Editorial: Black Sticks deal stroke of genius

Bruce Mctaggart was kind enough to fit me into his busy schedule this week.

Along with Hastings mayor Lawrence Yule, Bruce gave me an hour of his time just before heading up to Auckland for the announcement of the remarkable deal he stitched together to see the Hawke's Bay region sponsoring both the men's and women's national hockey teams in their quest for gold at the London Olympics.

The purpose of the visit was to explain the deal, which has 23 businesses and individuals from within Hawke's Bay providing money and support for the Black Sticks' campaigns.

The mayor had also been instrumental in helping Bruce swiftly bring together the pieces of an ingenious campaign that does not require ratepayers' money in any way.

What struck me most was that in describing the sponsorship, Bruce Mctaggart chose not to use phrases such as "this deal's worth hundreds of thousands of dollars" (which it is) or "an outstanding commercial opportunity for the Bay" (which it also is).

Instead he talked about the power of a community, how great things can be achieved when willing people get together and dedicate themselves to a goal.

How he fervently believes that Hawke's Bay is among the best places to live in the world - and this man behind the Walking with Dinosaurs phenomenon could choose to live anywhere he liked in the world - and how we can achieve big things as a region by working together.

What excited him every bit as much as the fact that the Hawke's Bay logo would be on the shirts of our star hockey teams at the Olympics, was that the Black Sticks would be calling Hawke's Bay "home".

These sport stars will be based in our region for training camps, they will be visiting our schools, they will give us our own heroes to cheer for, and they will be our ambassadors abroad. It's brilliant when you think about it.

Bruce Mctaggart also told me he believed in the quote "if you don't have money, you have to think".

He's clearly been thinking.