Notably absent among all their luggage is the Constellation Cup silverware the Silver Ferns came to claim.
The netball world champions were beaten by fierce rivals Australia, who were fueled oncourt by off-court controversy.
"I think one thing Australia do is they do their business very well, irrelevant of what’s happening there around them," admitted NZ coach Dame Noeline Taurua.
The weight of that distraction was obvious on the face of Australian coach Stacey Marinkovich.
Hours earlier, she learnt an AU$15 million (NZ$16m) sponsorship lifeline was withdrawn by mining billionaire Gina Rinehart, after indigenous Diamonds shooter Donnell Wallam reminded everyone what her father and company founder said about Aboriginals in 1984.
"I would dope the water up, so they were sterile and breed themselves out," said Lang Hancock, during an interview.
Rinehart responded: "It is unnecessary for sports organisations to be used as a vehicle for social or political causes."
Wallam will make her test debut for Australia against England next week, while the Silver Ferns head home to play the 'Fast Five' series at Christchurch.
Dame Noeline is aware Netball Australia's survival keeps the game in New Zealand alive.
"We're currently No.1 and 2 [in the world], so we need them in our competition for us to be better," she said, noting that also required working with sponsors.
"We know that each party has role and responsibility... our thing is for the betterment of netball."
