The opening of the R. A. Vance Stand in 1981 meant that the luncheon area on the ground floor of the old grandstand was no longer used. The Wellington Cricket Umpires Association used the area for their weekly meetings. One of their number, Stanley Cowman, had been accumulating cricketing memorabilia for ten years, and with the assistance of other umpires, laid the material out on trestle tables and magazine stands during the New Zealand v Australia Test in February 1986.
John Oakley, then President of New Zealand Cricket, was so impressed that he determined along with Darren Hannah, that the area should become a permanent museum. Funding was raised for the project and under the direction of museum designer, Gary Couchman, the National Cricket Museum was opened by the Patron of the New Zealand Cricket Council, His Excellency the Governor-General of New Zealand, Sir Paul Reeves G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O., on the 29th November 1987, with Stanley Cowman as the Honorary Curator.
Since then, the museum, the collections and our exhibitions have changed immensely. Today when visiting the museum, you can immerse yourself in our interactive exhibits, test your skills as a batter in our VR, explore the science behind the sport, and relive some of the most unforgettable moments in New Zealand cricket history.
Whether you're a lifelong fan of the game or simply curious about its origins, the New Zealand Cricket Museum has something for everyone. Come and experience the thrill of the game and learn about the incredible players and teams that have made cricket such an important part of New Zealand's cultural heritage.
The New Zealand Cricket Museum is actively looking at building a strong team of volunteer visitor hosts.
If you enjoy meeting people and bringing to life our treasures and stories, and sharing your passion and enthusiasm for the museum, you could become a member of our volunteer team. We need people with excellent communication skills and a genuine desire to engage visitors of all ages from different backgrounds.
We are looking for volunteers who have availability on weekdays in the summer season. Weekday shifts during the summer can vary depending on the game start time. The shifts are never more than 3 and a half hours in length. The museum is based at the Basin Reserve in Wellington and is open every Sunday plus game days during the summer.
There are also opportunities to help with research and collections work if volunteers are interested in helping with projects. Get in touch at [email protected] if you would like to help at the museum while enjoying the summer cricket season!
The New Zealand Cricket Museum is always seeking interesting cricket objects and archives for the collection to display, research and preserve New Zealand’s cricket history.
If you hold an item(s) that you think represents that history and would like to donate it, please get in touch at [email protected] to see if your item(s) meet the collecting criteria.
If approved the donor will sign a gift agreement to transfer ownership of the item(s) to the New Zealand Cricket Museum. Any item(s) sent prior to receiving the signed gift agreement will not be accepted.