The organisation, which encompasses the lower South Island, made a positive return of $21,000, it was announced at Sunday's annual meeting.
The small surplus was in contrast to last year's deficit of $91,000.
There was a significant increase of 41% in teams in the region's primary school tournaments since 2014.
That followed an overall 4% increase in junior playing numbers.
Growing the game at grassroots level had been a focus, chief executive Lana Winders said in her report.
She called the increases a stellar result, as the sport competed against a growing numbers of alternative activities.
Junior programmes such as the Future Ferns and Steel club were thought to have had an impact.
The Future Ferns programme, for school years 1-8, began in 2014 and involves teams playing six-a-side games in an attempt to increase player engagement.
All 10 Netball South centres had brought this in for years 1-4 and five had for years 5 and 6.
In 2017, all centres will make use of the programme.
The Steel club was run between terms one and three and put a focus on executing the basics of the game well.
It was held in various locations around the region, with 555 participants registered.
At the elite level, the success of the Southern Steel and South Beko League team was acknowledged.
Likewise, the zone's increasing depth was recognised, as was the number of players that had represented national teams in 2016.
Board chairman Paul Buckner said in his report the zone had demonstrated its success both on and off the court.
``I am very proud when representing the South Zone at national meetings as our success on the court is complemented by our success off the court,'' he said.
``We are arguably the strongest zone from management and performance perspectives, but we must not be cocky nor complacent.''
There were still areas to improve, and Buckner identified coaching and umpiring at community level as being key ones.
The board was set to take a weekend to review its strategic plan.
It would look to place greater emphasis on two-way communication with its centre members and make better use of IT.
- Jeff Chesire
