A new two-year agreement has been struck between Hockey New Zealand and the Hockey Players Association with a renewed focus on player wellbeing and a long-standing commitment to pay equity and gender equality.
The agreement focuses on a reimagined high-performance programme and provides flexibility for players while preparing for the challenges of the sport and the transition to a successful life outside of hockey.
"We want our players to be happy and healthy, and we know this enables them to perform at their best, so it’s pleasing to have reached an agreement which allows this to happen," HNZ chief executive Anthony Crummy said.
Black Sticks players will receive a share of 25% of all HNZ player-generated commercial revenue, an increased percentage share from the previous agreement.
This contribution, when combined with targeted funding that HNZ receives from High Performance Sport New Zealand, will mean men’s and women’s players getting a share of $2million over the two-year term.
An enhanced player contract model aimed at attracting and retaining the best players has been agreed.
The model provides players with greater flexibility and acknowledges that hockey is not a full-time professional sport, and that players often have work, study and life commitments they need to balance alongside sport.
Eighteen annual international contracts will be offered following a ranking process that considers each player’s availability for key events within the contract year, as well as 5-15 additional "event contracts", per gender.
A major shift reflected in this agreement is the recognition that the opportunity to play professionally overseas can form a critical part of a player’s hockey development.
"This new agreement has facilitated the flexibility that players have sought for some time, whether within a career at home or hockey abroad, and is a great outcome that removes a huge burden players often faced when weighing up hockey versus their own future," HPA executive manager Glen Sulzberger said.
"We genuinely hope that more players will stay connected and available to the Black Sticks team as a result of this new agreement."
The agreement also provides for a meaningful domestic playing programme.
The details of an elite domestic competition will be developed next year.
Domestic contracts will be offered to identified players outside the international and event contracted group, to align their development and availability across the domestic calendar, including the new elite competition, the New Zealand A programme, and North v South.
