December 18, 2025 • 12 mins
It was announced this morning that the CEO of Netball New Zealand Jennie Wyllie had resigned from the role effective immediately.
It has been a turbulent year for the organisation, from the troubles with a broadcast deal to the recent Dame Noeline Taurua coaching situation.
Gary Dawson, the team relationship manager for the Waikato Magic, joined D'Arcy to share his thoughts.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Let's move along and we're going to talk about the
chaos at Netball New Zealand, which is kind of just
settled down a week bit just before Christmas because Jenny
Wiley fell on her sword. That might be a little
over the top it. She's resigned from the role effective today.
It's a hugely turbulent year. This is around broadcast here
(00:36):
the Dame Manolin toduas situation. A lot has gone on
and no one knows what's going on because no one's talking.
Neboy New Zealand. What's happening? Hello, your CEO just stood down?
What about a word from the chairman of the board. Okay, hmmm.
(01:04):
We're going to go to Gary Lawson. Garry Dawson, excuse me,
not the Lown Bowls player, Gary Lawson. Gary's the team
relationship manager for the Whakapaway of Plenty Magic. We'll talk
to him about this, but before that. Nathan Lamb, sports
journalist writes for The Herald. Also on news Talk zeb B,
you had a chat with laboring Pete Willie Jackson around
(01:25):
the resignation of Jenny Wiley and what's happened with Dame
Nolen Todua. Being a politician, he was predictably strong in
his comments about what he thinks needs to happen with
the rest of the board following Jenny's resignation.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
They have failed the NBA community with their handling of
the Nolean Todua Barnett situation. So yeah, the CEA has
one role, but there's got to be a whole revamp
I think in terms of that board.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
And around the lack of transparency from the organization following
the resignation, no real comments being made by the Chairman
of the board. Matt what a crickets.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
You know you've lost the CEOs for goodness. Chairman should
run and give us some answers and give Nolen a
bit more support. I mean, Paul Nolan, she's broken down
in front of New Zealand television. She's been an emotional
ride for you.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Hey, he's been that long with your head buried in
the sand. Well, of course he can't make any comic.
Your mouth's full of dirt. I think they're going to
stay down there for quite some time. Distressing for fans
of netball in the community. Full stop. Gary Dawson that
joins us now team relationships manager for the Way Couple,
Bay of Plenty mad Jack. He's going to join us
now to share his thoughts. Is this actually enough or
(02:38):
the more people actually need to go and we're going
to look into the future of netball as well. It
joins us now, go to Gary.
Speaker 4 (02:45):
How are you great? Thanks? Darcy? How are you?
Speaker 5 (02:48):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (02:48):
Good? Well?
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Today big news came out that Jenny Wiley falling on
who saw That's probably a bit dramatic, isn't it, But
she's stepped down from her role as the CEO of
Netball New Zealand. You kind of see it coming. Is
this the first domino or do you believe the only
thing that needs to happen to straighten up the dramas there?
Speaker 5 (03:12):
Firstly, I mean when I read the news this morning,
it didn't come as a surprise, but it came with
a you know, a turns of sadness because you know,
Jenny has been the CEO of New Zealand Netball for
the last ten years and you know, despite some of
the dramas that have gone on this year, you know,
she did lead us through COVID and I was intimately
(03:36):
involved with you know, Magic then and saw her leadership
through that period. And you know, she has led New
Zealand netball through you know, some challenging times and seeing
them have some great success internationally. So you know, I
think we need to recognize that and and really you know,
give some appreciation to her for the work that she
(03:58):
has done over the years. It's a tough gig, you know,
being the CEO of a national sports organization, and I
think after the eight ten years, you know, and I
can completely understand how she'd wants to perhaps you know,
take a break and look for other opportunities. But yeah,
having said that, I think it's going to be really
interesting to see what happens next. You know, if you
(04:18):
look at the feedback that is coming back through a
lot of the Netbill centers, a lot of the public
I think they are saying and have been for some time,
that you know, really the Netbull New Zealand board have
got to take a lot of responsibility for the situation
that's in and it is going to be interesting to
(04:40):
see what happens next. I think just because Jenny's resigned,
I don't think that necessarily is coming to mean the
end of you know, some of the questioning and the
lack of confidence in the board that is there at
the moment, Well, nor should it be.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
And I'll back you up on that. I've been talking
with Jenny Wiley since they get gone. I found it
to be a really engaging CEO. She's been wonderful to
speak to. So, yeah, said, when I saw that as well,
but it was it was almost inevitable. So let's go
to that. That next step. Is this enough do you
think to possibly trigger the clearance of the entire board,
(05:16):
because this is not just a CEO issue, This is
right across the upper levels of Netball and New Zealand.
You can't just sit this with one individual, surely.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
No, you can't.
Speaker 5 (05:27):
And you know, if you look at the sort of
the things that have come out of the Netbor New
Zealand board, you know they have said that, you know,
they've been getting all sorts of advice directly to them,
you know, expert advice in terms of legal matters and
so on, and Dave.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
Noline, Toto drama.
Speaker 5 (05:47):
You know, they have been intimately involved with with what's
been going on. So you know, I just don't think
that they can sort of put their hands up and say, hey, look, we.
Speaker 4 (06:00):
Really can't take any responsibility for us.
Speaker 5 (06:02):
I think there is some accountability that that needs to
be had now, whether the whole board needs to resign
or not, I think that's that's pretty dramatic, because there are,
you know, I think some very good board members there,
like you know, for example, Julie Coney, a ex New
Zealand representative player, very involved in the network community, netball commentator,
(06:26):
you know, I regard her very highly, and I think
there are you know, perhaps some board members like her
that will need to stay on to provide some continuity.
But I do think there does need to be a
review of the composition of the board, including the board chairperson,
and I think that's the next stage it goes through.
(06:46):
I mean, the other thing I would say, too, is
that the indication, indications seem to be that they're going
to look at appointing a CEO going through that recruitment process.
My belief is that they should hold off on that until,
you know, we're very clear about if and when there
is a new board, because I think if there is
(07:08):
a new board chairperson and new board members, I think
they should be the ones appointing the new CEO and
not the current board.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Can the game survive a dramatic change at the top
level or more's the point if they don't, can the
game survive? It goes both ways, doesn't it.
Speaker 5 (07:28):
Yeah, I mean the game will survive. I mean, I
think the thing that you've got about netball is that
you've got incredibly passionate and loyal and hardworking people out
there at the community level, and they love the game.
They are the guardians of the game, as we've seen
with the way cap O Baya plany zone and their
special general meeting. I mean that was a pretty brave
(07:50):
thing to do. It was my view, the right thing
to do, and they will not let the game die.
So I think there's enough people out there who love
the game so much and are prepared to put their
hand up and say, you know, what can we do
to help.
Speaker 4 (08:06):
I've seen that already, to be fair.
Speaker 5 (08:07):
I mean, Nepple, New Zealand have i think in the
last month up their game in terms of connecting with
the community, and we're seeing more and more people, you know,
put their hands up and say, right, well, what can
we do to help? So yeah, it may be a
bit of a rocky period. Other sports organizations have gone
(08:27):
through similar things, but Nepple will survive and it will
come out of the stronger.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
And I'll talk to the space around people who are
passionate about the game set it before. I'll keep saying it.
The amount of feedback on air talk back during this
whole sort of affair, if you could call it, that
has been overpowering. There's so many people, so it does
say that at that level there are huge fans of
(08:55):
this game and they don't want it to stagger, and
that's got to be possibly the only good thing that's
come out of this.
Speaker 5 (09:01):
Gary Well, I think what there is is now an
opportunity to you know, to set Netball New Zealand off
in in a new direction, you know, and I think
the current board need to really take cognizance of the
feedback and as you say that that's coming back, and
really open areas to it, because we now have an opportunity,
(09:22):
if you like, to have a I hate to use
the word jargon, but a recalibration or reset and say right, well,
you know this, what good can come out of this?
Speaker 4 (09:30):
Well, the good that can come out of.
Speaker 5 (09:32):
It is that you know, we have a new start,
a new energy, we harness the passion that's out there
and you know, really do take this game to a
new level. And you know, my view is that the
community game is very strong. You know, numbers are growing,
the centers from from what I've been able to see,
(09:52):
are strong. And it's really just if we can get
the issue at the Silver Ferns, that will sort it out.
And I think also you know, make sure that the
staff at Netball Useum and are looked after, because I
mean that's something that you know, the media have reported
on quite widely and I think that needs to be
(10:14):
addressed and will be addressed. And if those things happen
then very quickly I think, you know, Netboral New Zealand
can get and Netbull.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
Throughout the country you know, can get back to where
it used to be quite quickly.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
And your opinion on the no favors done by Netburne
New Zealand to themselves, they've maintained a silence that is well, look,
look right across netball people don't want to talk about it.
Netball New Zealand don't want to talk about it. They're
hiding behind employment or and everything else. You think that
maybe the people, the people who play the game and
(10:47):
love the game, deserve a little more information around what's
happening here because they've put up brick walls everywhere and
that is not helpful.
Speaker 5 (10:58):
You know, none of us know all the details about it.
But you know, to be fair to the board of
Netball New Zealand, there are there isn't the law, and
there are processes and so on that need to be respected,
and they certainly can't share everything. But you know, I've
been calling for some time for a full review of
(11:19):
what happened around the Silver Ferns and Dame Nolling.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
And you know.
Speaker 5 (11:22):
From the little, the little that I understand is that
this didn't really need to go as far as it has.
Speaker 4 (11:30):
I think this could have been.
Speaker 5 (11:31):
Handled a lot better, a lot earlier, and a lot
more transparently. So you know, Netball New Zealand have I think,
in many ways contributed putting themselves in a bit of
a bit of a corner, and it's the finding it
difficult to get out of. And yes, there is a
lot of secrecy. There is a lot of information that
(11:52):
can't be shared, and that's that makes the whole thing difficult.
But you know perhaps now we can start moving forward
a bit strongly.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
And on that positive note, Gary Dawson, we thank you
very much for your time, you your opinions and for
sharing them, and also a very merry Christmas for you
and yours. You look after yourself over the break, and do.
Speaker 4 (12:14):
You Darcy too, You have a great break.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
For more from sports Talk, listen live to News Talks
it'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Let's move along and we're going to talk about the
chaos at Netball New Zealand, which is kind of just
settled down a week bit just before Christmas because Jenny
Wiley fell on her sword. That might be a little
over the top it. She's resigned from the role effective today.
It's a hugely turbulent year. This is around broadcast here
(00:36):
the Dame Manolin toduas situation. A lot has gone on
and no one knows what's going on because no one's talking.
Neboy New Zealand. What's happening? Hello, your CEO just stood down?
What about a word from the chairman of the board. Okay, hmmm.
(01:04):
We're going to go to Gary Lawson. Garry Dawson, excuse me,
not the Lown Bowls player, Gary Lawson. Gary's the team
relationship manager for the Whakapaway of Plenty Magic. We'll talk
to him about this, but before that. Nathan Lamb, sports
journalist writes for The Herald. Also on news Talk zeb B,
you had a chat with laboring Pete Willie Jackson around
(01:25):
the resignation of Jenny Wiley and what's happened with Dame
Nolen Todua. Being a politician, he was predictably strong in
his comments about what he thinks needs to happen with
the rest of the board following Jenny's resignation.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
They have failed the NBA community with their handling of
the Nolean Todua Barnett situation. So yeah, the CEA has
one role, but there's got to be a whole revamp
I think in terms of that board.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
And around the lack of transparency from the organization following
the resignation, no real comments being made by the Chairman
of the board. Matt what a crickets.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
You know you've lost the CEOs for goodness. Chairman should
run and give us some answers and give Nolen a
bit more support. I mean, Paul Nolan, she's broken down
in front of New Zealand television. She's been an emotional
ride for you.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Hey, he's been that long with your head buried in
the sand. Well, of course he can't make any comic.
Your mouth's full of dirt. I think they're going to
stay down there for quite some time. Distressing for fans
of netball in the community. Full stop. Gary Dawson that
joins us now team relationships manager for the Way Couple,
Bay of Plenty mad Jack. He's going to join us
now to share his thoughts. Is this actually enough or
(02:38):
the more people actually need to go and we're going
to look into the future of netball as well. It
joins us now, go to Gary.
Speaker 4 (02:45):
How are you great? Thanks? Darcy? How are you?
Speaker 5 (02:48):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (02:48):
Good? Well?
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Today big news came out that Jenny Wiley falling on
who saw That's probably a bit dramatic, isn't it, But
she's stepped down from her role as the CEO of
Netball New Zealand. You kind of see it coming. Is
this the first domino or do you believe the only
thing that needs to happen to straighten up the dramas there?
Speaker 5 (03:12):
Firstly, I mean when I read the news this morning,
it didn't come as a surprise, but it came with
a you know, a turns of sadness because you know,
Jenny has been the CEO of New Zealand Netball for
the last ten years and you know, despite some of
the dramas that have gone on this year, you know,
she did lead us through COVID and I was intimately
(03:36):
involved with you know, Magic then and saw her leadership
through that period. And you know, she has led New
Zealand netball through you know, some challenging times and seeing
them have some great success internationally. So you know, I
think we need to recognize that and and really you know,
give some appreciation to her for the work that she
(03:58):
has done over the years. It's a tough gig, you know,
being the CEO of a national sports organization, and I
think after the eight ten years, you know, and I
can completely understand how she'd wants to perhaps you know,
take a break and look for other opportunities. But yeah,
having said that, I think it's going to be really
interesting to see what happens next. You know, if you
(04:18):
look at the feedback that is coming back through a
lot of the Netbill centers, a lot of the public
I think they are saying and have been for some time,
that you know, really the Netbull New Zealand board have
got to take a lot of responsibility for the situation
that's in and it is going to be interesting to
(04:40):
see what happens next. I think just because Jenny's resigned,
I don't think that necessarily is coming to mean the
end of you know, some of the questioning and the
lack of confidence in the board that is there at
the moment, Well, nor should it be.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
And I'll back you up on that. I've been talking
with Jenny Wiley since they get gone. I found it
to be a really engaging CEO. She's been wonderful to
speak to. So, yeah, said, when I saw that as well,
but it was it was almost inevitable. So let's go
to that. That next step. Is this enough do you
think to possibly trigger the clearance of the entire board,
(05:16):
because this is not just a CEO issue, This is
right across the upper levels of Netball and New Zealand.
You can't just sit this with one individual, surely.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
No, you can't.
Speaker 5 (05:27):
And you know, if you look at the sort of
the things that have come out of the Netbor New
Zealand board, you know they have said that, you know,
they've been getting all sorts of advice directly to them,
you know, expert advice in terms of legal matters and
so on, and Dave.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
Noline, Toto drama.
Speaker 5 (05:47):
You know, they have been intimately involved with with what's
been going on. So you know, I just don't think
that they can sort of put their hands up and say, hey, look, we.
Speaker 4 (06:00):
Really can't take any responsibility for us.
Speaker 5 (06:02):
I think there is some accountability that that needs to
be had now, whether the whole board needs to resign
or not, I think that's that's pretty dramatic, because there are,
you know, I think some very good board members there,
like you know, for example, Julie Coney, a ex New
Zealand representative player, very involved in the network community, netball commentator,
(06:26):
you know, I regard her very highly, and I think
there are you know, perhaps some board members like her
that will need to stay on to provide some continuity.
But I do think there does need to be a
review of the composition of the board, including the board chairperson,
and I think that's the next stage it goes through.
(06:46):
I mean, the other thing I would say, too, is
that the indication, indications seem to be that they're going
to look at appointing a CEO going through that recruitment process.
My belief is that they should hold off on that until,
you know, we're very clear about if and when there
is a new board, because I think if there is
(07:08):
a new board chairperson and new board members, I think
they should be the ones appointing the new CEO and
not the current board.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Can the game survive a dramatic change at the top
level or more's the point if they don't, can the
game survive? It goes both ways, doesn't it.
Speaker 5 (07:28):
Yeah, I mean the game will survive. I mean, I
think the thing that you've got about netball is that
you've got incredibly passionate and loyal and hardworking people out
there at the community level, and they love the game.
They are the guardians of the game, as we've seen
with the way cap O Baya plany zone and their
special general meeting. I mean that was a pretty brave
(07:50):
thing to do. It was my view, the right thing
to do, and they will not let the game die.
So I think there's enough people out there who love
the game so much and are prepared to put their
hand up and say, you know, what can we do
to help.
Speaker 4 (08:06):
I've seen that already, to be fair.
Speaker 5 (08:07):
I mean, Nepple, New Zealand have i think in the
last month up their game in terms of connecting with
the community, and we're seeing more and more people, you know,
put their hands up and say, right, well, what can
we do to help? So yeah, it may be a
bit of a rocky period. Other sports organizations have gone
(08:27):
through similar things, but Nepple will survive and it will
come out of the stronger.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
And I'll talk to the space around people who are
passionate about the game set it before. I'll keep saying it.
The amount of feedback on air talk back during this
whole sort of affair, if you could call it, that
has been overpowering. There's so many people, so it does
say that at that level there are huge fans of
(08:55):
this game and they don't want it to stagger, and
that's got to be possibly the only good thing that's
come out of this.
Speaker 5 (09:01):
Gary Well, I think what there is is now an
opportunity to you know, to set Netball New Zealand off
in in a new direction, you know, and I think
the current board need to really take cognizance of the
feedback and as you say that that's coming back, and
really open areas to it, because we now have an opportunity,
(09:22):
if you like, to have a I hate to use
the word jargon, but a recalibration or reset and say right, well,
you know this, what good can come out of this?
Speaker 4 (09:30):
Well, the good that can come out of.
Speaker 5 (09:32):
It is that you know, we have a new start,
a new energy, we harness the passion that's out there
and you know, really do take this game to a
new level. And you know, my view is that the
community game is very strong. You know, numbers are growing,
the centers from from what I've been able to see,
(09:52):
are strong. And it's really just if we can get
the issue at the Silver Ferns, that will sort it out.
And I think also you know, make sure that the
staff at Netball Useum and are looked after, because I
mean that's something that you know, the media have reported
on quite widely and I think that needs to be
(10:14):
addressed and will be addressed. And if those things happen
then very quickly I think, you know, Netboral New Zealand
can get and Netbull.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
Throughout the country you know, can get back to where
it used to be quite quickly.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
And your opinion on the no favors done by Netburne
New Zealand to themselves, they've maintained a silence that is well, look,
look right across netball people don't want to talk about it.
Netball New Zealand don't want to talk about it. They're
hiding behind employment or and everything else. You think that
maybe the people, the people who play the game and
(10:47):
love the game, deserve a little more information around what's
happening here because they've put up brick walls everywhere and
that is not helpful.
Speaker 5 (10:58):
You know, none of us know all the details about it.
But you know, to be fair to the board of
Netball New Zealand, there are there isn't the law, and
there are processes and so on that need to be respected,
and they certainly can't share everything. But you know, I've
been calling for some time for a full review of
(11:19):
what happened around the Silver Ferns and Dame Nolling.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
And you know.
Speaker 5 (11:22):
From the little, the little that I understand is that
this didn't really need to go as far as it has.
Speaker 4 (11:30):
I think this could have been.
Speaker 5 (11:31):
Handled a lot better, a lot earlier, and a lot
more transparently. So you know, Netball New Zealand have I think,
in many ways contributed putting themselves in a bit of
a bit of a corner, and it's the finding it
difficult to get out of. And yes, there is a
lot of secrecy. There is a lot of information that
(11:52):
can't be shared, and that's that makes the whole thing difficult.
But you know perhaps now we can start moving forward
a bit strongly.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
And on that positive note, Gary Dawson, we thank you
very much for your time, you your opinions and for
sharing them, and also a very merry Christmas for you
and yours. You look after yourself over the break, and do.
Speaker 4 (12:14):
You Darcy too, You have a great break.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
For more from sports Talk, listen live to News Talks
it'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!