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Live sport on SN this weekendBailey urges Netball NZ to 'reach out' as ANZ Premiership limbo drags on
Sport Nation • July 24th, 2026 1:11 pm
Temepara Bailey | Photo: Photosport
Temepara Bailey has urged Netball New Zealand to “reach out” as uncertainty continues to hang over the future of the ANZ Premiership.
Once again, the competition remains without a confirmed broadcast deal or plan for next year, despite leaked TVNZ figures showing it attracted 1.05 million unique television viewers this season, not including TVNZ+.
That is a 16 percent increase on 2025 and a 64 percent rise since 2024.
Staff and coaches at the Stars, Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic and Mainland Tactix have also been told their contracts will not be extended past July 31 at this stage, while talks continue between Netball New Zealand and the New Zealand Netball Players Association.
Speaking with Sport Nation's Scotty & Izzy, Northern Stars head coach Bailey said the uncertainty had left those inside the game frustrated.
“Pretty deflated, to be fair,” Bailey said.
“It’s pretty sad for the sport really, and where it’s been, the history of it and to where it is at the moment in our small country that punches above its weight in our sport. It’s very disheartening.”
Bailey said the game needed more voices in the room.
“Reach out to some of the key people within the netball world,” she said.
“There’s a country that loves the sport, and we want to see the competition go ahead, or a similar competition go ahead next year.”
As a coach navigating this tough time, she warned the uncertainty was already taking a toll on players trying to make major life decisions.
“You have conversations like, ‘I’ve got a mortgage and I don’t know what to do. I’m in limbo. I don’t know what’s going to happen. I’m going to have to find work,’” she said.
Northern Mystics and Northern Zone chief executive Phil Vyver told Sport Nation Afternoons the sport has plenty going for it, including growth in the netball community.
“I’ve just recently seen our participation stats and we’re up another six percent at the grassroots level." Vyver said.
“There is plenty to be pleased about in the sport of netball. Just a couple of small issues to iron out, that’s for sure.”
However, Vyver said one of those issues was turning interest into money.
“Let’s face it, this is a money issue,” he said.
“It’s how we can turn that into dollars to be able to make the competition a success and pay the athletes and pay the coaches, and produce the excellent netball that they do.”
“How do we get corporate New Zealand behind netball, behind women’s sport more widely?” he said.
“How do we get the broadcasters back around the table to go, this is worth investing in?”
Listen to the full interview with Phil Vyver below:
