Media Release

Red carpets are generally associated with significant events, but in Kaikohe, the carpet’s green - Astroturf green, the colour of the new Bay of Islands hockey turf, opening this Saturday.

Around 18 months in the planning, the $1.2million Far North District Council facility is now ready for play. The astroturf, imported direct from Amsterdam, arrived in Kaikohe and was installed on its purpose-built base by specialist technicians within the week.

The marvellous new grounds at Lindvart park - fenced, spot lit and pristine in their green with blue painted lines - will debut with fun children’s games on Saturday, giving the district’s junior hockey enthusiasts first run at the new facility.

The plan is to host a healthy junior hockey tournament at the astroturf this season, and to entice the district’s collegiate teams back from Whangarei to host a senior tournament at their new home ground the following year, says District Facilities operations manager Sue Hodge.

“Hockey is undergoing a resurgence in the Bay of Islands because of the new grounds,” she says, admitting that she’s become so motivated by the motivation of the resurrected Bay of Islands Hockey Association that she’s volunteered for the role of secretary to the association.

“It’s exciting to be part of such enthusiasm,” Sue said. “Currently we have 20 junior teams registered for the 2008 season and there’s no doubt that having the turf here is an incentive for new local players to get into the sport and for senior local players to return to the sport or come back here to play. There’s a lot of really positive activity going on behind the scenes.

“The astroturf will reduce the number of players travelling to Whangarei (nine senior and four junior teams in 2006) and will improve the standard of hockey played in the Bay of Islands.”

Anyone who wants to play hockey or use the new grounds should contact Bay of Islands Hockey Association President Darryl Meehan at Okaihau Primary School or (09) 401 9534 after-hours.

There are also sponsorship opportunities associated with the hoardings around the grounds and naming rights to the new facility. The money raised would be used to off-set the annual costs of running the turf and to subsidise the inaugural junior hockey competition.

Potential sponsors are asked to contact Sue Hodge on 0274 394 988."

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Page created/updated: 4 April, 2008

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