The excitation of surface plasmons in magnetic nano-structures can strongly influence their magneto-optical properties. Here, we use photoemission electron microscopy to map the spatial distribution of the electric near-field on a nano-patterned magnetic surface that supports plasmon polaritons. By using different photon energies and polarization states of the incident light we reveal that the electric near-field is either concentrated in spots forming a hexagonal lattice with the same symmetry as the Ni nano-pattern or in stripes oriented along the $Gamma$-K direction of the lattice and perpendicular to the polarization direction. We show that the polarization-dependent near-field enhancement on the patterned surface is directly correlated to both the excitation of surface plasmon polaritons on the patterned surface as well as the enhancement of the polar magneto-optical Kerr effect.
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