The standoff between Netball New Zealand and Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua is set to escalate into a formal legal process after mediation failed to resolve deep divisions over the team’s high-performance environment.
According to state-funded media Netball NZ confirmed Taurua will remain sidelined for the rest of 2025, with Yvette McCausland-Durie continuing as interim coach, as both sides cite confidentiality over next steps. Employment lawyer Andrew Scott-Howman said options now likely include a formal employment investigation or escalation to the Employment Relations Authority, with Taurua potentially lodging a personal grievance.
The dispute stems from a contested review of the Ferns’ culture commissioned by Netball NZ, which highlighted “significant issues” and prompted changes Taurua opposed. The players’ association acknowledged the turmoil has severely affected athletes but stressed the matter is an employment process, amid reports some players raised concerns over psychological safety and fear within the team environment.
