A Territory led model that has the backing of major national and international bodies, the Northern Gateway Initiative (NGI) is aimed at delivering “sustainable sporting growth”, “regional diplomacy”, and “high-performance opportunities” across the Asia-Pacific.

Developed as a “direct response” to the Stingers’ exclusion from Hockey One, the NGI is also designed to build a sustainable model for not just Territory hockey but Territory sports, that supports community and government objectives to “uplift” the NT.

As it stands, the NGI already has backing from the Malaysian Hockey Confederation, Indonesian Hockey Federation, Hockey New Zealand, Hockey WA and also Hockey Australia, who all are committed to “ensuring the Territory plays a leading role in shaping the future of sport across Oceania and Southeast Asia”.

“We’ve spent years being told we’re too small, too remote, too hard to include,” Hockey NT chief executive Jason Butcher said.

“To be treated the same, we have to be different, and the NGI is the result.

“It’s a Territory-built model that connects our strengths with our region and creates a

platform where our athletes and communities don’t have to wait for opportunity — we’re

creating it.

“We’re not waiting for someone to come and save us. For too long we’ve had to rely on

others to decide if we’re included.

“We are leveraging our strengths and opportunities to build support in the areas that will help us grow and make our sport sustainable.”

Hockey Australia chief executive David Pryles said he commended the initiative taken and shown by Hockey NT, and fully supported the Territory’s vision.

“Hockey Australia fully supports the NGI as a key initiative that builds the health and long-term sustainability of hockey in the Northern Territory,” he said.

“The NGI strategically positions the “Territory as a hub for international competition, development, and exchange, while fostering collaboration across Southeast Asia and Oceania.

“It aligns with national priorities around performance, participation, and inclusion, and provides a scalable, community-connected model that benefits both Territory and Australian hockey.

“We commend Hockey NT’s commitment to innovation, inclusion, and regional leadership, and we look forward to continuing our strong support for these initiatives.”

Oceania Hockey Federation’s president Cam Vale echoed Pryles’ comments, also saying he is excited by the plans laid out in the NGI.

“Oceania Hockey and by extension FIH, is excited to play a small part in this to the biggergoals and ambition of Hockey NT and the NGI,” he said.

“Asian Hockey and Oceania Hockey Federation have an MoU to drive engagement between our two regions, and Hockey NT has jumped out quickly to showcase this by its partnerships with Malaysian and Indonesian Hockey and it’s also great to see the collaboration of both HA and HNZ, in this overall partnership.

“The NT is very well regarded in Southeast Asia, with multiple countries citing the success of previous Arafura Games, and we see more opportunities off the back of the NGI launch.”

Despite all the backing from the codes major bodies both internally and externally the NGI has not yet received backing from the NT Government, other than for the first of four years in the MHL.

“This initiative is no longer conceptual, it is active, endorsed and delivering outcomes,” Butcher said.

“We’re focused on building something that reflects the Territory’s potential and its position in

the region.

“The foundations are in place, the partnerships are strong, and the opportunity is clear.

“Our next challenge is to ensure the momentum we’ve created can be fully realised.”

Strategic Agreements

MALAYSIA

– Four-year agreement with the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (2025–28)

– Annual Territory Stingers participation in the Malaysian Hockey League (MHL)

– Darwin to host MHL home games from 2026

– Agreement to include up to two Malaysian junior players annually in each NT state

team (U14 – U21)

– Agreement to develop a joint Hockey One submission

INDONESIA

– Four-year agreement with the Indonesian Hockey Federation (2025-28)

– Annual five-game series in Darwin between the Stingers and Indonesia’s national

Men’s and Women’s teams

– Coach and program development support and exchange

NEW ZEALAND

– New Zealand players to support the Stingers in the MHL

– Blacksticks men to play a 2-game series v a combined Stingers/Malaysian team

(Oceania Cup lead up)

– Collaboration with Hockey New Zealand for athlete and coach exchange

opportunities

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

– MoU with Hockey WA for shared player access, staff development pathways,

resource sharing, and expanded regional delivery across Northern WA

– Strategic alignment to support a future Territory submission to rejoin the Hockey One

League

HOCKEY AUSTRALIA

– Endorsement of the NGI framework and junior state team rebrand under the Territory

Stingers identity

– Support for integration of international athletes into NT programs

– Hosting rights for National junior championships in Darwin (2026-28)

Confirmed Event / Competition Schedule (2025-28)

2025

– Black Sticks vs. Malaysia/Stingers international series (Aug 30, Sept 1)

– Festival of Hockey (five game series): Stingers vs. Indonesia (Sept 18-24)

– Oceania Cup (Sept 4–7)

2026

– Territory Stingers compete in MHL (Jan/Feb)

– First MHL home game in Darwin (Jan/Feb)

– National U18 Men’s and Women’s Championships hosted in Darwin (July)

– Festival of Hockey: Stingers vs. Indonesia (Sept/Oct)

2027

– Territory Stingers compete in MHL (will include home games)

– National U18s

– Indonesia series

2028

– Final year of MHL and Indonesia agreements

– National juniors

– Darwin positioned as a pre-Olympics staging base for Asia-Pacific teams preparing

for Brisbane 2032