Willie Jackson: Labour MP reveals why he's calling for the Government to freeze Netball NZ's funding
October 21, 2025 • 9 mins
The Netball New Zealand v Dame Noeline Taurua sags is gaining some attention from inside the Beehive.
Labour MP Willie Jackson is urging Sports Minister Mark Mitchell to freeze the national body's Government funding until it clears up the mystery suspension of the Silver Ferns sidelined coach.
Willie Jackson joined Sportstalk to weigh in on a 'disgraceful' situation.
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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 Doncy Waldegrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Well came out mid afternoon some calls from some politicians
to get involved and get it sorted in the Dame
Noling pold Or saga. Taking another twist today, Labor MP
Willie Jackson calling for Nepburne New Zealand funding from Sport
New Zealand to be paused until they can find a
resolution to the coaching saga. Mark Mitchell, the Sport Minister,
(00:33):
saying he's outlined his expectations to Sport New Zealand to
bring this all to a conclusion. Will He knows Dame
Norlan pold Or well and you are father even better
and he joins us now to discuss why he's calling
for this and his thoughts on what's unfolded over the
last couple of months. Willie, thanks for your time on
news Talk zb this evening.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Thanks very much.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Why have you got involved in this Snipborne New Zealand saga?
Speaker 4 (00:55):
Will He? Uh? You know I have a relationship with
Nolin I. Her father was my co martur at my marine.
You know for teen years a guy called Kingy Todo
and and it's sort of. You know, I had a
lot of there's a lot of support for her, for.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
For here and King he's gone now. You might remember me.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
He used to be on the Mariah White tonguey and
I and I was singing about it the other day.
I thought Jeesey'd be in my office now saying, what
are we going to do?
Speaker 3 (01:25):
What are we going to do? Chief? You know?
Speaker 4 (01:26):
And of course you know, I know Noline and met
her through the years, and I just thought about the
injustice of this, and and I thought about me old
mat Kingy and then and then when I looked at it,
I keep looking. I keep looking at this and thinking,
this is just disgraceful. There's you know, what's the process.
It's unprecedented, you know. So you know I've got a personal,
(01:50):
there's a personal I suppose a relationship there. But also
you know, I've been a union official, I've been a
politician for many years, being an employer, and I've never
seen this type of I've never seen.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
A coach treated like this ever.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
And on top of that, you know, you should know
I was a sports club broadcaster for many years also,
and so I bring like over fifty years of watching
sport and my experience and I can't ever think of
a coach, whether as netball, rugby, whatever ever, being treated
so disrespectfully.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Why do you think the funding should be frozen? What
would that achieve?
Speaker 4 (02:30):
Well, well, we want some answers, you know, like I spoke.
I spoke to Noline the other day and she's no wiser.
I don't think anybody deserves to be treated like this,
you know, anyone in any sport. You know, do you
think that an organization, a major organization, should be treating
(02:52):
our premier coach like this?
Speaker 3 (02:54):
Give us some answers or why.
Speaker 4 (02:57):
Should we be giving you your funding? I know that
communities everywhere are appalled by the treatment of of no Lein,
absolutely appalled. So you know what I'm requesting in investigate
the review process and its findings and ensure that their
(03:18):
natural justice and venus are a power because there's no
natural justices. She doesn't even know what she's done wrong.
You know, you're talking about someone who's an absolute shop mate,
you know, and just wants her job back. So you know,
they get taxpayers money. You know that we're a mad
sporting nation, netboards and you know, one of the most
(03:40):
favorite sports of New Zealander is right up there with
right up there with rugby. We deserve answers. And you've
been a long time sports broadcaster. Have you ever seen
or heard of a coach being treated like this?
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Well, no, I haven't and my years of doing this,
Willie Mark Mitchell told her the See on her show
this afternoon that the funding freezing the funding, your idea
to freeze the funding could hurt the players and others
at Nepal New Zealand if they were to do that.
What do you think of that?
Speaker 3 (04:08):
Well, you don't want to hurt the players. But if
they're not going.
Speaker 4 (04:12):
To freeze the if they're not going to freeze the funding,
do something right, because quite right right right now. You
know I don't want to I don't want the players
to be hurt. I want our key, I want our
silver fans to keep winning. You know, we want that.
But you've got to traumatized side here. When the best
player in the side comes out and says what you
(04:33):
said the other night, now that's that that's unprecedented. This
is unprecedented stuff, mate.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
You know.
Speaker 4 (04:41):
Can you imagine a group of players, a group of
all blacks, saying, oh, we're unhappy. We want we want
to get rid of the coach.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
When does that happen? When does it happen with the Warriors?
When when does this ever happen?
Speaker 4 (04:52):
And it is just uncalled for, unprofessional and and Netball
New Zealand has to rectify this. You know, they they
You're talking about significant funding that goes to them. You've
got you're talking about a mad New Zealand public. We
all support our silver Ferns, but we support this coach too.
(05:13):
This is she's one of Nolan's, one of the most
successful coaches in New Zealand netbar history. She's one US
A World Cup. She doesn't deserve to be treated like
this and when I spoke with her, she's in shop.
She deserves some answers, she deserves some support.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
I was going to ask you how how is she
holding up in all of this, because it's pretty much
the biggest sports, sports, biggest news story really of the
last month or so across New Zeald.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
You know, it was it was good to have to
catch up with her, you know, you know, I'm I'm
really sad for her because I think she's in a
highly stressed state. She obviously can't talk too much about
the details, but she she values the support across right
across the spectrum she's getting from from Kiwi's everywhere, which
(06:01):
is terrific, and she just wants her job back.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
You know.
Speaker 4 (06:04):
Who who would who would want to be in that position,
who would want to be in that state? So this
is about this is about fairness.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
You know.
Speaker 4 (06:13):
People might say, oh, you know, obviously I'm a Mardi
MP and I do have that personal relationship with her
through her father. But but but this is not about Malory.
This is not about a woman. This is about This
is just about fairness. This is about justice, you know,
(06:33):
and and it's really important that she is treated respectfully,
you know. And there should be a process, a proper process.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
So I'm just.
Speaker 4 (06:46):
Saying, you know, needs to investigate the review process. Let's
review New Zealand Netle New Zealand's governance and management, you know,
which are addressing the concerns right by members, organizations and stakeholders,
you know.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
And the other thing is this is about integretory.
Speaker 4 (07:02):
So why don't we ensure that New Zealand adheres to
the Sport Integrity Act of twenty twenty three and it's
code of practice, you know, because at the moment I
believe they're in breach of that.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Are you going to raise it in there? Sorry? Are
you going to raise it in the debating chamber?
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (07:18):
Yeah, well I'm looking to find a way to get
it into the chamber. I'm not the sports I sort
I sort of put my nose into stuff. My mate.
I don't know if you know Kushla tonad Is. She
used to be the CEO for ARTI Pro Rugby. So
I sort of said, oh, christ you know I'm going
to be raising this and do you support it? She goes, yes,
es absolutely, So am I trying to get cushed to
(07:39):
put some questions up in the house. I want to
speak on this in the house, So I know I'm
going to try and put as much pressure as as
I can on on netboard using and from what I'm hearing,
I think Mark, you know, I generally I can hear
it seems like Mark that mitchell Is is supportive of
(08:00):
Nolane too, which is good, you know. And I got
this is not about embarrassing Mark Mitchell or anythinking.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
And I'm quite well, believe it or not.
Speaker 4 (08:09):
Believe it or not, I can get on well with
some of those those guys on the other side and
him and I myself and Mark are fine.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
It's about finding a way forward for.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
This country because you can, if you know. I was
listening to Gail Putter and she sort.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
Of said, well, what happens here? Does do?
Speaker 4 (08:28):
They just do whatever they want and that's it and
it's all forgotten.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
I think all of us have a bit of a
responsibility to support.
Speaker 4 (08:37):
Don't tell me that politics and sport also make that.
Don't make you been around a long time politics and
sport that being mad? You know they've been crossing over
for decades. You just look at rugby in South Africa.
It's all about politics and sport. And the reality is
you could say, well, what's an MP getting involved? We
fund netball New Zealand, so we have a Minister of Sport.
(09:01):
Of course there's a relationship. I'm on the opposition. I'm
saying the Mark mate, get some answers out of the lot,
and if you're not going to stop their funding, tell
us why you've done this to one of the most
significant New Zealand sports coaches in.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
History. She's been a fantastic coach and.
Speaker 4 (09:22):
Just because so it sounds like some of them don't
like her training methods. She doesn't know who they are.
She doesn't know where she's going. She should not, and
cannot be treated like this.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
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 Doncy Waldegrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Well came out mid afternoon some calls from some politicians
to get involved and get it sorted in the Dame
Noling pold Or saga. Taking another twist today, Labor MP
Willie Jackson calling for Nepburne New Zealand funding from Sport
New Zealand to be paused until they can find a
resolution to the coaching saga. Mark Mitchell, the Sport Minister,
(00:33):
saying he's outlined his expectations to Sport New Zealand to
bring this all to a conclusion. Will He knows Dame
Norlan pold Or well and you are father even better
and he joins us now to discuss why he's calling
for this and his thoughts on what's unfolded over the
last couple of months. Willie, thanks for your time on
news Talk zb this evening.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Thanks very much.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Why have you got involved in this Snipborne New Zealand saga?
Speaker 4 (00:55):
Will He? Uh? You know I have a relationship with
Nolin I. Her father was my co martur at my marine.
You know for teen years a guy called Kingy Todo
and and it's sort of. You know, I had a
lot of there's a lot of support for her, for.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
For here and King he's gone now. You might remember me.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
He used to be on the Mariah White tonguey and
I and I was singing about it the other day.
I thought Jeesey'd be in my office now saying, what
are we going to do?
Speaker 3 (01:25):
What are we going to do? Chief? You know?
Speaker 4 (01:26):
And of course you know, I know Noline and met
her through the years, and I just thought about the
injustice of this, and and I thought about me old
mat Kingy and then and then when I looked at it,
I keep looking. I keep looking at this and thinking,
this is just disgraceful. There's you know, what's the process.
It's unprecedented, you know. So you know I've got a personal,
(01:50):
there's a personal I suppose a relationship there. But also
you know, I've been a union official, I've been a
politician for many years, being an employer, and I've never
seen this type of I've never seen.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
A coach treated like this ever.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
And on top of that, you know, you should know
I was a sports club broadcaster for many years also,
and so I bring like over fifty years of watching
sport and my experience and I can't ever think of
a coach, whether as netball, rugby, whatever ever, being treated
so disrespectfully.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Why do you think the funding should be frozen? What
would that achieve?
Speaker 4 (02:30):
Well, well, we want some answers, you know, like I spoke.
I spoke to Noline the other day and she's no wiser.
I don't think anybody deserves to be treated like this,
you know, anyone in any sport. You know, do you
think that an organization, a major organization, should be treating
(02:52):
our premier coach like this?
Speaker 3 (02:54):
Give us some answers or why.
Speaker 4 (02:57):
Should we be giving you your funding? I know that
communities everywhere are appalled by the treatment of of no Lein,
absolutely appalled. So you know what I'm requesting in investigate
the review process and its findings and ensure that their
(03:18):
natural justice and venus are a power because there's no
natural justices. She doesn't even know what she's done wrong.
You know, you're talking about someone who's an absolute shop mate,
you know, and just wants her job back. So you know,
they get taxpayers money. You know that we're a mad
sporting nation, netboards and you know, one of the most
(03:40):
favorite sports of New Zealander is right up there with
right up there with rugby. We deserve answers. And you've
been a long time sports broadcaster. Have you ever seen
or heard of a coach being treated like this?
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Well, no, I haven't and my years of doing this,
Willie Mark Mitchell told her the See on her show
this afternoon that the funding freezing the funding, your idea
to freeze the funding could hurt the players and others
at Nepal New Zealand if they were to do that.
What do you think of that?
Speaker 3 (04:08):
Well, you don't want to hurt the players. But if
they're not going.
Speaker 4 (04:12):
To freeze the if they're not going to freeze the funding,
do something right, because quite right right right now. You
know I don't want to I don't want the players
to be hurt. I want our key, I want our
silver fans to keep winning. You know, we want that.
But you've got to traumatized side here. When the best
player in the side comes out and says what you
(04:33):
said the other night, now that's that that's unprecedented. This
is unprecedented stuff, mate.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
You know.
Speaker 4 (04:41):
Can you imagine a group of players, a group of
all blacks, saying, oh, we're unhappy. We want we want
to get rid of the coach.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
When does that happen? When does it happen with the Warriors?
When when does this ever happen?
Speaker 4 (04:52):
And it is just uncalled for, unprofessional and and Netball
New Zealand has to rectify this. You know, they they
You're talking about significant funding that goes to them. You've
got you're talking about a mad New Zealand public. We
all support our silver Ferns, but we support this coach too.
(05:13):
This is she's one of Nolan's, one of the most
successful coaches in New Zealand netbar history. She's one US
A World Cup. She doesn't deserve to be treated like
this and when I spoke with her, she's in shop.
She deserves some answers, she deserves some support.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
I was going to ask you how how is she
holding up in all of this, because it's pretty much
the biggest sports, sports, biggest news story really of the
last month or so across New Zeald.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
You know, it was it was good to have to
catch up with her, you know, you know, I'm I'm
really sad for her because I think she's in a
highly stressed state. She obviously can't talk too much about
the details, but she she values the support across right
across the spectrum she's getting from from Kiwi's everywhere, which
(06:01):
is terrific, and she just wants her job back.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
You know.
Speaker 4 (06:04):
Who who would who would want to be in that position,
who would want to be in that state? So this
is about this is about fairness.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
You know.
Speaker 4 (06:13):
People might say, oh, you know, obviously I'm a Mardi
MP and I do have that personal relationship with her
through her father. But but but this is not about Malory.
This is not about a woman. This is about This
is just about fairness. This is about justice, you know,
(06:33):
and and it's really important that she is treated respectfully,
you know. And there should be a process, a proper process.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
So I'm just.
Speaker 4 (06:46):
Saying, you know, needs to investigate the review process. Let's
review New Zealand Netle New Zealand's governance and management, you know,
which are addressing the concerns right by members, organizations and stakeholders,
you know.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
And the other thing is this is about integretory.
Speaker 4 (07:02):
So why don't we ensure that New Zealand adheres to
the Sport Integrity Act of twenty twenty three and it's
code of practice, you know, because at the moment I
believe they're in breach of that.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Are you going to raise it in there? Sorry? Are
you going to raise it in the debating chamber?
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (07:18):
Yeah, well I'm looking to find a way to get
it into the chamber. I'm not the sports I sort
I sort of put my nose into stuff. My mate.
I don't know if you know Kushla tonad Is. She
used to be the CEO for ARTI Pro Rugby. So
I sort of said, oh, christ you know I'm going
to be raising this and do you support it? She goes, yes,
es absolutely, So am I trying to get cushed to
(07:39):
put some questions up in the house. I want to
speak on this in the house, So I know I'm
going to try and put as much pressure as as
I can on on netboard using and from what I'm hearing,
I think Mark, you know, I generally I can hear
it seems like Mark that mitchell Is is supportive of
(08:00):
Nolane too, which is good, you know. And I got
this is not about embarrassing Mark Mitchell or anythinking.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
And I'm quite well, believe it or not.
Speaker 4 (08:09):
Believe it or not, I can get on well with
some of those those guys on the other side and
him and I myself and Mark are fine.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
It's about finding a way forward for.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
This country because you can, if you know. I was
listening to Gail Putter and she sort.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
Of said, well, what happens here? Does do?
Speaker 4 (08:28):
They just do whatever they want and that's it and
it's all forgotten.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
I think all of us have a bit of a
responsibility to support.
Speaker 4 (08:37):
Don't tell me that politics and sport also make that.
Don't make you been around a long time politics and
sport that being mad? You know they've been crossing over
for decades. You just look at rugby in South Africa.
It's all about politics and sport. And the reality is
you could say, well, what's an MP getting involved? We
fund netball New Zealand, so we have a Minister of Sport.
(09:01):
Of course there's a relationship. I'm on the opposition. I'm
saying the Mark mate, get some answers out of the lot,
and if you're not going to stop their funding, tell
us why you've done this to one of the most
significant New Zealand sports coaches in.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
History. She's been a fantastic coach and.
Speaker 4 (09:22):
Just because so it sounds like some of them don't
like her training methods. She doesn't know who they are.
She doesn't know where she's going. She should not, and
cannot be treated like this.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
For more from sports Talk, listen live to News Talks
It'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio
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