Principal Partner of the Black Sticks
In a world first, a community has joined together to sponsor a national sports team in its quest for Olympic glory. Hawke’s Bay have partnered with New Zealand's national hockey teams – the Black Sticks Men and Women - to give them all the support they need to take on the world’s best teams next year in London.
This truly unique sponsorship agreement is the brainchild of Vector Arena co-owner and the man behind the phenomenally successful 'Walking with the Dinosaurs', Bruce Mactaggart. A hockey fan, he was looking for a way to get the Black Sticks the financial support they needed, while at the same time, galvanising a community and all its resources behind them.
Bruce and Robyn Mactaggart along with Hasting’s businesswoman, Jenni Giblin and Hastings mayor Lawrence Yule assembled a group of some of the region's most influential and forward thinking residents.
They assembled at a local winery where Mactaggart outlined his vision for Hawke's Bay becoming the Principal Partner of the Black Sticks, "While I personally believed this was a great notion, I obviously wasn’t sure if others would agree with me! But in my view, the potential for global exposure for Hawke's Bay and the opportunity to drive this community forward was too good to miss," says Mactaggart.
Hawke’s Bay Leader’s Circle
John O’Sullivan – Tumu Timbers
Darren Diack and John Sarten – Gemco Construction Limited
John and Rose Roil – Cottages New Zealand
David and Pam Smith – Hastings Pak’n Save
Jenny Yule – Porse
Ray McKimm – Big Save
Andy Lowe – Lowe Corp
Bruce and Robyn Mactaggart – NZ Entertainment and Events Corporation
Garth Cowie – Port of Napier
Ken Sutherland – Unison
David Mackersey – Mackersey Developments
Peter Ellis – Farmlands
Iain Taylor Family
Rebecca Turner and Lyn Williams
Hamish Whyte – Furnware
Graeme Avery – Sileni
Ngahiwi Tomoana – Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated
Gavin Earle – Baywide Credit Union
Simon Tremain – Tremains – Colliers
Paddy Twigg – Hastings Health Centre
Claire Vogtherr and Neil Pulford
Damon Harvey and Anna Lorck – Attn Marketing
Rod Drury - Xero
GO TO: www.ford.com
Ford Motor Company announced in August 2011 that they will be the official vehicle partner of the Black Sticks as they begin their journey through to the 2012 London Olympics and beyond.
“Hockey is a game of agility and performance which is why we feel it’s a perfect fit for Ford and we are proud to be the driving force behind the Black Sticks,” says Chris Masterson, marketing manager of Ford New Zealand.
The three year contract also sees Ford support New Zealand’s next generation of hockey players through ‘Small Sticks’ - Hockey New Zealand’s junior programme which will be rolled out nationally in 2012 to give primary school children a taste for hockey and connect them with their local association.
GO TO: www.scoresportswear.co.nz
Lotto and Hockey New Zealand signed their sponsorship agreement in December 2008. On board as Hockey NZ’s principal sponsor, Lotto out-fits all National teams including the Black Sticks, Junior Black Sticks, Tiger Turf, Masters and those who officiate the game of hockey on a national and international level. Italy’s leading sporting apparel brand is imported into New Zealand through Score Sportswear – an Auckland based sports apparel and footwear company.
Born from the last name of its founders, the brand name Lotto is now synonymous in the sports world with technological research and design innovation. The accompanying double lozenge figure representing two partially overlapping playing fields is a clear sign of company policy, committed from the beginning and with an innate inclination towards active sport.
Score Sportswear Director Helen Clarke says of the new partnership
“We are delighted to be entering into a partnership with a sporting body of such high calibre as Hockey New Zealand. Hockey in general, and the Black Sticks specifically, enjoy widespread support throughout New Zealand and we look forward to Lotto’s role in supporting them to ongoing success over the coming years.”
Lotto’s partnership with Hockey New Zealand will include the production and sale of a range of replica and supporters apparel, which will be distributed through selected retail channels.
GO TO: www.millenniumhotels.co.nz
Millennium Hotels & Resorts are New Zealand's largest hotel group consisting of 30 hotels in 19 locations, ranging from the Bay of Islands in the North to Te Anau in the South. We are part of a global network consisting of over 110 hotels throughout the US, UK, Asia, Middle East and New Zealand.
Millennium Hotels & Resorts have been a sponsor of Hockey NZ for over 4 years and are excited about the direction Hockey in NZ is taking, from grassroots level to the National teams and their ability to excite the nation in what they have achieved in the last 5 years.
"We at Millennium Hotels and Resorts feel that the relationship we have with all involved at Hockey NZ, is one of true friendship and look forward to working with Hockey NZ. Not only just on a sponsorship level, but more so on a partnership level to continue our mutually beneficial relationship in years to come". (Mat Shaw)
