Preferred partner for new hockey turf announced

27 September 2016

For immediate release

The Palmerston North City Council has announced that Massey University is the preferred partner for the city’s new hockey turf.

The recommendation to select Massey University came from an independent panel that included representatives from Hockey New Zealand and Sport Manawatu.

The other contender for the new turf was Palmerston North Boys’ High School.

“The panel received two very strong proposals and both would have provided excellent outcomes for hockey in Manawatu,” says Colin French, Community Hockey Manager at Hockey New Zealand.

“After a robust and lengthy assessment process, the panel recommended Massey University as the preferred partner based on its greater community access and vision to build on the existing sports hub already present and working well in Palmerston North. This is an exciting development for our hockey community within this very strong and proud hockey region, and we wish them all the success as they continue to grow and develop our game.”

Massey University has also committed an additional $1 million, including donor contributions, to the development of the turf on top of the $500,000 in funding already committed by the City Council.

Palmerston North Mayor Grant Smith believes the new turf will be a great addition to the city.

“Palmerston North is a sporting hub for the lower North Island and the hockey turf will be a fantastic addition to the raft of sporting facilities already on offer in the city. We welcome Massey University into that stable where hockey will sit alongside other sports to create a regional hub. We’ll also be talking to Palmerston North Boys’ High School to encourage and assist them where possible with their plans. ”

Negotiations between Massey University, Hockey Manawatu, and the City Council will now get underway to finalise a Memorandum of Understanding.

ENDS

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