The defender hangs up the hockey stick after an international career spanning 15 years, including three Olympic Games, three Commonwealth Games and three World Cups.
"I’ve been incredibly lucky to live out a dream: to represent New Zealand and play the game I love for so long.
"None of it would have been possible without my parents, partner, family, friends and the amazing coaches and managers who have supported me along the way."
He paid tribute to Otago coaching great Dave Ross.
"A special thank you to Dave Ross, who had a huge influence on my development as a hockey player."
The 35-year-old’s career began in his home town of Dunedin, and he quickly rose through the ranks to represent the Junior Black Sticks at the Junior World Cup in 2009.
He made his senior debut the following year against Germany and helped the Black Sticks win bronze at the Delhi Commonwealth Games.
He went on to represent New Zealand at the 2014 and 2022 Commonwealth Games and at the Olympics in 2016, 2021 and 2024. He also featured at the 2014, 2018 and 2023 World Cups.
Tarrant, who captained the Black Sticks from 2017 to 2022, wraps up his career with an incredible 272 caps and 10 goals.
At club/domestic level, Tarrant had stints with HC Rotterdam in the Netherlands, Hamburger Polo Club in Germany and recently with the Southern Alpiners in the national premier hockey league.
Tarrant returned to his Otago roots in 2023 for the first time in about seven years. He suited up for the Otago men’s side to help them lift back-to-back National Hockey Championship titles and was assistant coach for Otago women.
He will not be lost to the international stage though, having recently been named as assistant coach for the New Zealand under-21 squad for their upcoming Junior World Cup campaign.
Black Sticks coach Greg Nicol called Tarrant a highly respected players who gave everything to the black shirt.
"Congratulations on a fantastic career that Taz should be very proud of. A true Black Stick through and through," Nicol said.
Black Sticks assistant coach Shea McAleese played alongside Tarrant for 10 years and paid tribute to his former team-mates career.
"I’ve never met anyone more determined to improve every single day," McAleese said.
"He wore the black shirt with immense pride and everything he did epitomised what it means to be a New Zealand great many others would follow into battle.
"Taz can hang his stick up knowing he went out on a high. His 2024 campaign was phenomenal, and he was consistently one of the best players for New Zealand, and in the world.
"He’ll go down as one of the greatest ever to wear the fern." — Allied Media
