🏑 Hockey Manawatu – 2026 Key Dates

This document outlines all major competitions, programmes, tournaments, events, and meetings for the 2026 hockey season.

It is designed for players, coaches, managers, officials, volunteers, and our wider community to plan ahead.

Please note: Some dates are subject to confirmation (TBC) and may be adjusted due to weather, entries, or national events. We encourage everyone to regularly check our website and social media channels for updates.

🏆 Seasonal Competitions

🌞 SUMMER HOCKEY

Adult Summer Hockey
- Term 1: 12 February – 19 March 2026
- Term 4: 22 October – 26 November 2026
- Prizegiving: 3 December 2026

Years 1–4 Summer Hockey
- Term 1: 24 February – 31 March 2026
- Term 4: 20 October – 24 November 2026

Years 5–8 Summer Hockey
- Term 1: 25 February – 1 April 2026
- Term 4: 21 October – 25 November 2026

Secondary School Summer Hockey
- Term 1: 26 February – 2 April 2026
- Term 4: 22 October – 26 November 2026

❄️ WINTER HOCKEY

Club Hockey – Division 1 & 2

• Starts: 28 March 2026
  
  
• Finals Day: 22 August 2026
  
  
• No hockey Easter weekend
  
  
• No hockey King’s Birthday weekend
  
  
• Men’s Div 1: Possible Thursday night fixtures (16 & 30 April) – TBC following team consultation
  
  
• 11 July: Alternative venues/timings under review due to National U18 Women’s Tournament (TBC)
• 
  

Club Hockey – Division 3 & 4 (Men)

• Starts: 27 March 2026 (no earlier)
  
  
• Finals Day: 22 August 2026
  
  
• No hockey Easter weekend
  
  
• No hockey King’s Birthday weekend
  
  
• 10 July: Alternative venues/timings under review (TBC)
• 
  

Club Hockey – Division 3 (Women)

• Starts: 29 March 2026 (no earlier)
  
  
• Finals Day: 22 August 2026
  
  
• No hockey Easter weekend
  
  
• No hockey King’s Birthday weekend
  
  
• 5 July: Alternative venues/timings under review (TBC)

Secondary School Winter Competition

• Starts: 12, 13, 14 May 2026
  
  
• Finals: 11, 12, 13 August 2026
  
  
• No hockey: 7 – 16 July (National U18 Women’s Tournament & school holidays)

❄️ WINTER – JUNIOR & INTERMEDIATE

Years 7–8 Intermediate Winter Hockey
- Starts: 1 & 2 May 2026
- Finishes: 7 & 8 August 2026

Tara Pickering Cup – Year 7/8 (11-a-side)
- Fridays: 21 August – 11 September 2026
- Prestigious intermediate competition
- No hockey King’s Birthday weekend
- No hockey: 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18 July

Years 1–6 Junior Winter Hockey
- Sundays: 3 May – 2 August 2026
- No hockey King’s Birthday weekend  
- No hockey: 5, 12, July

🏟 Tournaments & Events @ HMI

• LNI Masters 1-Day Pre-Tournament (TBC): 31 January
  
  
• Pre-Season Club Day (TBC): 21 March
  
  
• Subway Secondary Schools Pre-Season Tournament (TBC): 7 – 9 April
  
  
• NZ Indians Hockey Tournament (King’s Birthday): 30 May – 1 June
  
  
• McAleese / Whitelock Fixtures (U18): 17 May – Hawke’s Bay
  
  
• National U18 Women’s Tournament: 5 – 11 July
  
  
• McAleese / Whitelock Fixtures (NHC): 9 August (HB) | 6 September (Manawatū)
  
  
• Kayla Whitelock Trophy – Year 5/6: Friday 14 August
  
  
• HMI Working Bee: 30 August
  
  
• LNI Boys Founders Cup: 31 August – 4 September
  
  
• Tara Pickering Cup – Year 7/8: Fridays 21 August – 11 September
  
  
• U16 LNI Festival: 5 – 8 October

🚀 Player Development & Representative Opportunities

U11 Development Programme

• EOI Opens: 3 May
  
  
• Registrations Close: 11 September
  
  
• Sessions: 11, 18 October | 1, 8 November
  
  
• Festival Day: 15 November
  
  
• Parents Meeting: 11 October
  
  
• No Hockey: 25 October (Labour Weekend)

U13 Development Programme

• EOI Opens: 1 May
  
  
• Registrations Close: 10 July
  
  
• Stage 1: 9 August – 27 September
  
  
• Stage 2 Tournament: 28 – 30 September (Whanganui)
  
  
• Stage 3: 29 Nov – 13 Dec | 31 Jan – 14 March 2027

U16 National Tournament Programme

• EOI Opens: 30 March
  
  
• Registrations Close: 4 May
  
  
• Trials: 17 & 24 May
  
  
• Tournament: 3 – 7 October (Girls: Christchurch | Boys: Auckland)

U18 Programme

• EOI Opens: 23 January
  
  
• Registrations Close: 16 February
  
  
• Tournament: 5 – 11 July (Women: Manawatū | Men: Tauranga)

NHC Programme

• EOI Opens: 31 January
  
  
• Registrations Close: 29 May
  
  
• Tournament: 13 – 19 September (Wellington)

🏛 Council of Clubs Meetings

• Meeting 1: 2 February – Pavilion
  
  
• Meeting 2: 16 March – Pavilion
  
  
• Meeting 3: 18 May – Pavilion
  
  
• Meeting 4: 3 August – Pavilion
  
  
• Meeting 5: 28 September – Pavilion

🎯 Holiday Programmes

Year 3/4: 15 January | 8 April | 13 July
Year 5/6: 20–21 January | 9–10 April | 14–15 July
Year 7/8: 22–23 January | 14–15 April | 16–17 July

📢 Stay Connected

Please remember to follow Hockey Manawatu on Facebook and Instagram, and regularly check our website for registration links, confirmations, and updates throughout the season.

We look forward to another exciting year of hockey in 2026!