The National Provincial Championship, often simply called the NPC, is an annual round-robin rugby union competition in men's domestic New Zealand rugby. First played in 1976, it is the second highest level of competition in New Zealand alongside the Ranfurly Shield. It is organised by New Zealand Rugby (NZR) and since 2021, it has been known as the Bunnings NPC after its headline sponsor. A concurrent women's tournament is also held, the Farah Palmer Cup.
Sport in New Zealand largely reflects the nation's colonial heritage, with some of the most popular sports being rugby union, rugby league, cricket, association football, basketball, horse racing and netball, which are primarily played in Commonwealth countries. New Zealand has enjoyed success in many sports, notably rugby union, rugby league, cricket, America's Cup sailing, world championship and Olympics events, and motorsport.
James Henry Nation is a field hockey player from New Zealand who earned his first cap for the national team, nicknamed The Black Sticks, in 2001 against Malaysia. The midfielder provides support at centre and left half and is also an attacking penalty corner option. He made his test debut in 2001, but did not make the team to the Commonwealth Games a year later. he had over 105 caps for the team and was a very experienced player in the squad at the time.
Simon James Law Child is a New Zealand field hockey player, who earned his first cap for the national team, The Black Sticks, in 2005 against Malaysia.
Umesh Vasan Parag is a former field hockey player from New Zealand, who finished in eighth position with the Men's National Team, nicknamed Black Sticks, at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. He won a silver medal with the team at the hockey tournament of the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester. Parag plays locally for Wellington, and was also a member of the national squad competing at the 2004 Summer Olympics. He was born and raised in Wellington.
New Zealand Indoor Bowls (NZIB) is a form of Indoor bowls that is a highly competitive strategic sport. As its only international fixture is a Trans-Tasman event played under Trans-Tasman rules, it is a sport unique to New Zealand.
Charlotte Harrison is a New Zealand field hockey player. She has competed for the New Zealand women's national field hockey team, including for the team at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics and at the 2006 and 2010 Commonwealth Games, and as a reserve for the team at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Samantha Child is a New Zealand field hockey player. She has competed for the New Zealand women's national field hockey team, including for the team at the 2012, 2016 and 2020 Summer Olympics.
Samantha (Sam) Harrison is a New Zealand field hockey player. She has competed for the New Zealand women's national field hockey team, including for the team at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Stacey Michelsen is a New Zealand field hockey player. She has competed for the New Zealand women's national field hockey team, including for the team at the 2010, 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games and the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics.
Anita McLaren is a New Zealand field hockey player. She competed for the New Zealand women's national field hockey team from 2009 to 2018, including for the team at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Honor Louisa Carter is a field hockey player from New Zealand.
Elizabeth Rose Keddell is a New Zealand field hockey player. She has competed for the New Zealand women's national field hockey team since 2012, including at the 2014 Women's Hockey World Cup and the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Sophie Cocks is a New Zealand field hockey player, and a member of the women's national team, the Black Sticks. She competed for New Zealand at the 2014 Women's Hockey World Cup and the women's hockey tournament at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, winning a bronze medal in the latter event.
Elizabeth Thompson is a New Zealand field hockey player who plays for the national team. She competed in the women's hockey tournament at the 2014 Commonwealth Games where she won a bronze medal.
Arun Peter Panchia is a former New Zealand field hockey player. He earned his first cap for the New Zealand men's national field hockey team in 2009 against Pakistan and retired from international hockey in 2020.
Sir Joseph George Davidson Ward, 3rd Baronet was a New Zealand fencer and fencing administrator who represented his country at the 1950 British Empire Games. He was active in public life in Christchurch from the 1930s until his death, and served as the honorary consul for Belgium in that city for 30 years.
Leon Hayward is an Australian-born New Zealand field hockey player, who plays as a goalkeeper.
Richard Kyle John Joyce is a New Zealand field hockey player who plays as a goalkeeper for Belgian club Racing Club de Bruxelles and the New Zealand national team.
Dane Lett is a New Zealand field hockey player, who plays as a defender.
