Wellington Hockey has completed its Officials Development Project, shaped by strong input from the officiating community to help strengthen and future-proof officiating across the region. As the 2026 season begins, the focus will be on improving support, communication, and development opportunities for officials at all levels.

Wellington Hockey is excited to launch a new Student Umpire Development Programme designed to support students stepping into full-field hockey umpiring for the first time or transitioning from half-field. This 4-week programme will build confidence, develop core skills, and provide practical, supported learning on and off the turf.

Key dates for the 2026 season for officials are now confirmed, outlining pre-season briefings, competition start dates, and development opportunities throughout the year. Further information will be shared once the season approaches.

Local WHA umpire Steven Dyhrberg has been appointed to the World Masters Hockey Officiating Committee for a two-year term from January 2026, alongside a role on the WMH World Cup Organising Committee for Belgium and the Netherlands 2026.

Wellington Hockey is proud to announce the appointment of six Wellington officials to the 2025 National Hockey Championship in Christchurch. Their selection reflects the strength of our umpiring and officiating community, and we wish them every success at the tournament.

Six WHA officials have been selected by Hockey New Zealand to officiate at the upcoming Rankin and Fed Cup Secondary School Tournaments, taking place from 25–30 August in Auckland and Wellington. Their appointments highlight the strength and quality of officiating within our WHA community.

Wellington Hockey recently hosted Community and Junior Badge Umpiring Courses at Maidstone Park and NHS, with 48 participants taking their first steps toward becoming accredited umpires. A JUMP Development Day also saw a great turnout of junior umpires, combining practical and theory sessions led by experienced mentors.

Wellington Hockey Association is hosting a practical and supportive umpire development day for secondary school students that are new to officiating, helping them build confidence with key skills like whistle use, positioning and rules knowledge.

Wellington Hockey is proud to announce that Kieran Wells and Lexie Etherington have been selected to umpire at the prestigious Educare 2025 U21 Matariki Invitational Tournament, offering them valuable experience in a high-performance environment. This appointment reflects their hard work and development throughout the season.