Editorial: Big sport here, so back NZ

Not every provincial town in New Zealand of Whangarei's size has the ability to bring international sport to a world-class facility.

But that's what Hockey Northland has achieved over the past decade or two at the Whangarei ITM Hockey Centre, a world-class set-up poised to expand from two to three turfs.

And that's why Northland has such a proud record of national hockey representation, particularly in the women's side.

A conversation with a rugby dad reminded me of hockey's place in Northland sport - he'd mentioned the early starts for junior games at the Kensington Park facility.

Juniors start, from recollection, as early as 7.30am, and 12 hours later there are still senior matches being played. No other Northland sports facility gets such intensive use, the participant rates for children are huge, and the benefits flow through to national level.

You don't have to play, to enjoy hockey's success.

The Black Sticks are taking part in a four-nations event in Whangarei tonight, through to, hopefully, Sunday's final. Charlotte Harrison and Stacey Michelsen are in the team, with fellow Northlander Brooke Neal training with the squad.

In terms of mid-week entertainment, I encourage you to take advantage of a rare week of international sport, and go along to support Northlanders playing for their national team. On a crisp autumn night, I suspect there will be several hundred Northlanders at Kensington Park smart enough to know that it's an experience not to be missed.