Trans-Tasman Masters hockey returns to Australia with sunny Cairns announced as host

The Masters Trans-Tasman Challenge is set to return to Australia for the first time in six years , with hundreds of hockey's best Australian and New Zealand athletes aged 35+ - 75+ preparing to descend on Cairns in 2025.

The event, which will run from 13 - 17 May 2025, will be the first time in the competition’s history that the far north Queensland city of Cairns will host the event. The announcement was made today by Hockey Australia and the Hockey Australia Masters Committee.  34 teams from across Australia and New Zealand will compete across five days of intense competition.

Cairns Mayor Amy Eden expressed her excitement, saying, "We are thrilled to welcome the Masters Trans-Tasman Challenge to Cairns for the first time in its history. 

“This event is more than just a competition; it's a celebration of community, camaraderie, and the enduring spirit of sport. 

“Cairns is a city that embraces the power of connection, and we look forward to sharing our beautiful region with athletes and supporters from across Australia and New Zealand. 

“I have no doubt that this event will leave a lasting legacy in our community and further strengthen the ties between our nations."

The Australian Masters teams will be motivated to defend their titles from the 2023 event, which took place in Christchurch, New Zealand. Australia won every division except for the 50+ and 55+ Women last year.  New Zealand are expected to come to Cairns with very strong teams off the back of the 2024 Masters Hockey World Cups in October and November this year. 

Australia is proud to continue the rich heritage of competition between both countries, with the Trans-Tasman Challenge’s history extending back to May 2000, when it started as a biennial three-Test series for women’s teams in 35+, 40+ and 45+ age groups. In 2002, men’s teams were added, doubling the size of this successful initiative which was the brainchild of Jeanette Slade OAM and Caroline Wood.

The event has grown from six women’s teams, with three from each country to 34 men’s and women’s teams, across age groups ranging from 35+ to 70+ and an additional 75+ men’s competition. 

The Trans-Tasman Challenge is a prime opportunity for high-quality international competition, but it also serves as a development opportunity for technical officials, umpires, statisticians and all support personnel to prepare for the next Masters’ World Cup events.

The most enduring facet of Masters hockey is the community, providing hockey athletes with the opportunity to catch up with old friends and rivals and enjoy the camaraderie that being a part of a worldwide Masters hockey community brings.

Back on Australian soil for the first time since a two-year interruption due to COVID-19, the sunny region of Cairns is an ideal location for the event. Temperatures in May are mild, with highs of 27 combined with low humidity and rainfall.  

The gateway to Queensland’s tropical north is easily accessible with regular domestic and international flights within Australia and Auckland. There are plenty of natural wonders and activities to explore in and around the city on ‘rest days’.