Black Sticks And Kia Kaha Join Forces

Black Sticks And Kia Kaha Join Forces

Friday 3 March 2006

The Black Sticks Men are hoping the Mana of Michael Campbell will rub off a little this weekend when they take to the field against Canada wearing the same label as the famous golfer.

The Black Sticks Men and Women have just signed a three year contract with highly successful Maori design inspired clothing company Kia Kaha and will wear their new uniforms for the first time on Saturday at Lloyd Elsmore Hockey Stadium, Pakuranga.

Michael Campbell wore Kia Kaha “Cambo” range of golf shirts when he won the US Open last June. When he won the prestigious tournament, he was wearing a Kia Kaha polo featuring a mangopare (hammerhead shark), a symbol of strength and determination.

The “koru” symbol on the Hockey New Zealand uniforms is a very significant one in Maoridom as it signifies “new life” and “a bright and prosperous future ahead”.

Kia Kaha means “be strong” a great proverb for New Zealand teams and New Zealand sportspeople.

As Michael Campbell has become the individual sports face of Kia Kaha, the Black Sticks Hockey teams are the first major national team to be clothed by the company and they are keen to establish another unique relationship.

Hockey New Zealand CEO Ramesh Patel said: “We believe that Kia Kaha come to us with a lot of prestige, which was one of the attributes we wanted with our clothing”.

“Michael Campbell is at the forefront of his individual sport and we are happy to be associated with that and to become the first major national team sport to be outfitted by Kia Kaha,” he said.

Kia Kaha Director Matene Love said: “Kia Kaha is delighted to be associated with Hockey New Zealand as we see Hockey New Zealand as an organisation that consistently sets and maintains high standards of performance on and off the field and has become a role model sporting organisation for New Zealand.

“The two organisations also have similar philosophies: the striving for excellence, the desire for achievement and the commitment to furthering New Zealand‘s reputation nationally and internationally,” he said.

Both Saturday and Sunday’s matches against Canada start at 1.15pm, at Lloyd Elsmore Hockey Stadium, Pakuranga.

The matches are the only chance to see the Black Sticks Men in action at home this year.

ENDS

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