Hockey New Zealand chairman Mike Bignell insists former high performance boss Paul MacKinnon implemented change

He's resigned after three years in the role, with former Blues HP director Tony Hanks to take on the task in an interim capacity.

MacKinnon's departure comes after a spate of exits from the Black Sticks women's programme in recent months, as well as chief executive Ian Francis.

The findings of last year's Dew report pointed to a negative environment, and demanded change.

Bignell points to MacKinnon installing a better national network.