Netball NZ chief executive Jennie Wyllie says the governing body has work to do to rebuild trust and acknowledged "a lot of hurt" across the sport after Dame Noeline Taurua's suspension and reinstatement as Silver Ferns head coach.
Dame Noeline and her coaching staff were stood down last month after some players raised concerns after a training camp in Sydney.
Yvette McCausland-Durie was brought in to replace her as interim coach during the Taini Jamison Trophy Series and Constellation Cup. She will stay on for the Northern Tour, with Dame Noeline set to return to the role at the end of the year.
Speaking to Breakfast this morning, Wyllie said the organisation took the players' concerns seriously and needed time to work through “complex issues” before reaching a resolution.
“There’s been a lot of hurt across the system, across netball, and we’ve all felt it. None of us ever wanted that to be the case, and for that, we are apologising. We are obviously very regretful for the impact it's had on everyone. We never wanted to be here, never wanted it to play out in this way."
She clarified that the apology was for the impact the situation had on the sport, not for the decision to stand Dame Noeline down.
"We had to do what was right for our athletes and the duty of care we hold as governors of the sport."
Asked whether the controversy warranted a standalone review, Wyllie said the matter would be addressed as part of Netball NZ's regular end-of-year review, alongside broader reflection on the year's events.
"There'll be a number of learnings and activities," she said, adding Dame Noeline would work with the organisation to strengthen wellbeing frameworks and internal processes.
Wyllie also responded to calls for her resignation, saying she accepted responsibility for how the situation unfolded but that she had no plans to step down.
"Of course I will learn, Dame Noeline will learn, the players will learn. Everyone has to be better for this. If we get this right, netball will be better for it."
She acknowledged the damage to trust within the netball community and said rebuilding that trust would take time.
Dame Noeline would not travel with the Silver Ferns to the UK for the Northern Tour next month.
Wyllie said this was a mutually agreed decision to reduce pressure on players.
"They've had quite a lot on their plate. They're trying to perform on the world stage currently with interim coaching setups and arrangements, and this was something we mutually agreed would be beneficial."
Other staff would carry out reconnaissance at the venues ahead of next year's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
In Saturday's statement, Netball NZ said it had "full confidence" in Dame Noeline's leadership of the team.
"There was nothing found during the process that called her integrity into question."
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