The Hockey Foundation held its 2016 Gala Dinner on Friday October 14th at Auckland’s Langham Hotel. Over 260 guests joined us for the fundraising event including current and former Black Sticks, Hockey Foundation donors and Hockey NZ sponsors.

With the generous support of all the event attendees and the many businesses and people who donated auction items, we were able to raise over $60,000 through the charity auctions and raffle! This was more money raised than any other previous Hockey Foundation Gala Dinner.

The proceeds from the event will help the Hockey Foundation to support and develop grassroots hockey throughout the country, and continue to grow our Endowment Fund. With an ambitious goal to grow the Endowment Fund by over $1 million to $2.5 million by 2020, events such as the Gala Dinner are crucial to the success of the Hockey Foundation.

Guests were treated to live music from Mike Chunn’s Play It Strange Trust as well as candid interviews with Black Sticks Anita McLaren and Simon Child, as well as former Men’s Coach Colin Batch and Women’s Assistant Coach Sean Dancer. Thank you to each of the players and coaches who generously gave their time to share their Rio Olympic experiences and stories with our captivated audience.

Thank you also to Sue Shepherd for kindly donating her time and expertise to take photos throughout the evening.

Thank you to all businesses and individuals who kindly donated toward our auction:

Anita McLaren, Simon Child, Colin Batch, Mark Hager, Hockey NZ, Ford, Kauri Bay Boomrock, The Dunes Matarangi Golf Resort, Nespresso, NZ Cricket, Kookaburra, Yamaha, AJ Hackett Bungy NZ, Inflite Charters Ltd, Bike Barn, Les Mills Britomart, John Key, Wardrobe World, Off Road NZ, HBSEEC, Sileni Wine, Art Deco Masonic Hotel, Maina Cafe and Bistro, The Turkington Family, Weta Workshop, Kaye Maxwell’s Golf  Retreat, NZ Football, Dan Carter, Rob Waddell, Co-Sell, 2 Degrees, NumberWorks’nWords, Medstrength Gym, Bendon, Te Rapa mowers and Chainsaws, Sunglass Style, Snow Planet, Just Hockey, Triathlon NZ, My Food Bag, Placemakers Cook Street, Tasty Pot, Auckland Seafood School, Bliss Reflexology, Dry & Tea, Bar Works Hospitality Group, Gull NZ, Auckland Jet Boat Tours, Hallertau, Silverdale Adventure Park, Lake District Adventures, Woodhill Mountain Bike Park, Brittain Wynyard, Auckland Rugby and TVNZ.