Gold Parade in Whangarei for Northland's Black Sticks hockey women

Sam Harrison will be part of the parade. Photo / Getty Images

Northlanders get the chance to celebrate Commonwealth Games gold with five local Black Sticks in Whangārei today.

A "Gold Parade" at 12.20pm will celebrate a Black Sticks side with five members - captain Stacey Michelsen, Brooke Neal, Madison Doar, Ella Gunson and Sam Harrison - coming from Northland.

They overcame favourites Australia in convincing style during their 4-0 gold medal match victory, marking the first time New Zealand has won the top hockey prize at the Commonwealth Games.

The parade will start at Forum North before heading towards the Town Basin for a welcome to the players, which gives supporters the chance to honour their efforts on the turf.

Organiser Sue Shepherd said they want as many school kids as possible to make their way down to the parade to cheer on the hockey stars.

"We would really like the schools to come down for the hour over lunchtime and line the streets the classic car cavalcade will travel along."

The public welcome at the Town Basin will be at 1pm on the raised stage on the waterfront.

At the Town Basin, there will be official photographs at the Hub, after which the five gold medallists will enter the stage through a guard of honour provided by Kamo Intermediate School, which several of the hockey heroes attended.

Kamo High School kapa haka group will then perform a haka, followed by welcome home and congratulatory speeches from Whangārei Deputy Mayor Sharon Morgan and Hockey Northland chairman Alan Lints.

After the public welcome, the players will be joined by their families and other guests for an invitation-only mayoral reception at 2pm at Forum North.

After the reception, about 3.30pm, players and their families will travel to Hockey Northland headquarters at Kensington Park for an official public welcome and congratulatory speeches from hockey officials at 4pm.

The next morning the players will attend junior hockey sessions at the park between 9am and 10.30am.