2024 Hall of Fame Inductee | Anne Taylor

2024 Hall of Fame Inductee | Anne Taylor
*Elevated to Icon Status

On Saturday night Netball New Zealand inducted, "Twelve of netball’s most influential figures, including administrators, umpires and players..." into the Netball New Zealand Hall of Fame, with three who have been awarded Icon status.

Hamilton City Netball Centre's very own Anne Taylor was inducted and elevated to Icon Status.

Anne’s visionary leadership has propelled the commercialisation of Netball in New Zealand, leaving an undeniable legacy. Her contributions, both on and off the court, have helped make netball the game we see today. Her recognition as a World Netball Service Award recipient underscores her profound influence.

Hamilton City Netball Centre Involvement:
Upon arriving in Hamilton in 1958, Anne quickly immersed herself within the netball community as an umpire, coach and selector (at both club and representative level) along with undertaking key administrative and leadership roles. In recognition of all her involvement and service to the Centre, Anne was awarded a Service award in 1976 followed by a Life Membership award in 1979.

Netball New Zealand and World Netball Involvement:
After her playing days, Anne Taylor became a certified coach and umpire, going on to umpire the first televised netball test match in New Zealand in 1969.

A mover and shaker, Taylor slotted into governance and administrative roles with ease where her influence in key areas moved netball ahead in leaps and bounds while leading the sport through some defining moments.

In 1978 Taylor was appointed President of NNZ, a position she held until 1987, and during her tenure was a prime mover in the decision of the New Zealand Netball Association to move its head office from Wellington to Auckland. This facilitated better access to sponsors while she also hired a marketing company which helped with the success of the Silver Ferns and continued to raise the profile of netball where increased media coverage and commercial sponsorship rose significantly.

Taylor was also responsible for starting a league for club teams, sponsored by the Bendon Group and obtaining sponsorship for the long-running Milo Test series.

In 1985, while still with NNZ, Taylor also became the Executive Officer of the Oceania Netball Federation, a position she held until 1995. She was appointed vice-president of the International Federation of Netball Associations in 1989 and subsequently became President, serving until 1999.

Other positions she held include membership of the New Zealand Council for Recreation and Sport, the Hillary Commission and the New Zealand Sports Drug Agency.

In 1987, Taylor received a Halberg Award for her services to sport and in 1988 was made in Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

February 2024