Mandy Barker
"When you put on that silver fern and hear the National Anthem you realise the importance of representing your country on the world stage.
The experience gained, camaraderie developed and highs and lows shared with team mates is what makes playing the sport so satisfying. The Sydney Olympics is one of my fondest memories, we came so close to a medal opportunity but in the end it just wasn’t to be. The exhilaration of the team performing at its best was such a buzz, they were special moments.
The realisation that hockey can grow stronger through the development of this Foundation is a positive for the sport. It will enable our talented young athletes to compete successfully on the world stage and to create their very own special moments."
Mandy Barker – Past Black Sticks women’s team member (1990 – 2001, 150 caps)
Ramesh Patel
"Winning the 1976 Olympic Gold medal continues to give me, my family and the hockey community so much pleasure. That thrill of winning, being on top of the world, remains a defining moment in our hockey history.
The ultimate challenge and reward for an elite athlete is to compete and perform at the highest level on the world stage. The satisfaction and delight in extending oneself beyond the limits of what you thought you were capable of makes all the hard work worthwhile.
This Foundation will allow our elite hockey athletes the opportunity to push beyond the limits."
Ramesh Patel – 1976 Olympic Gold Medalist (1972 – 1986, 123 caps)
Anna Lawrence
"The euphoria you feel from special moments. The buzz from a superbly executed move between your team mates that you’ve practised forever; scoring a winning goal; the skill and the strategy; singing the national anthem before the match; those team celebrations after a great win; the hype of a big tournament; the opportunity to be part of a ‘one New Zealand team’ at the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics; the passionate people involved and the amazing memories you share; to be part of a team, “punching above our weight”; the very essence of what it is to be a sporting New Zealander! These are what make Hockey so very special.
For our future we must recognize that repeating these great moments requires even greater punch, greater resources, and even more commitment and professionalism. The Foundation offers this promise. An opportunity for talented players to be the best they can be and for our teams to achieve success on the world stage."
Anna Lawrence – Past Captain of the Black Sticks women’s team (1990 – 2001, 164 caps)
Selwyn Maister
“ We play a truly international sport which is well woven into the Olympic movement, so hockey players in NZ are given wonderful opportunities to perform on a World stage. I have been privileged to be part of one of NZ’s greatest hockey successes with the Gold at the Montreal Olympics and I want to see other young New Zealanders provided with that opportunity. With our relatively small playing base and our great distances from the rest of the hockey playing world, remaining in the top echelon of hockey nations is very expensive. This Foundation is vital for our future, to give our young elite players the opportunities to excel internationally and continue to push our country to the top of World hockey”.
Selwyn Maister - Hockey New Zealand Life Member and NZ men's representative 1965, 1967-1968 and 1973-1977
