Officials Panel Announced for 2025 Premier Hockey League

The officials lineup for the 2025 Premier Hockey League is confirmed and it’s an exciting mix of returning experience and fresh talent. This group will oversee the league across its five-week run, ensuring consistency and quality throughout the competition. 

 Gavin Hawke steps into the role of Competition Director, leading a strengthened team that includes more Technical Officials and umpires than previous years, plus six umpire coaches to support development and performance. 

 Among the group are Paris Olympic Officials Sarah Garnett, Amber Church, David Tomlinson, Rachel Williams and Gareth Greenfield, all returning from last year’s PHL. Alongside them, we’re excited to welcome a number of new Officials who will bring fresh energy and perspective to the league including technical officials Richard Baggs, Kerry Dyson, Tom Laney together with umpires Michael Marychurch, Anton Paulin, Kaitlyn Pennell, Ryan Potter. 

 Hockey NZ Officials Lead Colin French shares his excitement for the calibre of this year’s group: 

“It’s fantastic to see such a strong mix of experience and new faces in this year’s panel. The addition of fresh talent alongside our most experienced international officials is a testament to our officials development pathway in New Zealand.  We are looking forward to an exciting and high-quality PHL supported by our officials team to show case the best of what hockey has to offer in New Zealand.”

2025 Appointments:

Competition Director

• Gavin HAWKE – North Harbour

Technical Officials

• Vicki ALLEN – Northland

• Richard BAGGS – Waikato

• Kerry DYSON – Canterbury

• Tom LANEY – Auckland

• Dave POTTER – Counties-Manukau

• Nic RANKIN – Canterbury

• Andrew SPENCE – Wellington

• Jackie TOMLINSON – Manawatu

• Helen TRAVERS – Tauranga

Umpire Coaches

• Lyn FARRELL – North Harbour

• Sarah GARNETT – Tauranga

• Craig GRIBBLE – Canterbury

• Paul MORRISON – North Harbour

• Devendra PATEL – Wellington

• Mike TRELOAR – Marlborough

Umpires

• Tim BOND – Auckland

• Amber CHURCH – Poverty Bay

• Lee ERSKINE – Hawkes Bay

• Kelly-Anne FOSKIN – North Harbour

• Ben GRANT – South Canterbury

• Gareth GREENFIELD – Canterbury

• Kelly HUDSON – Tauranga

• Michael MARYCHURCH – North Harbour

• Bevan NICHOL – Waikato

• Lani NICHOL – Waikato

• Anton PAULIN – Manawatu

• Kaitlyn PENNELL – Counties-Manukau

• Ryan POTTER – Counties-Manukau

• Nick SAUNDERS – Canterbury

• David TOMLINSON – Manawatu

• Katrina TURNER – Canterbury

• Rachel WILLIAMS – Tauranga