Category: Sport

Source: Radio New Zealand

An experienced sport’s leader says a special general meeting called within the Waikato Bay of Plenty zone over concerns with Netball New Zealand’s governance reflects growing frustration in the netball community.

But there’s been no indication from the other four netball zones in New Zealand that they will back the WBOP zone.

The Tauranga and Whakatane Netball Centres have initiated a Special General Meeting of the WBOP zone this Sunday over frustrations with NNZ and its leadership.

Concerns include uncertainly around the future of the ANZ Premiership, the lack of a broadcast deal beyond 2026, and the recent suspension of Dame Noeline Taurua as Silver Ferns’ coach.

Dame Noeline, who lives 40 minutes down the road from Tauranga, has since been reinstated but the very public fall-out between the veteran coach and Netball NZ dominated headlines for weeks.

In October, former Silver Ferns’ selector Gail Parata said that “heads need to roll” over Taurua’s suspension.

Tauranga Netball Centre board chair Nicola Compton said the handling of the coaching situation was the final straw and believed the Netball NZ Board and CEO had questions to answer.

Compton wants the zone to force a Special General Meeting of Netball NZ to “express serious questions around the strategic leadership of Netball New Zealand”.

Compton is confident the WBOP zone will vote in favour of calling for an SGM but under the Netball NZ constitution two other zones would need to do the same thing to actually force it.

Netball New Zealand CEO Jennie Wyllie has been in the firing line by netball fans, angry at what they believe was the poor treatment of Taurua. The Netball NZ board, who effectively employ Wyllie, has also come under immense criticism.

Compton said they had had some informal discussions with other zones.

Gary Dawson, a former Waikato Rugby and Chiefs chief executive, was brought in by Netball New Zealand to assist the Magic in 2021 when the zone got into financial difficulties.

The Netball WBOP Zone’s board was disbanded, with governance responsibilities instead handed to Netball New Zealand, and Dawson was appointed as interim general manager of the Magic.

Dawson has since taken a step back but is still involved with the region’s ANZ Premiership team as its Team Relationship manager. The Magic and Waikato Bay of Plenty Zone remain separate entities, both under the administration of Netball NZ.

Dawson said the last 12 months had not been good for netball.

“I know that people who are involved with the game at the grass roots level and even at the high performance level, it’s getting to the point where people are quite frustrated that there doesn’t seem to really be a resolution or a positive plan to move forward. I think what we’re seeing from the Waikato Bay of Plenty zone is that frustration coming out in the form of a meeting to really see if they can get things changed,” Dawson said.

Is it more personal for the zone given that Dame Noeline coached the Magic team for several years and lives in the region?

“There’s a little bit of that but I think the wider issues from what I understand is that in the wider interests of netball in New Zealand they feel there are some serious issues that need to be addressed.”

Dawson said he talks to a large number of people in his day to day work from the grass roots to people in senior positions in netball.

“Some of the common themes that come through is the issues that have been widely publicised both with Dame Noeline but also with the ANZ Premiership players going off-shore, the broadcast deal. I think the general feeling of everybody involved with netball is it’s not doing netball any good at all, the reputational damage is quite huge and the financial cost is quite significant as well.”

In a statement, Netball Northern Zone board chair Mary Gardiner said the zone was continuing to work constructively with Netball NZ.

“We like many are concerned about recent events in netball and we are working directly with the Netball NZ Board.

“Our preference is to have respectful, face to face conversations with Netball NZ, and I will continue to meet regularly with Board Chair, Matt Whineray. As the owner of the Northern Mystics, one of our key priorities is to collaborate with Netball NZ along with other Zones and ANZP teams to ensure that the ANZ Premiership is a success in 2026 and long into the future,” Gardiner said.

“We are aware that some of our Centres have their own concerns, and we will also make sure that these are shared with Netball NZ.”

Netball South chairman Dean Johnston said the board of Netball South was aware of WBOPs Special General Meeting.

“We are in regular contact with Netball New Zealand’s board chair as we continue to progress constructive discussions about the future of the sport,” Johnston said.

Netball Central zone had “no comments” to make on the matter, while Netball Mainland has not responded to a request for comment.

Compton said part of the concern was the lack of communication from the national body – “What’s happening, why is it happening, and what’s the plan, and that’s not what we’re getting.”

The Northern Mystics, Central Pulse, and Southern Steel ANZ Premiership teams are run and managed by their zones. But Netball NZ had to step in a support the Magic and Tactix, which went into liquidation in 2020.

The South Auckland based Stars are also propped up by Netball NZ but are unique in that the franchise was established in 2017 and does not come under a zone.

The SGM on Sunday needs 51 percent of the 23 centres in the zone to attend and a simple majority to pass any resolution.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

It’s advantage West Indies after day one of the first test in Christchurch.

The Black Caps stumbled to stumps at 231 for nine after a solid platform was laid at the top.

Despite losing Devon Conway in the opening over for a duck, Tom Latham and Kane Williamson steadied the ship, compiling a 92-run partnership.

Williamson survived seeing his bails sent flying on 33 after Ojay Shields was shown to have overstepped.

However, Williamson would soon be caught behind on 52, followed quickly by Latham for 24, Rachin Ravindra and Will Young.

Tom Blundell was castled by Shields for 29, while Nathan Smith managed a fighting 23 before he held out to John Campbell.

With Michael Bracewell approaching his half century he too fell to the bowling of Shields, with Matt Henry joining him in the sheds soon after.

With just one wicket it hand, it’s now up to bowlers Zak Foulkes and Jacob Duffy, both unbeaten on four, to eek out as many runs as possible tomorrow morning after a day which well and truly belonged to the Windies.

Day two resumes at 11am.

Follow how the first day played out in our blog:

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Black Caps take on the West Indies in their first test from Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

New Zealand has played just two Test matches so far in 2025, beating Zimbabwe 2-0 in Bulawayo in August.

Since then they’ve played 17 white-ball games against Australia, England and West Indies.

“The team is clear in their test match identity, they’ve done incredibly well as a unit, so just to fall back into that,” coach Rob Walter said on the eve of the three match series.

New Zealand is ranked fifth in the World Test rankings, with West Indies eighth.

First ball is at 11am.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Reports in Europe say New Zealand driver Liam Lawson will remain in Formula 1 in 2026.

Red Bull will announce their driver lineups for Red Bull and Racing Bulls on Tuesday local time (Wednesday NZ time).

Lawson’s Racing Bulls team-mate Isack Hadjar has said that he has a seat for next year but would not say in which team.

The Frenchman is expected to join Max Verstappen at Red Bull.

Autosport.com is reporting that Arvid Lindblad will be promoted from F2 into one of the Racing Bulls seats, leaving Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda fighting for the other seat.

The Dutch publication De Telegraaf is reporting that Lawson will be retained, leaving Tsunoda without a full-time race seat in 2026.

It has been a turbulent year for Lawson who started his first full season in F1 in Red Bull before being demoted after two races.

The 23-year-old spent the rest of the season fighting for points and his survival.

He finished ninth in Qatar last weekend, his seventh points finish of the season and he sits 14th in the Drivers’ Championship.

Red Bull will end their relationship with Honda in 2026 and develop their own power units with help from Ford.

Honda have been a long time supporter of Tsunoda and Autosport reports that the Japanese racer could become the team’s reserve driver.

Tsunoda has been in F1 since 2021.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Tall Blacks coach Judd Flavell admits he couldn’t have been more proud of his side and knew it would probably need something special to beat them.

Australia beat New Zealand 79-77 in the second game of the World Cup qualifiers in Wellington with Boomers guard Davo Hickey sinking a buzzer beater for the win.

Australia led 23-21 after the first quarter and remained ahead by two at half-time.

Sam Mennenga then took control of the third period and helped the home side to a 62-57 at three-quarter time.

Both sides then traded blows in the final quarter and New Zealand led by one until Hickey’s final shot stole the game for the visitors.

“Very proud of the efforts of our guys. We had our chances, we know that it actually took a shot at the buzzer to beat us,” Flavell said afterwards.

Australia won the opening game 84-79 in Hobart on Friday.

Tall Blacks captain Finn Delany was also proud of his side’s efforts.

“I felt like we did enough to put ourselves in a position to win, but yeah, just couldn’t get over the line.”

“Extremely proud of the group. I think we got a lot of growth in and very short amount of time and pushing the programme forward and it’s bigger picture stuff. But on that side I’m extremely proud of Judd and the management and the boys that chose to be here.”

Mennenga finished with 16 points and six rebounds.

The team’s focus will soon shift to February window where the team will travel to the Philippines and Guam for their next round of qualifying.

“As we start to build, and it hurts now, but these experiences will help us grow,” Flavell said.

“Our goal is to try to keep as many guys connected as possible as we look forward to the Philippines who we know very well and are going to be a tough outfit.

“There’s so much growth and development left as a team, so it’s exciting for the Tall Blacks in the future and what that looks like.”

The Philippines had two big wins over Guam in their opening games.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

New Zealand’s Olympic and Paralympic movements could be on the brink of a historic shift, with the two organising bodies formally exploring the possibility of becoming a single organisation.

The New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) and Paralympics New Zealand (PNZ) have launched a “Synergy Review” – a feasibility project that could pave the way for a merger and a new era of inclusive representation in elite sport.

The review is being led by organisational strategy specialist Susan Strawbridge, with oversight from a governance group that includes delegates from both boards and executives, and Sport NZ.

Representatives from the NZOC and PNZ declined to be interviewed about the review while it was still in the early stages, but in a joint statement said the decision to explore a merger was based on increasingly close cooperation and a growing sense that a more formal alliance could amplify their collective impact.

“NZOC and PNZ share a common purpose of supporting athletes and inspiring Aotearoa New Zealand through sport. We already work closely together, and this process is about exploring if there is an opportunity to build on that strong foundation to improve the possible impact for athletes and the sector,” the statement said.

While speculation about a merger had been bubbling within the sector, officials stressed that nothing had been decided.

“There is no pre-determined outcome,” the statement said. “It is a proactive step to explore potential opportunities to create greater impact, guided by each organisation’s kaupapa and strategic plans.”

The early phase of the project has involved consultation with staff of each of the organisations, national sporting bodies, athletes’ commissions, and major sector stakeholders. Their feedback would now be weighed by both boards over the coming weeks.

The statement said any final decision would be made jointly by both boards, and only if they agreed it was in the best interests of athletes and the sporting community.

The review would also likely consider optics. While the NZOC and PNZ operated as separate entities, many New Zealanders assumed the Olympic and Paralympic teams fell under the same organisation.

That confusion had often led to criticism of the NZOC and its partners during Paralympic campaigns, with the public mistakenly believing the Olympic body was failing to support disabled athletes. A unified structure could reduce that friction and present a clearer message about how athletes were funded and supported.

Internationally, Olympic and Paralympic structures varied widely. Most countries maintained separate bodies, but several – including Team USA, one of the largest and most influential teams in world sport – operated under a single organisational umbrella.

A number of other nations were currently weighing similar options, although NZOC and PNZ noted that national context was always the deciding factor.

It is not yet known if any merger would result in job losses. The NZOC is the larger, more well-resourced of the two organisations, with more than 30 fulltime employees and an annual turnover of nearly $23 million, according to its 2024 annual report.

PNZ’s total revenue for 2024 was $5.4 million.

Should the two organisations elect to join forces, it was likely a formal merger would not take place until after the LA 2028 Olympic cycle due to existing broadcast and commercial arrangements.

Last month Sky announced a long-term partnership with the International Olympic Committee for the broadcast rights to the Olympic Games from next year’s Winter Olympics through to Brisbane 2032.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

A buzzer beater finish by the Boomers has left the Tall Blacks heartbroken, but a technical issue meant some fans missed out on the tense final moments.

Australia beat New Zealand 79-77 in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers on Monday night at the TSB Bank Arena.

A last minute play by 26-year-old guard Davo Hickey banked in a tough trifecta from the wing just before time expired, helping the Boomers complete the escape after finding themselves staring at a 67-57 deficit early in the final period.

However, some fans on the edge of their seats missed the exhilarating final moments.

Viewers reported coverage cut out on ESPN channel 60, Sky and Disney+, with one commenting on social media the live stream on Sky Sport went to ads, “then to some guys in a boat”.

On its TikTok channel, ESPN Australia/NZ acknowledged the mishap: “We are aware that due to a technical issue at the end of the game was not seen for some viewers. We are investigating the cause and deeply apologise for the issue.”

But as one fan put it, the blunder “saved us from watching NZ choke again”.

DAVO HICKEY CALLED BANK.
DAVO HICKEY CALLED GAME.

He gets the TISSOT Buzzer Beater to drop to deny the Tall Blacks of an upset! ⏰#FIBAWC x #StepItUpBoomers | @BasketballAus pic.twitter.com/ZdAhDemHs7

— FIBA Basketball World Cup (@FIBAWC) December 1, 2025

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Football Ferns legend Annalie Longo knew the end of a career spanning nearly 20 years at the top was coming this year and she is thankful to walk away on her own terms.

Longo will retire from international football after Tuesday’s match against Australia’s Matildas at Coopers Stadium in Adelaide.

The midfielder will finish her Football Ferns career on 144 caps, the fifth-highest total in the team’s history, and 15 goals.

Longo made her senior international debut as a teenager, before appearing at five FIFA Women’s World Cups, including the home tournament in 2023, and four Olympic Games.

Scoring her first goal against Japan to level the game in 2013, the 2012 Olympics where the Football Ferns won their first match at a Games and winning the opening game of the 2023 Football World Cup in Auckland, were among the highlights from a senior career which began in 2006.

The decision to hang up her boots follows her retirement from professional club football with Wellington Phoenix in April.

“It comes with mixed emotions. I can proudly say I have given everything for the Fern and this team,” she said.

“Football has shaped who I am.”

Longo said entering the senior national team as a 15-year-old she was “full of dreams and hopes that I would get to represent my country”.

“The journey it has given me and the memories and experiences and the rollercoasters its given me, it’s been part of my life for so long so obviously a tough decision but when I look at the future of the team and what they need going forward I think it’s the right time to step away.”

Longo was “tempted” to stay with the national team with the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup on the horizon but said there were several reasons why it would be better if she did not.

“When I look at my heart, I think if I’m still around playing in 2027 we’ve got a bit of a disservice to the system we’re growing in New Zealand. So, I have to look at it both ways and what’s best for the team and if I continued to stay around, just with my age and the toughness that it is to play professional football and the stage of my career, also where my body is at, a number of factors that kind of play into the decision I think the best thing for the team is that they get ready and work towards that 2027 campaign.”

Football Ferns head coach Michael Mayne was not ready for Longo to retire when she stepped away from the Phoenix so he asked her to fill a role with the national team this year.

“It’s been a challenge to work hard and not have a professional team but I try, as I have always done throughout my career, to keep my standards high and do whatever I can to be on that pitch,” Longo said.

“Timing-wise it felt right being able to build and create some structures in the way we want to move forward under Mayne so it was a privilege and I’m grateful to have that opportunity.”

Longo was emotional in recognising the likes of former captain, Ali Riley, who did not get to leave football on their own terms.

Riley retired in October after a prolonged battle with a chronic nerve injury.

“I know not everybody who has been part of the Ferns has had the perfect send-off… I hope [her experience] is set in stone of what it should be and when players retire, who have committed so much to the Ferns, that we can celebrate the amazing legacy that past Ferns previously maybe didn’t get the opportunity to do.”

Football will still be a big part of Longo’s life. She is already in a player development role with New Zealand Football and she was looking forward to dedicating more time to “inspiring and growing” the next generation.

She said coaching was a route she wanted to pursue.

Mayne said the link to former Ferns was important and he planned to keep in touch with Longo into the future.

“You can see everything you need to know about her by looking at her journey in the shirt. She has seen and experienced it all, but throughout her career she has always played her role, put the team first, and promoted excellence for herself and the side,” Mayne said

“Having seen Annalie come through the coaching pathway and where she is at in that, I think between her role, the coaching, there is no doubt in my mind the character she is and belief in our country, the drive for things to be better – all those things line-up to someone who can have a massive impact in the next phase of her career and life and that’s what we need more of going forward.

“That’s probably a gap I’ve seen for different reasons where we can do a lot better.

“That’s part of my belief system in this role is how do we put things in place to make sure we’re retaining good people and people that can shift the game because we need more than what we’ve got at the moment. So, I will be definitely be a regular still talking to her and picking her brain because you can’t just let experience and knowledge disappear in our system we don’t have the luxury to be able to do that.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Black Caps coach Rob Walter doesn’t expect his side to have any problems slipping back into Test match mode in the first Test against West Indies starting in Christchurch on Tuesday.

Walter is preparing for his first home Test series since taking over the role in January.

New Zealand has played just two Test matches so far in 2025, beating Zimbabwe 2-0 in Bulawayo in August.

Since then they’ve played 17 white-ball games against Australia, England and West Indies.

“The team is clear in their test match identity, they’ve done incredibly well as a unit, so just to fall back into that,” Walter said on the eve of the three match series.

New Zealand is ranked fifth in the World Test rankings, with West Indies eighth.

Kane Williamson returns to the side for the Test series.

The Black Caps beat West Indies 3-1 in the T20 series and 3-0 in the ODI series.

While those results may have looked convincing, Walter admits they were close and expects even more from the tourists in the longest version of the game.

“They’ve got a really good seam attack, some dangerous batters and can bat for long periods of time so from a team point of view [we have to] respect the game of cricket and be prepared for the contest.”

Walter said the key is to play the game they want to play.

Of the 14 Tests played at Hagley Oval only once has the side winning the toss decided to bat first.

“Traditionally Hagley plays a certain way and so while we have a strong idea of most likely how it will play I still think our best skill is our adaptability.

“We’ll prepare with something in mind but we know the game of cricket can easily throw something at you that you’re not ready for so we need to be ready and adapt to that.”

This series also marks the start of the Black Caps cycle in the latest World Test Championship.

“Winning at home is important, but it is not the be all and end all because we have started to see how teams can win away from home.

“If there are any conditions you do understand you trust it to be your own so we’ll be looking to start strong and lay down an marker early in the World Test Championship.”

BLACKCAPS squad for Test Series v West Indies

Tom Latham (c) Canterbury

Tom Blundell (wk) Wellington Firebirds

Michael Bracewell Wellington Firebirds

Devon Conway Wellington Firebirds

Jacob Duffy Otago Volts

Zak Foulkes Canterbury

Matt Henry Canterbury

Daryl Mitchell Canterbury

Rachin Ravindra Wellington Firebirds

Mitchell Santner Northern Districts

Nathan Smith Wellington Firebirds

Blair Tickner Central Stags

Kane Williamson Northern Districts

Will Young Central Stags

1st Test NZ v West Indies, Hagley Oval, 2-6 Dec

2nd Test NZ v West Indies, Basin Reserve, 10-14 Dec

3rd Test NZ v West Indies, Bay Oval, 18-22 Dec

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

New Zealand has swept the Dubai round of the Sevens World Series with the Black Ferns Sevens and All Blacks Sevens beating Australia in their respective finals.

The Black Ferns Sevens thumped their arch-rivals 29-14 before the All Blacks Sevens held on the beat a fast finishing Australian side 26-22 in the men’s title match.

It’s the All Black Sevens first title since Singapore in 2024. They failed to win a single title last season, with the win in Dubai ending their title drought.

The Black Ferns Sevens gained some revenge over Australia after losing to them in last season’s Dubai final.

It’s the New Zealand women’s first Dubai title since 2019.

Jorja Miller bagged a brace of tries to be named player of the women’s final and she said it was nice to get one back over Australia.

“It means everything. Dubai is probably the favourite stop of the series, so to get the win here over a really strong Australian side, I’m so proud of the girls,” Miller said.

“We knew that if we let them get an inch that they would take it, so we just knew we had to come out there and play our game and start strong and let the rest follow.”

Brady Rush made a superb try saving tackle just before halftime to stop Australia scoring in the men’s final to be named player of the match.

He said it was nice to win put an end to their title struggles.

“Pretty stoked with that. It’s obviously been a while, but I’m pretty happy to get it done for our captain Tone [Ng Shiu] in his 50th tourney.

“It shows all the hard work we’ve put up in preseason, so we’re looking forward to the rest of the season.”

Captain Ng Shiu believes they can keep getting better.

“It’s a great start. But, just from here, if we can be consistent with the little things, it’ll make a great difference in the big picture.”

The next round of the World Series is in Cape Town this weekend.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand