22 Oct 2025

Dispute between Netball NZ and coach becomes political

From Checkpoint, 4:32 pm on 22 October 2025

The highly public dispute between Netball New Zealand and Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua is becoming increasingly political. Earlier today Minister for Sport and Recreation Mark Mitchell told RNZ he asked Sport New Zealand officials to step in and help resolve the dispute. But RNZ can reveal they have been involved from the outset. High Performance Sport New Zealand has footed the bill for an independent review of the Ferns programme as well as player safeguarding measures - even as the coach at the centre of the crisis remains on the agency's board. Sports correspondent Dana Johannsen spoke to Lisa Owen.