The turf underfoot might be blue rather than green, but Tauranga Hockey's new general manager Mike Kerrisk is relishing the chance to swap codes, passing up rugby to take up the job.

Newly-appointed Tauranga Hockey general manager Mike Kerrisk. Photo by Tracy Hardy.

Tauranga Hockey Association this week appointed the former Tasman Rugby operations manager to the role – and his plan is to build Tauranga Hockey into a leading national association.

Mike replaces Clyde du Toit, who stepped down in June after nearly two years in the job.

Born and bred in Tauranga, Mike has spent the last seven years in Nelson with the rugby union, providing game development and player registrations.

One of the 49-year-old's major achievements is the successful implementation and operational project leadership of Rugby World Cup games emergency re-location from Canterbury to Tasman region.

Taking up his new hockey-managing challenge in Tauranga has seen Matt and wife Leanne pack up and return home from Nelson, a move linked to being closer to immediate family and friends.

'It's good to be back to your roots and it's a good feeling getting back here really.”

Matt believes the starkness in sports will count for little as there are many aspects that can be transferred between both codes in terms of management.

'I'm a sports nut at the best of times. Hockey has always been of interest because I do enjoy where the game has gone in New Zealand.

'It's very fast and quite aggressive and I like what hockey is doing, as far as recognition and development of players at the moment.”

With the association's world-class facilities hosting both the Black Sticks men and women teams in the last two years, there is a buzz among the hockey community for the game to continue progressing nationally.

'It's exciting times for Tauranga Hockey; they do have a real world-class facility and certainly have good visions going forward.

'For me, it's really about getting out there and getting engaged with the community at all levels. It's about utilising their passions and their experience as well as mine to push hockey forward,” says Mike.

Tauranga Hockey Board Association chairman Peter Puchner is delighted with the level of high calibre candidate interest in the general manager position.

'Mike brings to the role a strong track record and background in the sport and recreation sector; and a proven ability to develop and forge new relationships at all levels of sports administration and operations,” says Peter.