Porirua City Mayor Nick Leggett and councillors will pit their netball skills against the Haier Pulse at Te Rauparaha Arena this Friday in a celebration of their new partnership.

The Council recently signed a three-year sponsorship deal with the Pulse, making Te Rauparaha Arena the central region team's home base and bringing more top class games to Porirua City.

"Every time the Pulse plays at the arena, it's sold out. That means over 2000 fans will flock to the Porirua City Centre," says Mayor Nick Leggett. "The Council's partnership with the Pulse is great. Not only can Porirua's ardent netball fans enjoy live action right on their doorstep, the Pulse can be assured of a packed house offering fantastic support at every home game. Having visitor numbers swell each time there's a game on will also benefit the city economically."

Mayor Leggett says Porirua City has a reputation for being a leader for the way it collaborates successfully with others and this approach will continue in this partnership with the Pulse.

Pulse new Chief Executive Chris McNay says they are really excited to be based at the Te Rauparaha Arena.

"We are looking forward to the outstanding support we have received from our fans and the wider Porirua community.

"The Arena is a fantastic facility for everyone to watch the game and for the Haier Pulse to use as our home base. Of course this means a lot to us as it enables us to train our socks off. Having the best facilities is a crucial component in our preparation and the team is now
really chomping at the bit for the season to start."

McNay says he's really impressed with the team's pre-season form. "So all you Porirua fans can dust off your pink wigs and get down to the Te Rauparaha Arena for our first game against the Mystics on Saturday 19 February at 4.15pm."

The Pulse will be training at the arena four or five times a week.

Arena Manager Willie Taurima says having the Pulse team and their coaches local and accessible for the community is going be great.

"Having their home base here in Porirua City also means that the teams the Pulse will be playing throughout the season will be training here too.

"It was always part of the Council's vision for Te Rauparaha Arena to have elite athletes here training and playing so that kids would be able to meet their sporting icons and realize there could be a pathway in sport at this level for them too. They can sit in the gallery and watch during coaching sessions and this type of exposure rubs off and helps raise expectations which is all good for the Porirua community."

Media Note: Speeches begin at 4.30pm on the Mezzanine at Te Rauparaha Arena then at 4.45pm the Haier Pulse will take on Mayor Nick Leggett and Councillors in a short match that promises to be entertaining!

ENDS

© Scoop Media