New model for netball, aims to be 'leading sport'

Fairfax NZ

RAELENE CASTLE: "Sometimes it's very beneficial when you have significant change, to start with someone who has skills, but no baggage. That way they can start every conversation with an open mind."

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Netball New Zealand chief executive Raelene Castle is determined to make the game the country's "leading sport" by 2020.

It was confirmed at the weekend that netball in New Zealand would undergo a major change, shifting from a 12-region model to a five-zone model.

At the special meeting in Auckland on Saturday, the vote for change was passed with a 79 per cent majority.

The new structures are to be in place by the start of next year.

Castle was "very pleased" with the result, which showed the netball community was behind the changes.

She hoped they would propel the sport to a new level.

"We have our vision ... to be New Zealand's leading sport by 2020," Castle said. "People think that's about wanting to be the All Blacks. It's not that at all, it's about looking at every element of our business and making sure that people see that we are successful.

"So whether that be a leading-edge leadership and governance structure, whether that be the Silver Ferns winning on the world stage, whether that be quality people that we attract to work in our business and whether that be financially successful. So it's about all of those elements coming together."

Waikato and Bay of Plenty will combine to create zone two, which Castle believes will be aptly named Waikato-Bay of Plenty Netball. The head office site has yet to be decided.

Castle said there "was a large amount of work to be done in a very short space of time", with a transition phase over the next three months for various roles, with zone chief executive positions to be advertised in the next three to four weeks.

The new chief executive would be in charge of delivering a championship franchise and a community netball strategy by working with centres within their zone.

Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic chief executive Sheryl Dawson would have to re-apply for the senior role.

Meanwhile, NNZ will charge clubs and schools an affiliation fee from next year.

The fee will range from $1 per player at Future Ferns level to $4.50 for a senior player.

Castle said the money would be put into programmes that "benefit the whole of the netball community".

- © Fairfax NZ News