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Live sport on SN this weekendHPSNZ watching closely as Netball NZ faces pathway squeeze
Sport Nation • August 7th, 2026 7:00 am
Raelene Castle | Photo: Photosport
Silver Ferns gold has delivered a massive high for New Zealand netball, but High Performance Sport New Zealand boss Raelene Castle says the pathway beneath the national side still needs clarity.
Speaking with Sport Nation’s Millsy & Guy, Castle was asked about the uncertainty facing players as they return from the Commonwealth Games with no confirmed domestic competition locked in.
Castle said HPSNZ is in regular dialogue with Netball NZ, with the Silver Ferns’ high-performance future a key part of those conversations.
“They understand that having a pathway, a plan for how a young girl gets from playing school netball to becoming a Silver Fern is really important,” Castle said.
“For whatever it is now, 15 years, they’ve had a professional competition that has run across the country.”
What's next for Netball in NZ? | SN Mornings
Castle said those competitions are under increasing strain, not just in netball, but across several sports.
“Those competitions for many sports are being more and more challenged around broadcast rights, sponsorship, transport costs and moving teams around,” she said.
HPSNZ funds the Silver Ferns and their high-performance programme, meaning Netball NZ will need to show how future players can keep developing into international athletes.
“We will be talking to them about how they move their young players into those opportunities to grow and develop and be the best players that they can be,” Castle said.
“We fund them to be successful.”
Castle also backed Netball NZ’s leadership to make the big calls, pointing to new CEO Jennah Wootten, chair Alistair Carruthers and recent board changes.
She also spoke discussed New Zealand’s wider Commonwealth Games performance, cycling’s mixed campaign, Zoe Hobbs’ historic 100m gold, athlete funding and the road to LA 2028.
Listen to the full interview below:
