GreenFields have installed the latest artificial turf pitch in Wellington New Zealand. Used by Wellington Phoenix, including stars of the New Zealand World Cup squad, The All Blacks Rugby Union squad and the local Rugby League team. The new artificial turf pitch will get intensive usage even during the winter months when most grass pitches in Wellington are closed. With an annual average rainfall of over 1250 mm, maintaining grass pitches in good condition year round is an almost impossible task In Wellington. During the winter months, grass pitches can quickly become mud baths. This was one of the key reasons that Wellington City Council chose to install a new GreenFields artificial turf pitch at Te Whaea. Whereas usage of traditional grass pitches is strictly limited, the new artificial turf pitch will be used in excess of 60 hours a week, even in the wettest winter months.

The new GreenFields artificial turf pitch was officially opened by Mayor Kerry Prendergast and All Black legend Andy Leslie on Saturday 24 July, along with 2010 World Cup stars James Bannatyne and Andrew Barron from the New Zealand All Whites team.

Wellington City Council believes the opening of the new GreenFields pitch will be a welcome relief to the sporting community following yet another wet winter. Growing demand and wet winters puts the grass fields under increasing pressure and cancellations lead to frustration for players. The new GreenFields artificial grass pitch can be used in all weather, can cope with high levels of usage and takes some of the pressure off other city sports fields. The pitch will also be made available for international teams to train on during the 2011 Rugby World Cup being staged in New Zealand.

Whilst the pitch construction has not just been designed for the professional players in the rugby and football society it has been built to meet the demanding standards set down by The International Rugby Board (IRB) and Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). Both of these leading governing body accreditations are aimed at the highest level of safety, playability and replication of natural grass facilities but providing all year round availability.

The field has already being widely used by the community, with as many as eight football matches being played on the pitch on a Saturday. Tom Randles, Junior Development Coach of Capital Football said “While the rest of Wellington pitches were out of bounds due to the evils of winter, Te Whaea demonstrated its true worth to the development of football in the Wellington region. It is a wonderful acquisition for our game. Let’s keep pushing for more and more of these all-weather surfaces.”

Robert Mathews, Director of GreenFields Pacific, said, “Our ability to transform an old car park area into an exceptionally high quality sports field capable of hosting international quality matches shows the quality, flexibility and robustness that our artificial turf pitches offer. We are proud to have delivered this multi sport pitch which serves both international codes and the community in an environment that would overwhelm traditional grass pitches.”