East Auckland’s Lloyd Elsmore Park will play host to an exciting international women’s cricket tournament in January, inclusive of the first ever Aotearoa Māori Women’s cricket team.
The home of the Howick Pakuranga Cricket Club (HPCC) will accommodate five East Asia Pacific Nations: Cook Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Vanuatu, as well as Aotearoa Māori for the 2024 Pacific Cup.
It will be the first senior New Zealand Māori cricket team to compete since an Aotearoa Māori men’s team was selected to take part in the Pacifica Cup back in 2001.
The tournament, spanning over five days, strives to improve engagement with Māori and Pasifika.
The Aotearoa Māori side will be coached by former White Ferns captain Maia Lewis (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Māniapoto), who represented the national womens side 88 times across all three formats.
“We are creating a legacy and a pathway for Māori wāhine cricketers for the future,” says Lewis.
Former Black Cap Ross Taylor, who’s a keen advocate for cricket in the Pacific, says the tournament is a chance to continue the growth of cricket interest in the Pasifika community.
“This tournament represents a great opportunity for Pacific cricketers to play against strong opposition, and in turn gain valuable experience.
“I’m excited to see the Pacific nations taking the game head on, learning both on and off-field, and most importantly enjoying themselves.
“I would encourage the local Pacific community to get out and enjoy the action,” says Taylor.
Māori and Pacific cultures will be on full show at the cultural evening on Saturday, January 20 at the University of Auckland – Fale Pasifika.
Matches on the main Lloyd Elsmore pitch will be livestreamed with full commentary, replays, graphics, and more. All matches will be live scored on www.nzc.nz and PlayHQ.
- 2024 Pacific Cup Schedule
Wednesday January 17
Aotearoa Māori v Papua New Guinea, Lloyd Elsmore Park 1, 10.30am
Cook Islands v Samoa, Lloyd Elsmore Park 2, 10.30am
Fiji v Vanuatu, Lloyd Elsmore Park 3, 10.30am
Cook Islands v Fiji, Lloyd Elsmore Park 1, 3pm
Aotearoa Māori v Vanuatu, Lloyd Elsmore Park 2, 3pm
Samoa v Papua New Guinea, Lloyd Elsmore Park 3, 3pm
Thursday January 18
Vanuatu v Samoa, Lloyd Elsmore Park 1, 3pm
Papua New Guinea v Cook Islands, Lloyd Elsmore Park 2, 3pm
Aotearoa Māori v Fiji, Lloyd Elsmore Park 3, 3pm
Friday January 19
Papua New Guinea v Vanuatu, Lloyd Elsmore Park 1, 10.30am
Fiji v Samoa, Lloyd Elsmore Park 2, 10.30am
Aotearoa Māori v Cook Islands, Lloyd Elsmore Park 3, 10.30am
Cook Islands v Vanuatu, Lloyd Elsmore Park 1, 3pm
Samoa v Aotearoa Māori, Lloyd Elsmore Park 2, 3pm
Papua New Guinea v Fiji, Lloyd Elsmore Park 3, 3pm
Sunday January 21
5th v 6th playoff, Lloyd Elsmore Park 2, 10.30am
3rd v 4th playoff, Lloyd Elsmore Park 1, 10.30am
Grand final (1st v 2nd), Eden Park Outer Oval, 3pm
