Netball mourns death of coaching great Taini Jamison

Taini Jamison is flanked by Silver Ferns players Katrina Grant (L) and Laura Langman.
Photo: Photosport

Netball New Zealand is mourning the death of pioneering former Silver Ferns coach Taini Jamison at the age of 97.

The governing body confirmed Jamison had died on Friday and her funeral would be held in her home town of Rotorua on Monday.

Jamison was the first coach to lead the Silver Ferns to a World Cup victory, in 1967, and she was later awarded an OBE.

She was acknowledged by the introduction of the Taini Jamison Trophy in 2008, which the Silver Ferns contest when they play international teams in home test series.

Her family posted an obituary in The Post newspaper on Saturday.

“Dearly loved wife to Thomas Edric Jamison, mother to Tom and Marie, nan to Ben and Elaine, Victoria and taua to Piper. A very passionate, motivated lady that will be missed by all that knew her,” the obituary read.

Born in Rotorua, Jamison’s father Rangi Royal was a notable sportsman who served with the Māori Battalion in World War Two.

A qualified teacher, her husband died at a young age while she was pregnant. She named her son Tom after him and didn’t remarry.

She represented Rotorua in netball and was selected in the North Island team before retiring aged 31.

Jamison coached Rotorua for a decade before being handed the New Zealand coaching reins ahead of the world championships in Perth in 1967.

The Silver Ferns won the second edition of the sport’s showpiece by beating defending champions Australia 40-34 in the final game, capping a tournament that they marched through unbeaten, winning all eight games under captain Judy Blair.

In 1972, Jamison was awarded the Netball New Zealand Service Award and received her OBE in 1994.

She was inducted into the Māori Sports Hall of Fame in 2006, and in 2010 was made a life member of Netball New Zealand.

– RNZ