Silver Ferns Coaching Impasse Heads Towards Legal Resolution

The ongoing dispute between Netball NZ and Dame Noeline Taurua is increasingly likely to lead to legal action as negotiations remain at an impasse. On Saturday, Netball NZ announced that Taurua would be absent for the entire 2025 season, following unsuccessful mediation attempts earlier in the week.

In a public statement, Netball NZ indicated that “despite considerable and genuine effort” from both parties, a resolution regarding the Silver Ferns “high performance programme and environment” has not yet been achieved. The organization emphasized its commitment to finding a way for Taurua to return, stating that they had pursued every avenue to reintegrate her into the team.

Legal counsel for Taurua, Stacey Shortall of MinterEllisonRuddWatts, expressed that her client has approached the negotiations with openness and a constructive mindset. “Dame Noeline has acted throughout with integrity and good faith,” Shortall noted, reaffirming her client’s commitment to the team. Shortall conveyed that any failure to reach an agreement was not due to a lack of willingness on Taurua’s part to seek solutions, highlighting her desire to resume her role as head coach.

While both Shortall and Jennie Wyllie, chief executive of Netball NZ, declined to comment on potential next steps due to confidentiality, legal experts suggest the situation may lead to an employment investigation or escalate to the Employment Relations Authority.

The national body had commissioned former NZ Cricket high performance director, Bryan Stronach, to conduct a review of the Silver Ferns’ environment in July. Taurua reportedly contested the findings of this review, which uncovered “significant issues” within the team culture. Wellington employment lawyer Andrew Scott-Howman explained that an employment investigation necessitates a “binary outcome,” where complaints are either upheld or dismissed. He noted, “It appears [Netball NZ] got someone in to look at the culture, but when that didn’t yield the desired results, they attempted mediation, which also failed.”

The uncertainty surrounding the coaching situation has led to Yvette McCausland-Durie remaining as the interim coach for the upcoming Constellation Cup and November tour to the UK, with Liana Leota as assistant coach. Wyllie characterized this appointment as a means to provide clarity and stability for the players, who will soon gather for training ahead of key matches.

In light of the ongoing coaching saga, the New Zealand Netball Players’ Association (NZNPA) released a statement emphasizing that the current dispute is an “employment matter” and does not directly involve the players’ association. Executive manager Steph Bond highlighted the toll this situation has taken on the players and acknowledged the external pressures they face.

Bond stated, “This has been a challenging time for all of the players within the Silver Ferns environment,” adding that the public nature of the dispute has exacerbated the stress the athletes are experiencing. She also pointed out that the players have their own perspectives on the issues at hand and deserve support through this challenging period.

While details about the specific concerns raised by players remain confidential, Bond indicated that issues surrounding “psychological safety” in the team environment have been significant. Reports from last month revealed that Taurua and her coaching team had pushed back against the review’s findings, leading to a shift in the nature of the dispute from a performance discussion to an employment issue.

As the Silver Ferns prepare for the Constellation Cup, which begins in Melbourne on October 17, 2025, anticipation builds around the final roster. The only expected change is the inclusion of Pulse shooter Amelia Walmsley, who was previously unavailable due to commitments with the New Zealand under-21 team at the Youth World Cup.

As the situation evolves, both Netball NZ and Taurua find themselves at a crossroads. The potential for legal proceedings looms, underscoring the importance of resolution not only for the future of the coaching staff but also for the players and the broader netball community.