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.

Wellington Hockey has announced two upcoming Community / Junior Umpire Courses later in the month, perfect for anyone wanting to start their umpiring journey or gain Hockey New Zealand accreditation. This theory-based session will cover umpiring fundamentals and are open to all officials, including club and school-appointed umpires.

Wellington Hockey is proud to announce that Josh McDougall, Ashley Hanaray, and Selina Akavi have been selected to umpire at the 2025 Vantage National Under 18 Tournament, recognising their dedication and growth as emerging officials on the national stage. Congratulations on this achievement and we wish you all the best for the tournament!

Wellington Hockey joined the Students Officials Day in Porirua and Lower Hutt, supporting students as they explored umpiring through interactive workshops and on-field practice. Organised by College Sport Wellington and Nuku Ora, the events sparked strong engagement and enthusiasm for officiating.

Congratulations to Steven Dyhrberg, Vivienne Dyhrberg, and Nano Tunnicliff on their selection to officiate at the 2025 Trans-Tasman Masters Challenge in Cairns this May.

Lexie Etherington has been appointed to an umpire development programme in Singapore, designed for young women in umpiring, offering opportunities for match officiating, video analysis, and practical learning. This appointment is part of Hockey NZ’s strategy to promote development opportunities between New Zealand, Singapore, and Asia.

Wellington Hockey is launching JUMP (Junior Umpire Mentorship Programme) to support and develop the next generation of umpires through hands-on experience, game-day coaching, and mentorship. This programme is ideal for secondary school students, whether new to umpiring or looking to refine their skills, offering opportunities to grow in a supportive environment.

Wellington Hockey is hosting two key sessions for umpires and officials to kick off the 2025 season, including a Meet & Greet on 10th March and a mandatory Open Grade Pre-season Briefing on 19th March. Umpire registrations are still open on PlayHQ.