The Otago Daily Times reported the organisation's loss - its second in as many years ($21,000 in 2014) - on Wednesday.
Contacted for comment yesterday, Poole said she would obviously prefer the zones at least break even, but had full confidence in Netball South and the other four zones, Northern, Waikato-BOP, Central and Mainland.
"Across the zones we're targeting a break-even position this year,'' she said.
"Last year, we had three of the zones post a modest surplus and two posting what I would call modest deficits.''
The main factor in Netball South's deficit was an increase in expenditure, $2,006,000 in 2014 to $2,140,000 last year.
An increase in ACC levies and the cost of putting former coach Janine Southby through a high-performance coaching programme were the the main contributors to the blow out.
But Netball New Zealand (NNZ) and the five zones are working through a partnership agreement, under which NNZ will pay the zones for "netball delivery'', including implementation of coaching development programmes and national participation programmes, Poole said.
"It's not a loan or a grant. It is an investment we're making to the zones because they play an important role in the netball system.
"It's basically a payment for their services.''
Poole pointed out Netball South reported a 5% growth in player membership, including 4% in junior netball, last year.
It, and the other four zones, have also been funding their newly formed national league teams to participate in the league, soon to be launched, which will underpin the ANZ Championship.
"Zones are playing an increasingly valuable role in a national aligned netball system. Any investment from NNZ is aligned to their facilitation of the implementation of netball programmes in their zone,'' Poole said.
She said it was too early to say how much money the zones would receive from NNZ, or if each zone would receive the same amount.
However, she hoped a deal will be struck by the end of November, in time for the new financial year.
Netball South, which has a negative equity of $177,000, has forecast a $20,000-$30,000 surplus this year.
It does not take into account any future payment from NNZ, which Netball South chairman Paul Buckner said would go against the debt recorded last year.
