Netball reporter cops abusive emails

A leading netball writer has received highly abusive emails which her employer believes came from someone with close links to New Zealand's top netball franchise, the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic.

Sources have confirmed that Dana Johannsen, netball writer for the New Zealand Herald, has received two emails that raised enough concern with her editor Tim Murphy for him to contact Magic management.

Sources said the Herald believes the emails came from someone close to the franchise and, in expletive-laden language, accused Johannsen of bearing a grudge against them. Sources familiar with the emails said they were "pretty personal".

It's understood Murphy has taken a personal interest in the affair and is investigating the source of the emails, but Magic management have passed his inquiries to their media manager, Chris Buckley.

Netball sources say the Magic have an often prickly relationship with media and that Johannsen had been effectively "frozen out" last season after writing stories about coach Noeline Taurua that the franchise did not like, one of them about Taurua turning up to training dressed as a bumble bee.

Those sources said that while Taurua still talks to Johannsen, the players will now talk to her in formal media conferences only.

Waikato Times netball writer Matt Richens has also had his difficulties in dealing with the franchise, receiving an email from Buckley questioning his work.

Magic chief executive Sheryl Dawson was evasive when contacted by the Star-Times last night, saying: "I don't believe it's appropriate that I speak about this matter at the moment; I don't know anything about it. I think you need to speak to Mr Murphy about it.

"Whatever occurs out of this will be dealt with as an internal matter and if there is anything we need to be doing, we will talk to Mr Murphy from the New Zealand Herald. I would suggest Mr Murphy contacts my media liaison person, Chris Buckley. There is a lot of supposition here. You should contact Mr Murphy."

Magic chairman Peter De Luca said: "I know nothing about it whatsoever and that's the absolute truth. It's an absolute mystery to me." Johannsen and Murphy did not return calls for comment.

- © Fairfax NZ News