Trouble mounts in Canterbury netball

Netball Mainland’s boss and board chairman have stepped down, while a review of the cash-strapped Christchurch-based organisation rumbles on.

Chief executive Brigit Hearn, who has been in charge since April 2013, decided against continuing in the role and finished up last month. She could not be reached for comment on her departure.

It has been a double blow for Netball Mainland with board chairman Scott Mccrea leaving his post because of a serious family health issue.

A review is being carried out into all aspects of Netball Mainland – one of five Netball New Zealand (NNZ) zones, which takes in the Canterbury region and stretches from Waimate to Nelsonmarlborough.

Stuff understands the review is expected to be completed within the next month and there could be extensive changes.

Netball Mainland has endured a challenging time financially, battling for funding. It has also found the going tough in postearthquake Christchurch without an adequate indoor sports facility to cater for netball’s needs and to grow the game.

The proposed nine-court Metro Sports Facility in central Christchurch was set to open in early 2016, but ongoing delays pushed it back until the end of 2021, which angered netballers and those involved with the sport in the city.

In 2017, Netball Mainland suffered a $228,000 loss due to a number of extraordinary (unbudgeted) expenses, increased costs, and reduction in benefactor funding. Their financial situation did improve in 2018, with a loss of $11,000.

Playing numbers in the Mainland zone, which is made up of 18 affiliated netball centres, fell from 22,666 in 2017 to 20,434 in 2018.

Netball New Zealand head of events and international Kate Agnew confirmed the problems Netball Mainland was experiencing would not affect the region’s flagship side, the Tactix, and they would take their place in the domestic premiership in 2020.