Netball New Zealand chief executive Jennie Wyllie is "gutted" Netball Mainland's financial woes have led to the zone being put in liquidation, but she says the region's ANZ Premiership side, the Tactix, will be looked after by the national body.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Netball Mainland Zone confirmed on Saturday that the organisation recommended to its members at its 2020 Annual General Meeting that it be placed in voluntary liquidation.
The zone's spokesperson Darren Wright said due to the ongoing effects of Covid-19, Netball Mainland was placed under unprecedented financial pressure.
"It was a very difficult decision for Netball Mainland but after undertaking a thorough review of its financial position and regrettably with there being no certainty as to when both community and high performance games will resume, the difficult decision has been made to liquidate," Wright said.
Netball Mainland approached Netball New Zealand for help, but Wright said it could not help in the current environment.
"Whilst understanding the position of Netball New Zealand, we are extremely disappointed to have to make this call, particularly with this being such devastating news for our centres, staff and team."
Marianne Delaney-Hoshek, head coach of the Tactix. Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2017 www.photosport.nz
Wyllie said the liquidation of the Netball Mainland Zone showed just what a significant financial impact Covid-19 was having on all businesses in New Zealand.
"These are challenging times and businesses are having to re-think their structures for both now and the future. We know our netball centres are well placed to maintain our community game and we will be working with them to ensure the future of local netball," she said.
Netball NZ CEO Jennie Wyllie. Photo: Photosport
"We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the incredibly hard work that the board of Netball Mainland have put in over the past 18 months to restructure the Mainland Zone and we are gutted that the great strides being made in the zone will now not have the time to come to fruition."
Wyllie said Netball New Zealand will enter into discussions with stakeholders of Tactix whilst retaining head coach Marianne Delaney-Hoshek and the players of that team.
A liquidator will be appointed to work with all relevant authorities to address Netball Mainland's winding up.
