Netball New Zealand says it’s pleased to confirm Dame Noeline Taurua will return as Silver Ferns head coach, effective today, October 25.
To minimise disruption to the Silver Ferns currently competing internationally, interim coaching appointments will remain in place until the conclusion of the Northern Tour.
Over the past two months, Netball NZ and Dame Noeline have been working on changes to the Silver Ferns programme and environment, Netball NZ says.
“Both parties share a deep commitment to athlete and staff well-being and to ensuring that the high-performance culture continues to evolve as necessary.
“Together, Netball NZ and Dame Noeline have agreed to implement enhancements to support well-being and performance including strengthening the player voice.
“These build on frameworks developed by the parties during recent discussions, with further input from High Performance Sport New Zealand and drawing from the coach and athlete welfare systems successfully employed by other leading codes.”
Netball NZ says it acknowledges the suspension of Dame Noeline and her coaching team was a difficult decision.
The subsequent period has been a “very challenging time for everyone involved, including the Silver Ferns players and management and their whānau, and for this we apologise”.
“Netball NZ has full confidence in Dame Noeline’s ongoing leadership of the Silver Ferns, noting there was nothing found during the process that called her integrity into question.
“Netball NZ and Dame Noeline will work in partnership to embed the agreed changes and to focus fully on the future, including preparations for the next pinnacle event, the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July, 2026.
“The process of reflection and improvement will now be wrapped into our normal regular year-end review cycle.
“While there has been public speculation on this matter, Netball NZ has a duty of care to all employees, including our players.
“Despite intense interest, we have not and cannot engage with commentary that breaches their right to privacy and does not reflect the full context.
“We thank athletes, coaches, staff and the wider netball community for their patience, and continued commitment to the Silver Ferns.”
