ALL FOUR NEW ZEALAND OFFICIALS APPOINTED TO WORLD CUP GRAND FINALS

New Zealand officiating has enjoyed a remarkable week at the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup, with all four Kiwi officials at the tournament appointed to a final.

Amber Church took charge of the women’s World Cup final in Amsterdam between the Netherlands and Argentina, before Gareth Greenfield became the first New Zealander to umpire a men’s World Cup final when he took to the turf for Germany’s 1–0 victory over Spain in Wavre.

Greenfield was joined in the men’s final by fellow New Zealanders David and Jackie Tomlinson, appointed as Video Umpire and Timing Judge respectively.

The achievement highlights the strength of New Zealand’s officiating pathway and the quality of officials being developed across the country.

“For me, it’s pretty special,” Greenfield said after the men’s final.

“It’s something you work a long time for. Not many people actually get the privilege of doing a final at a World Cup, so it’s pretty humbling.”

The appointment was an emotional moment for Greenfield, who has been officiating internationally since 2011.

“There’s a few tears,” he said. “It’s something you work hard for to reach the top, so it’s pretty cool.”

Greenfield believes the success is a reflection of the work being done to develop officials in New Zealand.

“I think it shows that when we’re developing umpires at home that we’re preparing them for the pinnacle,” he said.

“To see two umpires and two other officials in a final is pretty special.”

For Amber Church, the women’s final marked another major milestone in an already decorated international career.

The Gisborne umpire took charge of her second World Cup final, four years after also officiating the 2022 final alongside Scotland’s Sarah Wilson. The 2026 final was also Church’s 150th international match as an umpire.

“It’s an incredible honour to be a part of such an important game at the world level, to do my second World Cup final with Sarah Wilson as well,” Church said.

“Like I said, it’s just an absolute honour and a privilege to be a part of such an incredible game.”

Church, who has also officiated at three Olympic Games and the 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medal match, says the success at the World Cup is built on the work done every weekend across New Zealand.

“I think what we do back home is equally important,” she said.

“The umpiring that you do at your local level, so I’m from Poverty Bay, a little small place back home, and the games that you do every weekend back there is really important and it helps to prepare you for this.”

“Our age group tournaments, our National Hockey Championship, our Premier Hockey League, that’s what really builds you for this level.”

The achievement has also provided a powerful reminder of the depth within New Zealand’s wider hockey community.

“I think that it’s absolutely amazing to do what we’ve done from little old New Zealand,” Greenfield said.

“You might argue that sometimes we’re not reaching the finals as teams, but it’s pretty special to see our officials on the world stage.”

Church echoed that sentiment, highlighting the wider community behind the four officials who represented New Zealand at the World Cup.

“While yes, we’re the ones out here umpiring or in the video box or scoring or timing judge for the final, we’re a very small representation of a very big community back home,” she said.

Greenfield also paid tribute to the people who have supported him throughout his journey.

“I think there’s a whole team at home. There’s family, friends, everyone that we turn up on the side of our umpire,” he said.

“We love having them around. It’s really special.”

With all four New Zealand officials appointed to finals at the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup, the achievement represents a significant moment for Kiwi officiating and the pathways that continue to develop officials from local hockey through to the very highest level of the sport.

For Church and Greenfield, the World Cup finals were the pinnacle of years of work. For the next generation of New Zealand officials, they are another example of what is possible from home.