a 3-1 series win”