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2026 Melbourne Cup sweepstake kit'Objectives had shifted': Wootten reveals reasons behind domestic netball competition collapse
Sport Nation • November 2nd, 2026 6:59 pm
Netball NZ CEO Jennah Wootten | Photo: Photosport
Netball New Zealand chief executive Jennah Wootten says the organisation walked away from a proposed private league because the deal’s objectives had shifted and raised concerns about the sport’s long-term future.
The decision to end negotiations with investors Anna Mowbray and Ali Williams was made public last week, leaving the future of New Zealand’s elite domestic competition once again uncertain.
“Both parties entered the process with a genuine ambition to strengthen the competition and we were advancing conversations in genuine good faith, but the key objectives and principles that Netball New Zealand had from the outset had shifted in regards to what we were ultimately talking about,” she told Sport Nation's Millsy & Guy on Monday.
Wootten said the board had to consider the interests of current players as well as future generations, but she was unable to disclose the specific reasons for its decision.
“I'm not able to share the specific details because we have signed up to a confidential agreement which prohibits us from going into those details.
“But fundamentally, they were things that gave us significant concern in regards to the future of the sport and that is what ultimately the decision was made on - what is best for the sport in New Zealand and how can we ensure that we are safeguarding that for the generations of netballers that will come.”
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Wootten said private investment remained a possibility, provided any arrangement served the sport’s long-term interests.
“We're still really open and positive about exploring private capital coming into netball. That's something we remain really optimistic about, but the parameters around that need to be right.”
The decision became public after confidential correspondence was leaked, before Netball NZ had the chance to speak directly with players and staff affected by the development.
“I'm pretty devastated with how this news has become public. It was always our intention that the players were hearing it first from us and that I was able to talk to them about why and about what we were doing as a result.
“But confidential correspondence was leaked and you know I'm just gutted that that has happened and I'm so deeply sorry to the athletes who have been impacted by that.
“It couldn't have been further from my intent when we realised that this wasn't an arrangement we could proceed with.”
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With at least 13 New Zealand players confirmed to have moved to Australia for opportunities, Wootten said Netball NZ’s focus was on securing a strong elite competition at home for the women who are yet to stand up.
“I think that is really not giving enough kudos to the phenomenal group of athletes that we still have here domestically.
“We've got potentially 50 additional athletes that would be in this domestic competition and watching the ANZ Premiership last year, you can see the depth of talent that exists.”
Wootten said the organisation wanted a domestic competition that could attract New Zealand players back.
“Do I want to know that we have an elite domestic competition in this country that is going to be strong enough that they want to come home and play in our competition? Absolutely I do. That is absolutely the ambition.”
The Silver Ferns celebrate their gold medal win in Glasgow | Photo: Jayne Russell/Photosport
She said Netball NZ was working with zones and teams to provide players with certainty, while acknowledging the timeframe was not ideal.
“I won't tell you this time frame is optimal, it's clearly not, but we are putting every bit of resource we have behind us, so to our netball zones and teams and we are going to make sure that we're working as hard and as fast as we can to give our players the certainty they deserve.”
She also said a trans-Tasman competition could be revisited in the future, though it would not happen next year.
Listen to the full interview below:
