International Hockey In Kapiti – Kāpiti and Coast Independent

It has to be the biggest sporting event in Kapiti since the Phoenix Soccer team were here!! Sue Spellacey, Kapiti Sports Turf

The Black Sticks Men are coming to Kapiti

By Roger Childs. Photo below by Ian Linning

The Sports Turf is one of the Kapiti’s great sporting venues and has had a huge impact in promoting local hockey. It has also hosted many tournaments, and back in early March the district were co-hosts of the National Masters Hockey Competition. There were 64 teams from Northland to Southland playing in Wellington and at Mazengarb Park.

This time it’s a step up to international level, as the Black Sticks Men take on the Japanese in two matches over the weekend of 21-22 November. (See details below).A strong hockey nation

New Zealand has long been a force in world hockey. The high point was the men’s 1-0 victory over Australia to win the gold medal at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Since that time the Black Sticks have been consistently in the top ten in the world and currently have ranking of 6^th.

The women are the fourth best team on the planet and in the current series against the second ranked Australia have a 2-2, 2-3 record.

All on at the Kapiti Turf over the weekend

The cater for the expected crowd extra seating is being installed. We wanted to help make this a successful event for Kāpiti and donating our time to put in seating is our way of contributing, Alex Inglis of Safe Scaffolding says.

Kapiti Sports Turf Manager, Sonja Williams says there has been a lot going on in the community to prepare for the arrival of the two international hockey teams.

It’s been a hive of activity around the district. There will be great food and entertainment on both nights, as well as exciting hockey to watch so make sure you get your tickets. Remember, pre-sale tickets are cheaper than tickets purchased at the gate.

Friday 21st November

7pm NZ Black Sticks vs Japan

Gates open at 3pm

3.30pm – 4.30pm Mens Curtain Raiser – Capital vrs Central u21/u18

4.45pm – 5.45pm Womens Curtain Raiser – Capital vrs Central u21/u18

Saturday 22nd November

6pm NZ Black Sticks vs Japan

Gates open at 2pm

2.30pm-3.30pm Womens Curtain Raiser – Capital vrs Central u21/u18

3.45pm-4.45pm Mens Curtain Raiser – Capital vrs Central u21/u18

Standard tickets $12.50 adult, $10 student/senior $8 child

Corporate Tickets available for Saturday night – $75pp – includes drinks, food, VIP parking and premium seating.

There is limited Stadium seating and hillside viewing on the grass.

Gate prices are:

Adult – $15
Student/Pensioner – $12 (sec school student and uni student)
Child (5-12) – $8
Under five – Free
Family pass – $40

Tickets available at www.dashtickets.co.nz or Coastlands Shopping Town information desk.

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100 Years Ago — and the Maori Long March begins

Māori politics was dominated by the influential MPs (and sometime Cabinet ministers) Māui Pōmare ( Waitara statue photo above) and Apirana Ngata.

The 1920's also saw the rise of Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana’s religious movement, and the emergence of Te Puea Hērangi in Waikato.

Ngata worked hard to foster Māori scholarship and education and preserve traditional arts and culture.

He convinced the government to establish a Board of Maori Ethnological Research (1923), a Maori Purposes Fund Control Board (1924) and a School of Maori Arts and Crafts in Rotorua (1927).

The Reform government also took the first, tentative steps towards settling longstanding Māori grievances.

Agreements with Te Arawa in 1922 and Ngāti Tūwharetoa in 1926 recognised their respective rights over the Rotorua lakes and Lake Taupō, and led to the establishment of trust boards with some government funding.

Commissions of inquiry which examined Ngāi Tahu grievances (1920–21) and the Waikato and Taranaki confiscations (1926–27) recommended that modest compensation be paid.