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The contribution Merv Huxford has made to hockey on the Hibiscus Coast, and further afield, was acknowledged recently when Metropark (Millwater) Hockey was re-named the Merv Huxford Hockey & Sports Centre.
The name change recognises Huxford’s outstanding service to hockey since the 1970s, particularly his tireless fundraising for 17 years to get the facility at Millwater built.
The decision to re-name the park was made by Hockey Hibiscus Trust (HHT), in conjunction with the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board and Auckland Council.
As a life member of the Hibiscus Dairy Flat Hockey Club, North Harbour Hockey Association and Hockey New Zealand, and a recipient of the Pakistan Trophy for outstanding contribution to the administration of hockey, the naming of the facility sets in place a permanent reminder of Huxford’s contribution to the sport, which also earned him a Queen Service Medal in 2022.
At the formal unveiling of the signage Huxford was well supported by his family and friends.
Ian and Michelle Greenwood hosted the event, with speeches by HHT trustee Colin Chester and North Harbour Hockey Association chair Dave Kosoof, who is also a HHT trustee and was Huxford’s protégé from decades past.
Greenwood said the event was deliberately kept low key due to Huxford’s recent health, but a larger Fun Day was being planned for summer. He said it would be a day featuring a range of sports and fun activities aligned with the five year anniversary of the facility’s opening in March 2019.
“The complex has flourished over the past five years, with more than 1000 players a week using the grounds during the busy winter period,” he said.
The facility has a full sized hockey turf, a hockey 5s and futsal turf, tennis court, basketball court, cricket practice net and various other activities.
Earlier this year, Hockey NZ assigned an international warm-up match between the NZ Blacksticks Women and Japan to the facility, which was seen as a testament to the quality of the facility Huxford had constructed.
Outside of formal games and trainings, neighbouring schools hire the facility to expand their physical education offerings. On Saturday nights, the Coast Community Trust deliver football opportunities to 30 to 40 young Coasties.
The facility also offers family memberships to utilise the facility at their leisure. For more information, contact hockeyhibiscustrust@gmail.com
