New hockey turf ready for action
Palmerston North’s third artificial hockey turf has been completed at Massey University.
The turf was blessed yesterday morning and an official opening was planned for the near future.
The turf was constructed through a joint agreement between Palmerston North City Council, Massey and Hockey Manawatu¯.
Both Massey and the council contributed funds to the construction costs, with the balance met through fundraising and grants, including from the Lotteries and Central Energy Trust.
The facilitywill be run in partnership by Hockey Manawatu¯ and Massey.
There are existing turfs at Hockey Manawatu¯’s base at Fitzherbert Park. The new turf was laid by international company Polytan and is similar to one Polytan built in Japan for the Tokyo Olympics. The turf is hailed as one of the most technologically advanced surfaces in the world. The electronic speed testing equipment within the turf is world leading. Other interesting features include a shock pad, which utilises recycled rubber, and the asphalt was laid with lasermachinery.
The straight lines were woven into the grass during manufacturing to allow a strong bond and there are two 30,000-litre water tanks to feed the sprinklers to keep the turf in top condition. The water will come from Massey’s bore and will be recycled. The turf will be used for community sport, as well as exercise-related teaching and research and to help attract hockey-playing students to Palmerston North.
It is the latest addition to the university’s sporting facilities, including the Sport and Rugby
Institute, recreation centre, equestrian centre, Manawatu¯ Community Athletics Track, netball and tennis courts, and 11 rugby and football fields.
Vice-chancellor, professor Jan Thomas, said the facility was of great value to the city and university.
‘‘Hockey is popular in the region and with strong participant numbers the demand was there for another top-quality facility to play and train on.’’
Massey’s accommodation, food halls and gyms also make it an ideal facility for national camps, programmes and international matches, she said.
Palmerston North mayor Grant Smith said the new addition had great benefits for the city andwider region, which was a powerhouse for national secondary school sports tournaments given its central location.
Hockey Manawatu¯ general manager Neil Ulrich said most national tournaments required three turfs, which the city now had.