MEDIA RELEASE

Black Sticks to play two internationals in Kāpiti

1 OCTOBER 2014

Hockey New Zealand has announced the Black Sticks will play two matches against Japan at the Kapiti Sports Turf in Paraparaumu on 21/22 November.

The team will face Japan in another two matches several days earlier at the National Hockey Stadium in Wellington, with the Black Sticks Women to face Australia in a three-test series at the same venue.

Kāpiti Mayor Ross Church says it’s exciting to be hosting the district’s first ever international hockey matches.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase all we have to offer and there will be lots of spin-off benefits for the community from hosting an event of this calibre,” he says.

“We have made sure tickets are very reasonably priced so as many people as possible can get to the games.”

The Black Sticks have a strong track record against Japan only losing one of the 19 official tests played in the last decade. It will be the first time since the Glasgow Commonwealth Games that the team will have played, with head coach Colin Batch testing out his 2015 National Squad. The last time that the Black Sticks Men played in Wellington was against India in February 2009.

In the women’s hockey, Trans-Tasman rivals Australia - ranked second in the world and Commonwealth Games gold medallists - have a close track record against the fourth-ranked Black Sticks Women. Most recently, the Black Sticks Women drew with Australia at the FIH World Cup, lost in a penalty shoot-out in the 2013 Oceania Cup Final and claimed one-goal wins in the two encounters prior to that.

“To have the Black Sticks plus the two visiting teams here is incredibly inspiring. It’s also a chance for those new to the sport to bring the family along, watch the Black Sticks and get autographs and photos after the game,” Wellington Hockey Association chair Nicola Airey says.

Tickets will go on sale at www.dashtickets.co.nz from 9am on 6 October. There will be discounted family, multi-day, student and pensioner tickets available.

Black Sticks Women vs Australia
3pm, Saturday 15 November - National Hockey Stadium, Newtown
3pm, Sunday 16 November - National Hockey Stadium, Newtown
7pm, Tuesday 18 November - National Hockey Stadium, Newtown

Black Sticks Men vs Japan
5pm, Tuesday 18 November - National Hockey Stadium, Newtown
7pm, Wednesday 19 November - National Hockey Stadium, Newtown
7pm, Friday 21 November - Coastlands Kapiti Sports Turf, Paraparaumu
6pm, Saturday 22 November - Coastlands Kapiti Sports Turf, Paraparaumu

ENDS

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