HOCKEY NEW ZEALAND 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 2020 OUTCOMES VANTAGE BLACK STICKS WOMEN NEW ZEALAND RECORDS 16,000 112 GOALS SPECTATORS ATTENDED HOME INTERNATIONAL OLIVIA MERRY TEST MATCHES 287 CAPS GROW THE HOCKEY COMMUNITY STACEY MICHELSEN 27,025 54,475 SUMMER HOCKEY PLAYERS TOTAL WINTER PLAYERS 258 TEAMS SCHOOL CHILDREN COMPETED AT 9 RECEIVED DELIVERY OF SMALL STICKS DOMESTIC 37,595 TOURNAMENTS OFFICIALS 1,662 PEOPLE 5 APPOINTED TO ATTENDED COACH TOKYO OLYMPICS DEVELOPMENT C URSES WEBSITE 305,000 685k VIEWS COMBINED 20.1k FACEBOOK FAN BASE 86,100 TOTAL HOURS VIEWED SKY SPORT NEXT YOUTUBE VIDEO VIEWS 195,481 LIVE STREAMED ON ALL STREAMED MATCHES INSTAGRAM ENGAGEMENTS MATCHES IN 2020 $1,061 CONSOLIDATED SURPLUS IN A COVID-19 IMPACTED YEAR 2 HOCKEY NEW ZEALAND CONTENTS 4. From the CEO 6. From the Chair 7. Hockey Foundation WIN ON THE WORLD STAGE 8 8. Vantage Black Sticks 9. Milestones and Squads 10. Awards 11. Retirements 12. Life Members WORLD-CLASS EVENTS 13 13. Sentinel Homes Premier Hockey League GROW THE HOCKEY COMMUNITY 16 16. Performance Network and Development Teams 17. Coaching 19. Officials 20. Small Sticks 21. National Tournaments 22. 2020 Player Numbers STRENGTHEN THE BUSINESS 23 23. Strengthen the Business 24. Digital Engagement 25. Funding FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE 26 26. Independent Auditor’s Report 27. Statement of Comprehensive Revenue and Expenses 27. Statement of Changes in Net Assets 28. Statement of Financial Position 29. Statement of Cash Flows 30. Notes to the Financial Statements (Extract) 31 HOCKEY NEW ZEALAND WHĀNAU ANNUAL REPORT • 2020 3 FROM THE CEO Dealing with a global pandemic – announced by the Government. international game We also worked closely with Sport NZ A year ago we had barely heard of on ‘return to play’ protocols to ensure Covid-19 but by the end of 2020 it had we could get community hockey back impacted nearly all aspects of our lives underway by June. including sport. Overall it was an incredibly tough time The first impact on hockey in this country logistically and financially, but in the was our decision in early March to end the efforts of our collective hockey postpone the European tours of both whānau ensured we could all be back on our Vantage Black Sticks teams as the the turf enjoying the game of hockey. outbreak of the virus started to escalate Win HIGHLIGHTS across the world. The Vantage Black Sticks men secured • Collective effort to get community After consultation with medical advisors, their first wins in the FIH Pro League in the hockey re-started post lockdown High Performance Sport NZ, other hockey shortened second season of the league, • New National Hockey Centre hosts first nations and the teams themselves it was while the women had a mixed bag of internationals determined that the risk was too great for results. our players and management to travel • Inaugural Sentinel Homes Premier safely. While disappointing, prioritising In the eight home matches each team Hockey League kicks off the health and safety of our athletes, staff did complete, the men secured their first • Walking the talk of Balance is Better and their families had to come first. win in the league with a shootout win over Great Britain followed by regulation • Performance Network sets up Weeks later the International Olympic time victories over Spain and Argentina. performance hubs Committee made the decision to postpone Meanwhile the women started with a the Tokyo Olympics by a year, with the • Women in Coaching initiative underway disappointing loss to Belgium but finished new dates being 23 July to 8 August 2021. with a strong victory over world no.2 • 60 matches broadcast including 44 free And soon after the FIH followed suit, Argentina. to watch postponing the second season of the FIH Olivia Merry continued her phenomenal Acknowledging our former CEO Ian Hockey Pro League for a year with the goal-scoring form to claim 10 goals and be Francis season now running until June 2021. the league’s top goal-scorer. Her fourth I’d like to firstly acknowledge the efforts Both postponements were gutting for goal in the 4-1 victory over Belgium took of my predecessor Ian Francis who led many athletes, particularly those nearing Merry past Anita McLaren for the all-time the organisation through the challenges the end of their careers, but they were the record of 106 goals for the Black Sticks. of Covid-19 before finishing up in the role only realistic outcomes in the midst of a The women finished their home matches in October. global pandemic. with by far their best performance securing When I am told by the hockey community Dealing with a global pandemic – a 5-3 victory over the Argentinians led by that Ian’s leadership during Covid-19 was community game a goal-scoring masterclass by Merry who exceptional and was gratefully received by In the days before New Zealand went into again collected four goals. the Associations, I can start to appreciate level four lockdown when large gatherings The men’s victories featured an his tremendous work ethic and his ability were being restricted, Hockey NZ made outstanding effort in the shootout against to engage with the hockey community. the decision to halt all club, school and Great Britain by goalkeeper Richard Joyce, During Ian’s four years at the helm and community hockey. and a brace of goals from Kane Russell to almost a decade with Hockey NZ, we The decision was reached in a meeting secure their first ever regulation time Pro saw year-on-year growth in participation between Hockey NZ and the 32 League victory 3-2 against Spain. across New Zealand as well as a significant Associations, and the postponement Meanwhile the new Performance strengthening of hockey’s commercial included all hockey matches and trainings. Network continued to be rolled out with partnerships and revenue. With around While we understood the widespread coaches Mark Borgers, Aaron Ford and 90,000 registered players, our participation disappointment across our sport, it was Colin Stewart appointed to work in the levels are now nearly 50% higher than 10 the necessary step in helping to minimise performance hubs around the country, years ago – thanks in no small part to the the spread of Covid-19. while Bryce Collins took up the player Small Sticks programme which Ian played support role of Athlete Pathway Manager. a huge role in establishing. By early April the decision was made in conjunction with the Associations to With a slightly different programme In the high performance area, Ian oversaw cancel all national tournaments for the than originally planned, good progress our Vantage Black Sticks teams moving year, with Secondary School tournaments was still made connecting with the from amateurs to semi-professional to be held regionally. wider community, focusing on individual athletes, and he played a leading role in Hockey NZ acknowledged the outstanding development and providing meaningful the development of the new FIH Hockey competition. Pro League as one of just three national leadership taken by the Associations in CEOs on the Pro League panel. making such a tough decision, with the The Performance Network coaches focus on enabling people to participate in worked with a wide selection of players Ian was also instrumental in building their local programmes and competitions promoting our ‘holistic’ coaching strong partnerships which have seen once hockey resumed. approach, and were fortunate to finish commercial and broadcast revenue more The annual Hockey NZ Awards dinner, the year with the inaugural Sentinel than quadruple to support the game’s Homes Premier Hockey League (more on transition to semi-professionalism. scheduled for 24 April, was cancelled with award winners recognised on our digital that below). I’d like to publicly thank Ian for all his channels. We also secured the services of former efforts and for the legacy he has left The support from Sport NZ in these initial Blues High Performance Manager Tony behind, with the sport well positioned for Hanks to lead our high performance our team to continue the journey. Covid-affected months of uncertainty was gratefully received, as hockey tapped programme through until the Tokyo into several funding relief packages Olympics. 4 HOCKEY NEW ZEALAND FROM THE CEO Deliver sports rather than specialising early, with of 60 games with the schools and PHL One of the highlights in a challenging year an emphasis on fun and development. matches free to watch on Sky Sport NEXT. was hosting our first international matches Sport NZ launched an awareness Viewership and attendance remained at the new purpose-built National Hockey campaign in February focused on what strong showing the great support we Centre in Albany. parents, coaches and administrators can receive from the hockey community. Thanks to the outstanding leadership of do, along with the balanceisbetter.org.nz Our passion and commitment towards North Harbour stalwart and Hockey NZ website. hockey is well supported by a valued group Board member Sharon Williamson along In the sport of hockey we have been rolling of philanthropists and a range of funding with other members of the Harbour out changes for several years, ensuring organisations including Class 4 Gaming hockey community, the world-class facility our youth competitions are focused on Trusts and Foundations. Their support opened in December 2019 in time to taking part and having fun, rather than plays such a vital and significant role, host the Vantage Black Sticks’ first FIH simply winning. We want to provide more enabling our Associations and Hockey NZ Pro League matches of the year against opportunities for anyone keen to pick up to deliver quality hockey experiences and Belgium on 1 February.