New High-Tech Hockey Surface for Counties Manukau Hockey Association

The Counties Manukau Hockey Association will celebrate the official opening of its new TigerTurf water based turf on 31st March with a series of friendly matches.

The renovations began in December 2006, starting with the uplifting of the existing artificial turf that had been in place for the past 15 years. The field was then resurfaced with TigerTurf TT37, which is an international standard water-based surface.

The new high-tech TigerTurf surface, which is wet with water canons prior to every game, will allow Counties Manukau Hockey Association to host both national and international level hockey games.

Association Vice President Kevin Marr said the renovations of the ground included a significant overhaul and club members are excited to now play on an international standard field.

"The process first required the existing base to be uplifted and replaced with asphalt before the TigerTurf team could lay the TT37 wet field," he said. "I saw the same TigerTurf surface installed in a hockey field in Hamilton and was very impressed with the way it played. We are hoping ours will be to a similar, if not higher standard."

The official opening of the TigerTurf wet hockey surface in Beresford Street, Pukekohe, will see a series of junior games played, as well as a Golden Oldies Game, and a North vs. South game.

TigerTurf Product Manager Darren Smith said the surface, which was installed on a base prepared by Auckland Civil Ltd., is a high quality product designed specifically for hockey and is therefore popular with many hockey clubs around New Zealand.

"The main advantage of TigerTurf TT 37 is the combination of a dense polypropylene product and water that creates less friction, enabling good ball roll and a higher quality of hockey to be played," he said. "A wet turf is fundamental to any club that is serious about hockey".

25 hockey turfs throughout New Zealand are surfaced with TT37 from TigerTurf, which is the only New Zealand synthetic surfaces company that manufactures its products in this country.