Margaret Forsyth

Margaret Forsyth

ONZM

Forsyth in 2020
Personal information
Full name	Margaret Hine Forsyth
Born	(1961-12-28)December 28, 1961 Hamilton, New Zealand
Died	4 May 2021(2021-05-04) (aged 59)
Netball career
Playing position: GA Years National team(s) Caps 1979–1987  New Zealand Coaching career Years Team(s) 2017–2021 Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic
Medal record Representing  New Zealand Netball World Cup 1979 Port of Spain Tournament 1987 Glasgow Tournament 1983 Singapore Tournament
Updated on 31 December 2019

Margaret Hine Forsyth ONZM (28 December 1961 – 4 May 2021) was a New Zealand Track and Field athlete,^[1] netball player, coach, and politician.

Born in Hamilton, she was selected for the New Zealand national netball team, the Silver Ferns, in 1979 at the age of 17 while a pupil at Hillcrest High School.^[2] Victory at that year's Netball World Championships in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago made Forsyth the youngest Silver Fern World Champion in history.^[1]

Throughout the 1980s, Forsyth formed a notable attacking partnership with fellow Silver Ferns shooter Margharet Matenga, known together as the "two Margs". She continued with the team until 1987, competing at three World Netball Tournaments.^[3][4]

Her age upon selection to the Silver Ferns, athleticism, playing style,^[5][6] competitiveness, winning record and senior position within the particularly dominant 1987 World Champion Silver Ferns team^[7] made Forsyth an icon of her sport within New Zealand.^[8]

Coaching career

In 2014 Forsyth was named assistant coach of the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic competing in the ANZ Championship. In 2017 the Magic joined the new ANZ Premiership competition, and Forsyth was promoted to head coach of the team.

In 2016, Forsyth was named Coach of the NZA Netball Team and in 2017 she was Assistant Coach of the New Zealand FAST5 Ferns.

In 2020, Forsyth took up the position of Assistant Coach with Auckland-based franchise, The Northern Mystix. In the 2021, the team won their first National Netball Championships while Forsyth underwent treatment for cancer. Captain Sulu Fitzpatrick dedicated the title win to Forsyth.^[9]

Political career

Forsyth served as a City Councillor for the city of Hamilton, New Zealand between 2010-2016 and 2019-2021.^[3][10]

New Zealand Order of Merit

In the 2020 New Year Honours, she was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to netball and the community.^[11]

She died on 4 May 2021, aged 59, shortly after being diagnosed with cancer.^[12][13]

References

1. McFadden, Suzanne (5 May 2021). "The Silver Fern shooting star equally loved and feared". Newsroom. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
2. "Silver Ferns great Margaret Forsyth dies aged 59". 1News. 4 May 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
3. McFadden, Suzanne (10 May 2017). "No boring stories of glory days for Magic's boss". Newsroom. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
4. "Margaret Forsyth". Silver Ferns. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
5. "Silver Fern shooting star Margaret Forsyth was equally loved and feared". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
6. "Players / Silver Ferns Netball". www.silverferns.co.nz. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
7. McFadden, Suzanne (28 August 2023). "Champion '87 Silver Ferns gather around Dame Lois". Newsroom. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
8. "PressReader.com - Digital Newspaper & Magazine Subscriptions". www.pressreader.com. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
9. "THE SECRET WEAPON GUIDING THE MYSTICS FROM ABOVE". Northern Mystics. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
10. "Final results of Hamilton City Council election | Scoop News". www.scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
11. "New Year Honours 2020: The full list". The New Zealand Herald. 31 December 2019. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
12. Anderson, Ian (4 May 2021). "Silver Ferns netball great Margaret Forsyth dies, aged 59". Stuff. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
13. Mather, Mike (4 May 2021). "Hamilton City councillor, former Silver Fern Margaret Forsyth dies". Waikato Times. Retrieved 4 May 2021.