.jpg) Taurua in 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Noeline Taurua | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1968-03-26)26 March 1968 (age 57) Papakura, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Netball career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Dame Noeline TauruaDNZM (born 26 March 1968) is a New Zealand internationalnetball coach and former representative player. She served as head coach of theNew Zealand national netball team, the Silver Ferns, until she was suspended in September 2025.[1] In late October 2025, Taurua was reinstated as head coach following protracted negotiations.[2]
Taurua was born inPapakura to Kingi and Polly Taurua. Her ancestry isNgāpuhi on her father's side, andNgāti Whātua on her mother's side. Taurua is the youngest of five children.[3] She expressed an interest inAthletics in her schooling years.[4] Taurua attendedTaupo-nui-a-Tia College.[4]
Taurua was a member of the Silver Ferns from 1993–99. During that time, she won a silver medal at the1998 Commonwealth Games inKuala Lumpur[5] and a bronze medal at the1995 Netball World Championships in Birmingham. A knee injury in 1999 ended her playing career, having played in 34 test matches for the Silver Ferns.[6]
In 2011, Taurua acted as assistant coach to the Silver Ferns alongsideRuth Aitken.[7] The following year, she accepted an official position as Silver Ferns assistant coach after being offered the role several times.[8] In domestic netball, Taurua coached theWaikato Bay of Plenty Magic from 2002–13, leading them to two National Bank Cup titles (2005, 2006) and oneANZ Championship title (2012).[9]
In 2013, Taurua retired from coaching duties for the Silver Ferns after one and a half seasons, citing family reasons.[10] She also stepped down as head coach of the Magic after eleven years at the franchise.[11] Her replacement at the Magic was formerNew South Wales Swifts coachJulie Fitzgerald.[12] Taurua later accepted a role as head coach forSouthern Steel in their final2016 ANZ Championship season.[13]
After the dissolution of the ANZ Championship in 2016, theSunshine Coast Lightning announced the signing of Taurua heading into the2017 season of theSuncorp Super Netball league in Australia. Taurua coached the Lightning to back-to-back premierships in 2017 and 2018,[14] and a minor premiership in 2019.[15] She was selected as the head coach of the New Zealand national netball team in August 2018.[16] During her time as Silver Ferns head coach, New Zealand won the2018 Fast5 Netball World Series and2019 Netball World Cup.[17][18] As well as being the national team coach, Taurua continued to coach the Lightning in Australia. On 20 August 2019, Taurua announced her departure from the Lightning after her third year coaching the team.[19]
Taurua was not shortlisted for the role of head coach in 2015,[20] however, after the resignation ofJanine Southby from a failedCommonwealth Games campaign, she accepted the job as theSilver Ferns 11th coach.[21]
In 2019, Taurua coached theSilver Ferns to a 52–51 win over theAustralian Diamonds in theNetball World Cup inLiverpool,[22] a competition the team hadn't won since 2003.[23] Taurua then coached the team to win the2021 Constellation Cup, ending a nine year drought.[24]
In February 2021, Taurua confirmed that she would coach theSilver Ferns until 2023.[25]The team won a Bronze medal at the2022 Commonwealth Games inBirmingham.[26]
Despite a disappointing2023 Netball World Cup with theSilver Ferns finishing fourth, their worst ever in history, Tarurua's coaching was still held in high regard and her contract was extended until January 2024.[27] TheSilver Ferns coach role was opened to applicants in January 2024 in which Taurua confirmed she would be reapplying for the next four year cycle.[28] Taurua was retained as theSilver Ferns coach in April 2024, although only contracted until 2026 she expressed an interest to continue until the 2027Netball World Cup.[29] Success followed Taurua again when she coached theSilver Ferns to win the 2024Constellation Cup to a 3–1 victory over theAustralian Diamonds.[30]
Taurua is known for her strict fitness criteria for anySilver Fern trialists and players.[31]
On 10 September 2025,Netball New Zealand suspended Taurua as coach of the Silver Ferns amidst concerns about her management and alleged bullying.[1][32] Following failed negotiations between Taurua and Netball New Zealand, the sporting body sidelined Taurua for the rest of the 2025 season.[33] After negotiations, Netball New Zealand reinstated Taurua as the Silver Ferns' coach on 25 October, effective late 2025.[2]
In the2020 New Year Honours, Taurua was appointed aDame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to netball.[38]
Taurua was appointed to theHigh Performance Sport New Zealand board in September 2022, to work alongside athletic gold medalistValerie Adams,Black Sox coachDon Tricker andParalympic swimmerDuane Kale.[39]
By her schooling inTaupō, she was inducted into the famed Lake Taupo District 'Wall of Fame' displayed proudly in the circulatory spaces of the AC Baths.[40]
Taurua is married to Edward Goldsmith, with whom she has five children.[41] They divide their time between their homes inMount Maunganui andPukehina Beach.[42]
| Awards | ||
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| Preceded by | Halberg Awards – Coach of the Year 2019 | Succeeded by Gordon Walker |
