Hockey turf undergoes $930,000 upgrade
05 May 2004 New Zealand's first hockey turf, in Kensington, Whangarei, has undergone a $930,000 transformation. Turf Replacement Committee head Crichton Christie says the sand turf that was built at the Northland Hockey Association in 1985 has been turned into a water turf. The Whangarei District Council put $500,000 toward the project that included reshaping the turf base. Mr Christie says the turf used to slope down to one side and took too long to drain when it rained. It now slopes down both sides with the highest point in the middle. The new turf will also have an eight-pole lighting system instead of four. He said the old lights created too much shadowing behind the goalie. The association?s masters council chairman Bill Shepherd had previously said the sand turf was in such a bad state it caused a high number of injuries to players slipping on worn carpet. He said the turf should have been replaced years ago. The association?s other turf built in 1996 (also a water turf) is due to be replaced in 2007. The association has about 1700 members.