Netball is an integral part of New Zealand’s dynamic sporting culture. Steeped in history, it was introduced to New Zealand as ‘women’s basketball’ in 1906 – a nine-a-side game played on grass, with baskets tied to posts at either end of the court.
Held on the African continent for the first time, the 2023 Netball World Cup in South Africa proved the most competitive in its 60-year history but ended up being an unhappy hunting ground for the Silver Ferns. The women in black never recovered from the loss of key shooter Grace Nweke early in the tournament and failed to medal for the first time when finishing fourth. Drawing a close on New Zealand’s international calendar for the year, the vibrant, high energy and colourful FAST5 World Series event held in Christchurch event did not disappoint with the FAST5 Ferns clinching silver and the Net Blacks (New Zealand men’s team) claiming back-to-back titles. In the first-ever all-Auckland Grand Final, the ANZ Premiership finale is played on neutral ground for the first time, in Hamilton, the Mystics going on to convincingly beat the Stars. Central Manawa continue their strong legacy when claiming a fifth Synergy Hair Netball League title. Stalwarts of domestic and international netball for many years, Sulu Fitzpatrick, Bailey Mes and Claire Kersten announced their retirements. This year the netball community mourned the passing of three legendary figures of the game, Silver Ferns Coach #3 Taini Jamison, iconic coach of the south Robyn Broughton and Silver Fern #36 shooting great Mirth Solomon. Netball New Zealand (NNZ) is the driving force behind the launch of a ground-breaking online portal containing the 60-year history of the World Cup. Tina Karaitiana is announced the new NNZ President.
A largely youthful and new-look breed of Silver Ferns overcomes a disrupted build-up to this year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, which culminated in an all or nothing final match, the team rising to the occasion to clinch a well-merited bronze medal. It was a similar story in Christchurch when after a three-year hiatus, a youthful FAST5 Ferns team was selected to welcome the return of the FAST5 Netball World Series in November. An improving FAST5 Ferns took out the bronze medal. Southland’s Kristie Simpson set a significant personal milestone when she became New Zealand’s most capped national league umpire when recording her 120 th match. After three Netball World Cups, three Commonwealth Games and over 200 combined national league games to her name, former Silver Ferns captain Katrina Rore retires. Rore earned 137 caps for the Silver Ferns. When the first whistle blew to start the ANZ Premiership, it also marked the 25 th season of elite level netball leagues in New Zealand (1988 – 2022). The Pulse become the most successful team in ANZ Premiership history when winning a third title. Pulse defender Kelly Jury and Mystics shooter Grace Nweke are joint winners of the Dame Lois Muir Supreme Award. After featuring for 14 seasons of national league netball, former Silver Ferns defender Anna Harrison calls time on her career. One of the game’s great characters and innovators, the ``Harrison Hoist’’ will forever remain part of Harrison’s legacy while adding to the lustre of her invaluable contribution to netball.
The impact of the wide-reaching consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic is evident once again, resulting in another disrupted year for many parts of the netball community. The Silver Ferns are among the casualties with their programme suffering plenty of upheaval, starting with the Constellation Cup series against Australia in March. The ANZ Premiership, National Netball League and Netball NZ U18 Champs are able to complete their competitions, but the inaugural Netball NZ Open Champs and NZ Secondary Schools Champs are not so fortunate. There is further disappointment when the Netball World Youth Cup 2021 (NWYC) scheduled for December 2 – 11 in Fiji is also cancelled. Adapting to an ever-changing landscape becomes part and parcel of life as a Silver Fern, Covid-19 once again being an influencing factor in their end of year programme. The three-test Cadbury Netball Series against the Vitality Roses is staged solely in Christchurch, including matches being played without crowds. There was similar disruption for the second instalment of the Cadbury Netball Series just two weeks later between the Silver Ferns and Aotearoa Men when a change in location is required.
The first player to captain the Silver Ferns in New Zealand, Oonah Shannahan (nee Murray) also becomes the first to turn 100, when she celebrated the rare milestone in September. Completing a defining year through her influential play and leadership skills, defender Sulu Fitzpatrick takes out the Dame Lois Muir Supreme Award in 2021. At the same time, she led the Northern Mystics to a first-ever title since the introduction of franchise netball, in1998. Named for two stalwarts and celebrating five years of the league, the ANZ Premiership Player of the Year trophy becomes the Casey Kopua Trophy and the ANZ Coach of the Year, the Robyn Broughton Cup. New Zealand’s Shirley Hooper was elected as the new Vice President of World Netball and shortly after is awarded Netball New Zealand Life Membership for her unstinting contribution to the sport.
The netball community mourns the passing of former Silver Ferns #37 Tilly Hirst (nee Vercoe) and #66 Margaret Forsyth. Tilly, a defender, was a World Cup winner in the famous 1967 Silver Ferns team while also playing in the 1971 edition in Jamaica. Shooter Margaret was a 17-year-old schoolgirl when first selected for the Silver Ferns and remains the youngest Silver Fern to play at a Netball World Championship while being just one of three Silver Ferns to win two world titles. Honouring her memory, the Margaret Forsyth Cup is presented for the first time at the Netball NZ U18 champs.
The Covid-19 pandemic dominated 2020, resulting in the cancellation of the Beko Netball League, two new domestic competitions planned for 2020, the Netball NZ U18 Champs, the Netball NZ Open Champs, and the national secondary schools’ events. There was a ray of sunshine when a revised ANZ Premiership got the go- ahead. An eventual move to Level 1 meant the league became the first professional women’s sporting competition in the world to return to action in front of crowds since the start of the global lockdown in March. In what had previously seemed unlikely, the Silver Ferns also got to play in front of home crowds. The Cadbury Series, featuring the Silver Ferns, New Zealand Men’s team and NZA was followed by the Taini Jamison series against England, the first international netball tests to be played since the outbreak of Covid-19. Earlier in the year, New Zealand’s most capped netballer, Laura Langman calls time on her illustrious 163-test 15-year international career. The Pulse make it back-to-back ANZ Premiership titles. Silver Ferns coach Noeline Taurua is acknowledged in the New Year’s Honours with a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to netball.
Two of the sport’s leading figures over many years, former Silver Ferns coaches Waimarama Taumaunu and Ruth Aitken are awarded Netball New Zealand Life Membership for their contributions across multiple areas of the game.
Highlighted by the Silver Ferns remarkable turnaround to clinch the World Cup, 2019 is a year to savour. The visionary leadership of head coach Dame Noeline Taurua and her assistant Deb Fuller pay huge dividends, the Silver Ferns embracing the challenge and against all odds, going on to win their first world title in 16 years. Coming out of retirement for one last shot at winning a world title, inspirational defender Casey Kopua retired permanently with her dream achieved. Long-serving shooter Maria Folau reached the 150-test cap milestone in the final match of the drawn end-of-season Constellation Cup series with Australia before also heading into retirement. Captain and midcourt maestro Laura Langman won the Dame Lois Muir Supreme Award for a third time at the NNZ Awards. In an historic moment, women and men played on the same court for the first time during the Cadbury Netball Series, the New Zealand Men’s Invitational team proving an instant hit and the perfect preparation to the Silver Ferns World Cup build-up. The Central Pulse break a long drought when winning a history-making first ANZ Premiership title. The netball community mourned the passing of hugely popular and influential NNZ Life Member Monica Leggat during 2019.
A run of disappointing results for the Silver Ferns, including a fourth-place finish at the Commonwealth Games and a drop to third in the world rankings, prompts the launch of an extensive independent review. The depth of feedback provided by the review highlights key recommendations from the review panel which NNZ embraced. The New Zealand A programme is re-established, a world-class high performance campaign plan is instigated and former Silver Ferns captain Bernice Mene is welcomed to the NNZ Board. Noeline Taurua is appointed the 11th coach of the Silver Ferns with Laura Langman assuming the captaincy. Playing her 146th Test during the Constellation Cup, Langman becomes the most capped player in Silver Ferns history. The FAST5 Ferns continue their strong record in the shortened version of the game to secure a seventh Fast5 Netball World Series title. Allison Ferguson is appointed the new NNZ Board Chair when John Bongard completed his tenure after completing his full term of nine years.
The Southern Steel win a second straight ANZ Premiership title. Former Silver Ferns coach and player, Yvonne Willering is awarded Netball New Zealand Life Membership.
A new era of elite level domestic competition is unveiled with the inaugural edition of the ANZ Premiership. The return, after nine years of participating in a trans-Tasman competition, to a unique standalone domestic showpiece heralds the emerging depth of young talent in New Zealand. It also introduced new entity, the Northern Stars, based out of South Auckland, and started from scratch specifically for the new six- team competition. Continuing their strong tradition in franchise netball, the Southern Steel win the inaugural title. The individual highlight of 2017 was the success of the NZU21 team in winning the Netball World Youth Cup in Botswana, the first time New Zealand has won back-to-back titles at this level. Involving New Zealand’s top three ANZ Premiership teams and five other club sides from around the world, the successful launch of Netball Super Club is heralded. The Netball community and beyond were deeply saddened at the sudden passing of former Silver Fern Tania Dalton, at just 45. Netball also mourned the passing of two other inspiring figures during the year, Joyce McCann and Shirley Annan. Captain Katrina Grant joined a select group when she became just the seventh Silver Fern to reach the 100-Test milestone.
Former Silver Ferns coach and captain and long-serving administrator Leigh Gibbs is awarded Netball New Zealand Life Membership.
The new Beko Netball League is launched, an amateur competition that sits underneath the ANZ Championship with its key purpose to provide a platform for the next tier of athletes, coaches and management to gain the necessary week-in week- out experience of high performance netball. In a year of change in Netball, the ANZ Championship is held for the final time, with both New Zealand and Australia opting to create separate National competitions in 2017. New Zealand included a sixth team to its competition to be based in greater Auckland (the Northern Stars) to add a further dynamic to the 2017 ANZ Premiership. NNZ confirmed it will also host an International Component that will follow the new NZ League with further details to be confirmed. Hilary Poole resigned in her role as Chief Executive with Jennie Wyllie taking over the role. Laura Langman wins the Dame Lois Supreme Award for the second time.
The Whole of Netball Plan is launched incorporating the four key pillars for the sport going forward to: Grow, Win, Connect and Sustain. Netball New Zealand Board Chair John Bongard is reappointed for a further three years, continuing in his role as Chair. Beverley Douglas is elected as the new Netball New Zealand President. NNZ Life Member Dawn Jones is awarded the Halberg Life Time Achievement award. The Silver Ferns under the leadership of head coach Waimarama Taumaunu and assistant coach Vicki Wilson win silver at the Netball World Cup in Sydney. Taumaunu and Wilson also both finished in their Silver Fern management roles later in 2015. In November, long time Silver Ferns captain Casey Kopua announced her unavailability for the Silver Ferns in 2016 after confirming her first pregnancy. In November, Netball New Zealand held the inaugural NZ Netball Awards hosted at the Auckland War Memorial Museum where dynamic midcourter Laura Langman took out the Dame Lois Supreme Award. In December, Janine Southby began her new role as Silver Ferns head coach.
NNZ Chief Executive Hilary Poole begins the process to develop the Whole of Netball plan, a plan that will provide the strategic direction for the Whole of Netball in New Zealand. Legendary Silver Ferns shooter Irene van Dyk retires from the Silver Ferns prior the Commonwealth Games. The Silver Ferns win silver at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. The FAST5 Ferns win the FAST5 Netball World Series for the third year in a row. Netball New Zealand Board Chair Raewyn Lovett completes her nine-year tenure on the Board and is replaced by John Bongard. NNZ President Sheryl Lady Wells completes her four-year term as NNZ President.
Chief Executive Raelene Castle announces her resignation to take up a job in Sydney as Chief Executive for NRL club Canterbury Bulldogs. New NNZ Chief Executive Hilary Poole starts. Pita Pit, House of Travel and Trilogy join the family of sponsors at Netball New Zealand. NZU21 team win the World Youth Netball Championships in Scotland defeating Australia in the final. The FAST5 Ferns win back-to-back FAST5 Netball World Series titles at Auckland’s Vector Arena. NNZ undertakes a nationwide review of the Junior Netball Programme.
Netball New Zealand restructures and creates five Netball Zones throughout the country to administer, promote and develop the game at both an elite and community level. New clothing sponsor Canterbury of New Zealand announces a three-year deal with Netball New Zealand. The Silver Ferns win the inaugural ‘Quad Series’ competition between New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and England played in both Australia and New Zealand. The Silver Ferns win the New World Netball Series for the Constellation Cup for the first time. Kia Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic wins the ANZ Championship – the first New Zealand team to do so.
Former national Board chair and vice-chair of the International Netball Federation, Kereyn Smith is awarded Netball New Zealand Life Membership.
The Silver Ferns win the silver medal at the 13 th World Netball Championships in Singapore, beaten by Australia in the final. Waimarama Taumaunu is announced as new Silver Ferns coach following the departure of Ruth Aitken, becoming just the ninth coach of the national team since 1938.
Influential coach, former national Executive member and national selector, Marian George is awarded Netball New Zealand Life Membership.
In an epic contest, the Silver Ferns win Commonwealth Games Gold, in New Delhi, India. After going into double extra-time, the Silver Ferns beat Australia won 66-64 in the final, the match lasting 84 minutes in the longest-ever official game. The Silver Ferns win back-to-back titles at the Netball World Series (FASTNET) in Liverpool, beating England in the final. An annual Constellation Cup series between the Silver Ferns and Australia, is introduced.
Two trail-blazing coaches at domestic and international level, Taini Jamison and Robyn Broughton are awarded Netball New Zealand Life Membership.
Netball New Zealand launches its Strategic Plan, 2009-2012, with the goal of becoming New Zealand's leading sport by 2020. New apparel sponsor Adidas launches the new Silver Ferns match dress. The inaugural New Zealand Under-17 Championships are held in Wellington and won by Auckland Waitakere. Casey Williams becomes the Silver Ferns captain following the retirement of Julie Seymour. The FastNet Ferns travel to Liverpool and win the inaugural Netball World Series (FASTNET), coached by Ruth Aitken, beating Jamaica in the final 32-27. Legendary Silver Ferns coach Lois Muir accepts redesignation of a previous award to become a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit following the restoration of titular honours by the New Zealand government. She had previously been appointed a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2004.
Raelene Castle is appointed Chief Executive of Netball New Zealand. The National Bank Cup competition ends in appropriate fashion when the Southern Sting defeats Northern Force in the Final by one-goal to take the trophy home to Invercargill for good. Given only 10 months to organise the 12th World Championships, New Zealand hosts a highly successful event at The Trusts Stadium, Waitakere, Auckland. Australia defeats New Zealand 42-38 in a bruising and enthralling Final. Netball New Zealand and Netball Australia establish a joint venture company, Trans- Tasman Netball Ltd, to launch Australasia's first semi-professional Netball league, subsequently known as the ANZ Championship.
A new-look Asics match dress for the Silver Ferns is launched. The Silver Ferns win the Commonwealth Games gold medal for the first time with a 60-55 win over Australia in the final in Melbourne. Waikato/BOP Magic claim back-to-back National Bank Cup titles, defeating Southern Sting 67-43, the 24-goal winning margin and their 26-goal win in 2005, the two biggest Grand Final wins in National Bank Cup history.
Silver Ferns manager for 12 years, Sheryl Wells is awarded Netball New Zealand Life Membership.
Netball New Zealand launches its Strategic Plan, 'Out of the Circle’. The Silver Ferns achieve their largest winning score against Australia in a Test Match with a 61–36 result in Auckland. The New Zealand under-21 team wins the World Youth Championship title in Fort Lauderdale, Miami. Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic become the first North Island team to win the National Bank Cup when they beat the Southern Sting in the final, in the process ending the Sting’s six-year reign as champions.
A golden year for Netball in New Zealand as the Silver Ferns go unbeaten on their way to winning the 11th World Championships in Jamaica, their first world title since 1987. Anna Stanley (nee Rowberry) becomes the fourth Silver Ferns captain to claim a World Cup title after Judy Blair (1967), Lyn Parker (1979) and Leigh Gibbs (1987). Ruth Aitken became the third coach after Taini Jamison (1969) and Lois Muir (1979 and 1987) to coach the Silver Ferns to a World Cup gold medal. The Southern Sting claimed their fifth straight National Bank Cup title when beating the Northern Force 51-49 in the Grand Final in front of a raucous Invercargill crowd.
With a long career in netball administration and finishing her term as International Federation president at the World Championships in Jamaica, Bay of Plenty’s Sheryl Dawson is awarded Netball New Zealand Life Membership.
Ruth Aitken is appointed the Silver Ferns eighth coach with Leigh Gibbs as assistant coach. In an early season tour to Jamaica, the Silver Ferns win the series 2-1 after suffering their first ever loss to Jamaica in the second Test. The Silver Ferns win the silver medal at the Commonwealth Games, in Manchester, losing in an epic final to Australia in the longest Test Match in history after double overtime was required to separate the teams. Aitken became the sixth Silver Ferns coach to have also played for the Silver Ferns.
A long-standing involvement in umpiring, leading to international status, Fay Freeman is awarded Netball New Zealand Life Membership
The Future Directions II strategy is announced with a vision to make Netball in New Zealand ‘more visible, more exciting, more now”. In an historic first tour to South Africa, the Silver Ferns win the inaugural Tri-Nations Series against Australia and South Africa. A feature of the series was shooting great Irene van Dyk’s return to play netball in her country of birth after making New Zealand her home the previous year. England tour New Zealand, the Silver Ferns winning 3-0. Australia tour and win Fisher & Paykel Series.
In a sign of the times, Netball NZ refines its governance model from an executive to a board structure to run the organisation. The last Executive (until February of this year), Sheryl Dawson, Bev Douglas, Jean Hansen, Glenda Hughes, Tina Karaitiana, Kay McIntyre, Keryn Smith and Kathy Stewart step down to allow the formation of the organisation’s first board, consisting of appointed and elected personnel. The first NNZ Board was formed shortly after, comprising: Tina Karaitiana, Kay McIntyre, Kereyn Smith (Chair), Jane Wrightson, Don McKinnon, Nelson Cull, Vicki Buck. Dame Catherine Tizard was the NNZ Patron. The new structure also includes the role of Chief Executive. Shelley McMeeken is appointed and fills the role for seven years.
The 75th Netball New Zealand anniversary celebrations are held. The New Zealand Dream Team is announced: Margharet Matenga GS; Joan Harnett- Kindley GA; Rita Fatialofa WA; Sandra Edge C; Lyn Gunson WD; Yvonne Willering GD; Tracey Fear GK. New Zealand hosts the 10th World Championships in Christchurch. The Silver Ferns suffer a one-goal loss to Australia in an epic final. The match, televised on TV2, was the broadcaster’s highest rating programme ever at the time.
The Southern Sting begin a dominant era with their first of six straight National Bank Cup titles. Former Netball NZ Board member and International Netball Federation (INF) President Sheryl Dawson is awarded NNZ Life Membership. Christine Archer, former NNZ President, top-ranked umpire and the first paid administrator when netball’s head office was run out of Wellington, is awarded Life Membership.
Netball New Zealand launches its ambitious “Future Directions” strategy. 33 Unions become 12 Regional Entities and 110 Associations become Netball Centres. The 12 Regions are Northern, Auckland, Counties Manukau, Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Eastern, Western, Wellington, Tasman, Canterbury, Otago and Southern. The Coca- Cola Cup is revamped from a club competition to an elite regional event with 10 unique identities. The Otago Rebels beat Southern Sting to win the first franchise- based competition (National Bank Cup). Australia beat the Silver Ferns in three-test series to retain the Fisher & Paykel Cup. Netball is included as a Commonwealth Games medal sport for the first time in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Silver Ferns win the silver medal after losing to Australia in the final.
“Shooting for Success” is adopted as Netball New Zealand’s strategic plan. Fisher & Paykel Appliances becomes the major sponsor of NNZ and the Silver Ferns. The Silver Ferns beat South Africa 3-0. The Fisher & Paykel Cup is introduced for annual trans-Tasman clashes. The first match, played in Sydney, is won by Australia, 60-51. Wellington break Auckland’s 10-year domination to win the New Zealand Cup at the New Zealand Championships.
Former captain, Leigh Gibbs becomes the sixth Silver Ferns coach. Australia tours New Zealand for the Milo World Series, playing the Silver Ferns and two Milo Invitational sides made up of New Zealand squad and young international players. The Silver Ferns tour Jamaica and win the test series 3-0. South Africa tours New Zealand after 20 years absence from international competition. England and Western Samoa tour New Zealand for the Milo Series, won by New Zealand.
A Netball New Zealand tournament umpire for six years and one of the umpires to officiate in the first North vs South Island match with dual control, Auckland’s Joyce Ellis is awarded NNZ Life Membership. Netball Taranaki stalwart Dal Knuckey was also awarded NNZ Life Membership after a lifetime’s involvement across many aspects of netball.
Coached by Lyn Parker and captained by Julie Carter, the Silver Ferns claim silver at the last edition of the World Games involving netball, at The Hague, after losing to Australia in the final.
Former Netball New Zealand President, Dawn Jones was awarded Life Membership for her outstanding contribution to the sport. Jones was the top-ranked umpire in New Zealand for 15 years and umpired 85 test matches, including at four World Cups and two World Games. She was a key force in the introduction of new rules and a new rule book.
Netball Awareness week is launched for first time. The New Zealand Championships replaces New Zealand Tournament. In the Milo World Series tour by Trinidad & Tobago, the Silver Ferns win the test series 3-0. The New Zealand under-21 team wins New Zealand’s first World Youth Championships title in Fiji, beating Australia 44-40 in the final. The Silver Ferns tour England and Ireland and go through unbeaten. In June, New Zealand travels to Australia for a three-test series, losing 3- 0.
The NZ Netball Association changes its name to Netball New Zealand and adopts a new logo to symbolise the game and the silver fern. At the eighth World Championships held in Sydney, Australia beats New Zealand 53-52 in a Final widely regarded as one of the greatest matches in netball history. Universally respected for her imposing style of play and leadership qualities, captain Waimarama Taumaunu calls time on her 10-year international career, during which she won 77 test caps.
Auckland’s Judy Russell and Manawatu’s Betty Steffensen are awarded Netball New Zealand Life Membership. Russell made a strong contribution over many years in netball administration, umpiring, coaching and managing. A former Silver Fern, coach, umpire and administrator, Steffensen was president of Manawatu for 21 years and vice-president of Netball New Zealand for 12.
Australia wins the demonstration match between New Zealand and Australia 53-35 at the Commonwealth Games held in Auckland. The Silver Ferns complete a clean sweep over Jamaica in the Milo World Series after posting 64-35, 61-32 and 69-21 wins. The Silver Ferns were also involved in a rare tri-series with Australia and England which traversed Australia, involving matches in Perth, Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney. The Silver Ferns lost in the final to Australia.
During her tenure as President, Anne Taylor was a prime mover in the decision of the NZNA to move its head office from Wellington to Auckland. This facilitated better access to sponsors while she also hired a marketing company which helped with the success of the Silver Ferns and continued the rising profile of netball.
Just four years after retiring from an outstanding playing career, Lyn Gunson becomes the fifth coach of New Zealand. At the World Games, held in West Germany, for sports which had applied for Olympic recognition, but had not been accepted, New Zealand win all their matches, including the final against Australia. New Zealand also complete a clean sweep in the three test Milo International Series against Australia. The Silver Ferns win the team award and Lyn Gunson the coach/administrator award at the New Zealand Sportsman of the Year Awards.
After 14 years at the helm of the Silver Ferns and her wide-spread contribution to netball across many facets, incomparable coach Lois Muir is awarded Life Membership of Netball New Zealand.
The Milo International Series was held between New Zealand and Trinidad & Tobago, the Silver Ferns winning a tight three-test series 2-1. New Zealand won the first test 43-40 in Auckland with Trinidad & Tobago bouncing back to snatch the second 38-37 in Palmerston North before New Zealand clinched the decider 48-25 in Christchurch.
In their end of season tour to England, New Zealand completed a series sweep after posting 46-27, 47-25 (at the famous Wembley Stadium) and 40-30 wins. After 14 years, Lois Muir ends her tenure as Silver Ferns coach which included three World Cups, jointly winning the title with Trinidad and Tobago and Australia in 1979, finishing runners-ups to Australia in 1983 and winning outright in 1987. Muir finished with an excellent 85 percent success rate which included 91 wins, 10 losses and six draws from 107 test matches.
Taking on the captaincy in her final year, New Zealand defender Tracey Fear retires after an outstanding career. Amassing 63 caps, Fear was the world’s best goalkeeper at the time in a dominant era for New Zealand.
In a similar format to the previous tournament four years earlier, New Zealand dominated the 17-strong field at the seventh World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland. Widely regarded as one of the greatest New Zealand teams, no other side came within 10 goals of the Silver Ferns as they swept all before them to finish with an unblemished record. Dawn Jones umpired at a New Zealand record fourth World Championships.
Waikato’s Anne Taylor is awarded Life Membership to the NZNA. A certified coach and umpire, Taylor umpired the first televised netball test match in New Zealand, was president of the national body during which time the profile of netball rose significantly, resulting in increased media coverage and sponsorship. She was also responsible for starting a league for club teams, sponsored by the Bendon Group and obtaining sponsorship for the long-running Milo test series. She also held the roles of executive officer of the Oceania Netball Federation and was President of the international body.
The sixth edition of the World Championships is held in Singapore, the first time the tournament is played in Asia and features 14 teams. Played in sweltering conditions where temperatures reached 41degC, New Zealand won all six of their group matches, progressing to the final with Australia, England and Trinidad & Tobago. The four sides then played each other once with the unbeaten New Zealand and Australia contesting the final, won 47-42 by Australia. New Zealand were coached by Lois Muir and captained by Lyn Parker.
With netball featuring more prominently across all domestic codes, Waikato won the national title (Grade One) for the first time.
Marjorie (Marj) Jenden is awarded Life Membership after holding governance roles with the NZNA and as Vice President of the sport’s governing body (IFNA) while also presiding over both Wellington and Kapi Mana Centres. Named in her honour, the Marjorie Jenden Tournament is an annual age-group event which has been running for many years.
In unusual circumstances, there were three winners at the fifth staging of the Netball World Cup in 1979, the New Zealand team sharing the title with Australia and Trinidad & Tobago. Played in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, the 1979 event provided a challenging environment and against the odds, New Zealand showed their character to finish on equal points with Australia and the hosts at the completion of the competition. With no final played and the rules at the time providing no other way of determining an outright winner, the three teams shared the title in a unique outcome. It was the second Netball World Cup win for New Zealand after they dominated the 1967 tournament to secure their first. New Zealand were coached by Lois Muir and captained by Lyn Parker.
The NZU21 team made their first tour to Australia, playing all state sides, except Western Australia, as well as the world champion Australian U21 team.
Regarded as a trailblazer, Joyce McCann spent much of her life improving the status of netball and was awarded Life Membership of the NZNA. A forward thinker, McCann was a Silver Ferns manager, President of the Wellington Basketball (Netball) Executive ahead of filling the same role for the NZNA. She also went on to become President of the International Federation of Netball Associations (IFNA).
In a progressive move, the NZNA opened an office in Wellington as its permanent headquarters and with it the employment of a part-time paid secretary. The headquarters of the New Zealand Netball Umpires Association was transferred from Tauranga to Auckland with Dawn Jones elected as President. The Cook Islands netball team played tour games in the North Island while New Zealand declined a tour of South Africa due to its suspension by the International Federation.
New Zealand hosts the fourth International Conference and World Tournament in Auckland, during August – September. It was not only International Women’s Year, it was also International Netball Year for the NZNA. The New Zealand team won eight games, lost to England by one goal and drew with Australia to finish third behind Australia and England. New Zealand were coached by Lois Muir with Shirley Langrope and Lyn Gunson, the captain and vice-captain, respectively. For the first time, the NZNA received a grant from the Ministry of Recreation and Sport towards running the International event and administration.
Two members of the NZNA were appointed to the International Federation of Netball Associations (IFNA) Executive for a further term, Joyce McCann, as Immediate Past President, and Marj Jenden as Vice-President. Ona Coatsworth was again elected to the IFNA Rules Sub-committee, this time as Convenor.
Long-time administrator and New Zealand delegate, as well as being a prominent figure in umpiring, Ona Coatsworth (Waikato) along with Edna Yates, Canterbury President for 21 years, also an active New Zealand delegate and former New Zealand team manager, were honoured for their services with Life Membership.
The 50th Golden Jubilee of the New Zealand Netball Association (NZNA) is celebrated at the Council meeting in Greymouth. Since its formation 50 years earlier, the NZNZ had grown from four affiliated Associations and 127 teams to 36 affiliated Associations, 78 sub-associations and 5060 registered teams. Five teams played in the first national tournament in 1926, 46 teams played in 1974. Led by coach Lois Muir, the New Zealand team completed a successful tour of England, winning all 12 games, including three tests. Midcourters Shirley Langrope (Canterbury) and Lyn Gunson (Otago) were the captain and vice-captain, respectively.
The first New Zealand Coaching Award examination was held with Lois Muir (Otago), Marian Smith (North Shore) and Anne Taylor (Waikato) attaining the high standards set.
A sponsored tournament, the Bromley NZ Netball Club Championship Tournament, was introduced for champion club teams of Associations with First Grade tournament teams.
A New Zealand U24 team, led by coach Lois Muir, Rae Taylor (captain) and Lyn Gunson (vice-captain), completed an arduous tour of Australia before going on to post an impressive record of 44 wins from 45 matches.
The maximum number of entries in the four grades for the National Tournament was set at 48 and principles were adopted for challenges to enter the tournament when maximum entries were attained.
There were three notable factors which featured in 1972. Teams registered in New Zealand passed the 5000 mark, the largest increase in team numbers (266) was recorded and there was an ``explosion’’ of housewives playing mid-week netball. A team selected from the Second, Third and Fourth Grades, and coached by Lois Muir, completed a successful tour to Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. Relevant personnel also conducted coaching and umpiring clinics while on tour.
Captained by shooter Joan Harnett (Canterbury) with defender Tilly Vercoe (Rotorua) vice-captain and coached by Taini Jamison, the New Zealand team finished runners-up to Australia at the third World Tournament, held in Jamaica. Joyce McCann (President), Eileen Lane (Vice-President), Marjorie Jenden (Secretary), Betty Plant (Treasurer) and Ona Coatsworth (Rule Sub-committee) were all appointed to four-year terms on the International Federation.
The Coaching Award Scheme is introduced with coaches able to gain Elementary and Intermediate qualifications.
In a year of significant activity and change, Council approved changing the sport's name from Basketball to Netball; and Referee to Umpire, to fall in line with other International Federation member countries. A team from Fiji played 10 games in the North Island prior to the New Zealand team’s tour of England and the Caribbean. The New Zealand playing uniform changed from a tunic to a black skirt with a Silver Fern and a white playing top.
In an extraordinary build-up to the 1971 World Tournament in Jamaica, the New Zealand team left home shores in October (1970), finally returning in January the following year. The longest tour in history included games in Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong with stopovers in Athens, Rome and Amsterdam, where there were no games, before arriving in England. In a heavy travel schedule, New Zealand played 10 games in England before heading off to the Caribbean where the team had another rigorous schedule while acclimatising in Trinidad for the third edition of the World Tournament.
Marian Smith became New Zealand’s first fulltime netball coach and conducts clinics around the country.
The first Tour of New Zealand by an All Australia team since 1948. All Australia played 13 provincial games for 10 wins, two losses and a draw. The tour also included two tests, Australia winning the first test in Wellington and New Zealand the second in Dunedin. New Zealand were coached by Taini Jamison, with Joan Harnett, the captain, and Tilly Vercoe, the vice-captain.
Council awarded Life Membership to long-time Matamata President Evelyn Bell and Margaret McAughtrie, who gave over 40 years administrative service to Otago. Both were also Life Members of the New Zealand Basketball Referees’ Association. The netball community mourns the passing of its first National President and Life Member Irene McInnes.
The headquarters of the New Zealand Basketball Association returns to Wellington. President Eileen Lane, who began her tenure in 1948, retires from her position of President. She is awarded Life Membership after leading the sport through 20 years of change and progress. The forward-thinking Joyce McCann becomes the Association’s new President.
A year that has a special place in New Zealand netball history with the New Zealand team clinching their first international title after winning the second edition of the World Tournament, held in Perth. Coached by Taini Jamison (Rotorua), captained by Judy Blair (Canterbury) and supported by vice-captain Tilly Verco (Rotorua), the New Zealand team were a cut above the rest in remaining undefeated. Reversing the outcome of the first World Tournament four years earlier, New Zealand beat Australia 40-34 in front of 8000 spectators. Silver Ferns coach #3, Jamison was the first Māori to coach the New Zealand team and the first coach to win a world title.
Eileen Lane was elected Senior Vice President of the International Federation while Ona Coatsworth was elected Convenor of the International Rules Board. Two of netball’s stalwarts, Rena Mackenzie (Otago) and Catherine Vautier (Manawatu) were honoured with Life Membership of the New Zealand Basketball Association.
The All Australia team came to New Zealand for a three-week tour, playing matches against all 11 First Grade teams, posting a record of nine wins and two losses. No tests were played.
Former Executive member and President of the New Zealand Umpires Association, and one of the lecturers at the first National Coaching School, Miss Sara Foster is elected a Life Member.
The steady increase of players pushed the total number of netball teams in New Zealand to 4123. North Shore, previously a sub-association of Auckland, is granted affiliation to become an Association, bringing the total number of affiliated Associations to 36. The first National Coaching School is held and an official New Zealand Coaching book printed.
Otago, the first Association to be formed in New Zealand, celebrated its Golden Jubilee (50 th anniversary) this year.
The netball community mourns the passing of foundation and Life Member of the Association, Myrtle Muir, a true pioneer of the sport’s growth and presence during her time as President (1932 – 1949).
Mrs Stella Schnack, of Wanganui, is conferred as a Life Member of the New Zealand Basketball Association.
In a momentous year for netball, the first World Tournament is held in Eastbourne, England with 11 participating countries. The New Zealand team travelled to England and home again by sea, a journey of six weeks each way. Setting the tone for an enduring rivalry, Australia beat New Zealand 37-36 in a gripping final to become the first World Tournament champions. Otago midcourter Pam Edmonds (nee Smith) captained the team while Otago defender Lois Muir was the vice-captain. Australia was chosen for the second edition of the World Tournament and International Conference to be held in 1967, the venue being Perth.
Trials for the New Zealand team to participate in netball’s first World Tournament were held. Miss Betty Stone was appointed a referee for the event, Mrs Joyce McCann, the team manager, and Miss Dixie Cockerton became the first New Zealand coach at a world tournament. Officials to attend the corresponding International Conference at the same time were also chose.
A year of historical significance which marked the major turning point for the game in New Zealand, on the back of some brave decision-making from the administrators of the time. New Zealand is represented at the International Conference held in Ceylon, by President Eileen Lane and secretary Ona Coatsworth, to form a Federation of Basketball and Netball Associations with delegates from Australia, Ceylon, England, South Africa and West Indies also in attendance. A Constitution is drawn up and Rules of Play are agreed. The International Federation of Women’s Basketball & Netball Associations is formed and with it the announcement of the first World Tournament to be played in Eastbourne, England in 1963.
New Zealand visits Australia and plays matches under the Trial Rules. It was the first time that New Zealand were able to play Australia in game with which they were familiar. June Mariu (nee Waititi) captained New Zealand on the three-test tour to Australia, a team which also included the legendary Lois Muir, who would go on to leave her mark as a fabled coach of the Silver Ferns. The New Zealand team created history in the first test when posting a 49-40 win, their first-ever over Australia. Australia won the remaining two, 44-39 and 46-45 but the gap was closing. The New Zealand Badge, the highest award for refereeing is won for the first time by Miss Betty Stone, of Canterbury, and Mrs G Hall, of Wellington.
The year was marked with a first visit to New Zealand by a team from Fiji. The visitors travelled throughout most of the country, visiting 18 Associations for matches while also playing six games at the New Zealand Tournament in Greymouth.
A meeting was held in England to discuss the establishment of an international body. New Zealand was represented by Natalie Wicken (nee Nicholls) who was a member of the 1948 New Zealand team and teaching in England at the time. From this meeting, a set of Playing Rules was drawn up and all countries were asked to try them out.
A team selected from the Minor Associations toured Fiji on a goodwill mission which also included follow-up coaching and refereeing. A proposed visit to Australia, scheduled for 1955, was cancelled until the rules became more uniform. It was deemed the nine-a-side version suited New Zealand conditions and until such time as there was an international game, they were not prepared to change.
A momentous year which marked a turning point in the Silver Ferns history when New Zealand hosted its first overseas team, Australia, while forging the start of one of sport’s great rivalries. The matches were played under seven-a-side rules with the hope that eventually a uniform set of rules would be achieved. It was an extensive tour of the country by Australia with three tests being played in Dunedin, New Plymouth and Auckland. Various New Zealand team members played against Australia with different captains for each match (Oonah Murray, Beverley Avery and Betty Plant). Australia won all three tests against New Zealand (27-26, 44-13, 44- 22), plus nine matches played against provincial teams, and a match against a representative Māori team. However, in an unofficial nine-a-side game, a combined Ashburton-Temuka-South Canterbury side beat Australia by 29-21, Australia’s only loss during their visit.
A conference between Australian officials, the NZBA and NZBRA found agreement on many rulings but no alteration was made to the numbers of players in a team, this remaining at seven for international matches.
The retirements of President Myrtle Muir (Mrs H D Muir) and treasurer Betty Armstrong resulted in Netball New Zealand Life Membership for the industrious pair. The headquarters of the New Zealand Executive was moved to Christchurch with Mrs Elaine Lane becoming President.
With the return of the annual national tournament and with it the re-affiliation of several associations and the prospect of new affiliations forming, its re-organisation became a pressing matter. It was eventually decided that First Grade should play each year, that Second and Third Grades should play with First Garde in alternate years and that every third year, a full tournament would be held.
The Centennial Tournament was held with a record number of teams entering, including a secondary schools’ section with 10 entries. Waitaki Girls' High School beat New Plymouth Girls' High School to win the trophy. The annual Conference and visits from Australia and England teams were cancelled due to the war.
Arrangements were finalised for the Centennial Tournament to be held at Easter in Wellington at which a team from Australia, and hopefully, England were to attend. Plans were made for an Inter Empire conference with the objective of forming an Inter Empire Association. A week late the outbreak of World War II ensured any progress on the international front was stymied for the foreseeable future.
The first New Zealand team is named with Margaret (Meg) Matangi becoming the first captain of a New Zealand Netball team. Immortalised as Silver Fern #1, Matangi was the first Silver Ferns Māori player and captain.
After assembling for 10 days of coaching in Wellington, the team sailed from there on the Wanganella on August 4. All official games in Australia were played in the seven-a-side format. With New Zealand still playing the nine-a-side game, the rules were completely different, resulting in the team having to learn a new game in short time.
1938 New Zealand team: E Neame (Southland), E Sinclair (Otago), M Tangye (Auckland), F Southon (Canterbury), L Mehatley (Southland), R Butcher (Hawke’s Bay), E Howard (Otago), J Willson (Wellington), J Mitchell (vice-captain, Wellington), M Matangi (captain, Auckland), M Martin (Auckland), M Howe (Wellington), J Tyrell. Mrs H D Muir (manager/coach). Over a week, the team played 10 games, and despite their newness to seven-a-side, competed gamely to win half of their outings before losing the test match against Australia 40-11.
During the visit, discussions between the New Zealand and Australian officials were held around the formation of a standardisation of the rules to enable more regular international competition.
At the annual Council Meeting, final arrangements were made for the first tour to Australia by the NZ Basketball team for August the following year. President of the All Australian Association, Miss F Hull attended the meeting and it was decided that the New Zealand team would play in the All Australian Carnival to be held in Melbourne. Matches would be played under Australian rules.
With the increased numbers attending New Zealand Tournament, it was decided to establish a Third Grade. In a bid to obtain a uniformity of the rules, at least in New Zealand and Australia, the first New Zealand team, of 21 players, was selected to tour Australia in 1937. However, an outbreak of polio in Australia forced the tour to be cancelled. The NZBRA headquarters was transferred to Wellington.
With 15 affiliated Associations and a growing number of teams which now totalled 742, the associated interest resulted in the national Tournament reverting to being played annually. With the steady growth of the game, it was decided to divide the National Tournament into two grades, with the first six affiliated associations forming the First Grade (Auckland, Wellington, Otago, Canterbury, Southland, Hawke’s Bay). Mrs H D (Myrtle) Muir becomes the organisation’s second President. Inaugural President of the New Zealand Basketball Association (1924 – 1932), Mrs R S (Irene) McInnes becomes Netball New Zealand’s first Life Member.
At the 1932 Invercargill National Tournament, NZBA took the bold step to fund the production of a 24 minute,16mm black and white film to record moving images of the New Zealand version of the game being played. New Zealand was heading into the worst years of the Depression and the cost of £20 to fund the film was a significant financial outlay for the NZBA. They also had to purchase a projector to travel with the film, otherwise minor unions, who never got to see how the game was played at a provincial level, wouldn’t be able to view the film. The film and projector circulated around the country as a precious coaching aid for the next 20 years.
The Dominion Tournament became the New Zealand Tournament, the inaugural event being played in April, in Dunedin with teams representing Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, North Otago and Southland. Auckland won the New Zealand Cup, presented by an anonymous donor, with Wellington finishing second.
In a watershed year, the establishment of the New Zealand Basketball Association including election of officers, venue of annual meetings, colours of national team (black with a silver fern emblem), voting power and affiliation fees came to fruition. It was decided to hold a Dominion Tournament annually from 1926. One of the most pressing issues was the need for a national code of rules to be formulated and a decision made on the number of players in a team.
Very active at the time, the Auckland Association tried to garner support from the Association of Otago, Canterbury and Wellington in proposing the formation of a New Zealand Association. Although there was a strong desire for this to happen, changes of personnel in Auckland delayed any action and the initiative never got off the ground.
Basketball was increasingly seen as more suitable than hockey as it was a non- contact sport with rules which discouraged aggressive play. Hockey also challenged for a share of male playing space while basketball increasingly moved from the playing fields onto tennis courts in winter which were not required for male sport. By 1916, increasing numbers of girls’ schools dropped hockey in preference to basketball with the latter becoming the dominant female sport in New Zealand by 1920. Basketball had the advantage of cutting across all social divisions of the female population and was by this time played at primary, secondary and tertiary level.
With the support of schoolteachers, the game grew steadily, although different sets of rules were played in different Netball Centres. Some played the seven-a-side version of the game and others, nine-a-side, which handicapped competitive matches between centres/provinces/regions for many years. Centres played their own variation of the game to suit their community need and the usually limited facilities available. Travel was difficult so they rarely played outside their local areas.
Connie Jamieson continued to foster the growth of the game throughout the Presbyterian women’s bible class groups as she travelled with her husband in the early years of their marriage. This left her husband free to continue his primary focus on his work within the young men’s Bible class movement. The women’s game rapidly spread via the women’s bible class groups, the YWCA and Teacher’s Training Colleges throughout New Zealand and thereby into primary schools. Auckland Teacher’s College principal Herbert Milnes was an early and enthusiastic advocate of the game following his appointment in 1906. He frequently taught pupils and teachers how to play the game and required his female teacher trainees to learn the rules and take the game out into the schools. In 1909, Milnes became president of the newly formed Auckland Basket Ball Association (ABBA) to help promote the game further.
As more teams were formed, games were played on a field in Brighton Road Parnell, and on Carrie’s paddock where a block of shops now stands, in Sandringham, Auckland. Gradually, more sustained competitions were established in other parts of the Dominion to accommodate the rapidly increasing numbers of schoolgirls and young women wanting to play the game.
The Jamieson’s had been introducing their variants of basketball for men and for women in Presbyterian Bible class groups throughout New Zealand since 1905. In early 1907, the Presbyterian National Bible Class Summer Conference was held in Invercargill and featured a basketball competition. A women’s team from Auckland played in the competition with Jamieson being one of the referees.
In Auckland, to mark the close of the 1907 season, a tournament was held at the St Luke’s Armadale Road home ground. It was contested between 10 teams with 300 spectators watching the St Luke’s A team take out the final and be presented with the trophy. A key player in the St Luke’s A team was their captain, Agnes Monro, who went on to become a teacher and a founding member of the Auckland Basketball Association. The other clubs playing at this time besides St Luke’s, were St David’s, St James, Papatoetoe and Devonport who all fielded two teams each.
In Auckland, under the guidance of The Reverend J C Jamieson, Travelling Secretary of the Presbyterian Bible Class Union of New Zealand, and his wife Constance, the St Luke’s Remuera Women’s Bible class formed a basketball club. The Hood family from St Luke’s provided a paddock next to their farmhouse in Armadale Road, Remuera, as the home ground for the newly formed club. In June, Mrs Hood, President of the club, declared the inaugural game open, and the auspicious occasion was attended by friends, family and young women from other basketball clubs in Auckland. These teams played a seven-a-side game, with two reserves. A set of rules had been drawn up for this competition, but these have not survived. Evidence suggests that three bounces of the ball were allowed and throws from one end of the field to the other were common. Wicker baskets were used for goals and after each goal, the ball had to be tipped out to restart play.
By now there were over 60 members of the ‘Basket-ball Club’ playing a very early female variant of the game closely linked to the invention of indoor basketball by James Naismith in 1891. Other variants were played by women and girls throughout New Zealand in isolated pockets over the next decade, particularly in Otago and Southland. There is record of the game being played at Otago Girls High School in 1900 but more as a novelty activity rather than as a regular competition such as that established by Jessie Knapp.