While a new chair is usually appointed from within the existing board, NNZ will look to bring in someone different to refresh the leadership.
Outgoing Netball New Zealand chair Matt Whineray. Photo / Jason Oxenham
A board appointments committee of three members will be established.
According to NNZ’s constitution, it should include one individual nominated by the Institute of Directors in New Zealand Incorporated – or an equivalent organisation – and two others nominated by the board.
It is understood the panel will include an NNZ board representative, someone from the netball community and another with independent governance experience.
Former New Zealand Olympic Committee CEO Kereyn Smith has been brought in to facilitate the process, having done so before. Smith is an NNZ Life Member who spent 11 years on the board, including six as chair. She also served as World Netball vice-president for five years.
Smith helped the board late last year with its structures and high performance.
Whineray told Newstalk ZB that board member Sue Gordon is likely to represent the NNZ board on the panel, with Smith another likely candidate.
Smith told the Herald the committee will advertise for new directors, either through a recruitment company or NNZ itself.
“They’ll sort through the applications and recommend the appointment of individuals, based on their experience and capability to fill the requirements. The different piece this time round is that Netball New Zealand have decided they will advertise for a chair.
“Normally, a chairperson would be elected from within the board. So that’s a big step and I think it’s probably appropriate, given the circumstances.”
Netball New Zealand has endured a dramatic 12 months. Photo / Photosport
Smith said NNZ is looking for a few qualities in new board members, and involvement in netball is a plus.
“Definitely leadership, governance experience, commercial and financial experience, really good sense of stakeholders and leading in that space. An understanding of the contemporary sporting environment is really helpful.
“There’s been a lot of change as we’ve seen, a lot of disruption. So understanding all of those elements and increasingly the areas of people, culture and wellbeing are really topical and important.”
Whineray opened up about his regrets over NNZ’s handling of Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua’s standing-down, particularly its communication with the public and media during the two-month stand-off.
Kereyn Smith: ‘An understanding of the contemporary sporting environment is really helpful.’ Photo / Greg Bowker
Smith said it is important NNZ evaluates areas of improvement.
“It’s fair to say that the netball community has given some pretty honest and direct feedback around some areas. So I think stakeholder management communication is definitely one of them.
“So it’s a little bit about getting out and talking to people. I know that Matt and Jane will be doing that in the coming weeks. There’s an AGM. It’s just really important to sit down and hear from the community how they want this to work and what success looks like for them.”
The turbulence of the last year – including NNZ’s struggle to secure an ANZ Premiership broadcast deal – has led many in the netball community to lose faith in their leaders.
In October, six current and former NNZ staff spoke to the Herald with concerns about the organisation’s workplace culture and called for new leadership.
The sources – who wished to remain anonymous – described a challenging and secretive environment.
They demanded an overhaul of the board to introduce greater accountability.
The Waikato Bay of Plenty netball zone called for a national special general meeting in December, where it could trigger a vote of no confidence in the board and Wyllie.
Smith said restoring NNZ’s relationship with its community will start with effective leadership and management systems.
“You need to do the job and do it really well, have good feedback, make sure that you’re aligned with your stakeholders, whether it’s community or funders, and work really hard on building strong, enduring relationships.
“The environment for sport in New Zealand when you want to be involved on the international stage is challenging. We are remote, we’re small. Environments have changed a lot around broadcasting, high-performance environments, all of those things. It means that leadership needs to be astute and in touch with their community.”
Nathan Limm has been a journalist with Newstalk ZB and the NZ Herald since 2020. He covered the Netball World Cup in Cape Town in 2023, hosts The Big League Podcast and commentates rugby and netball for Gold Sport.