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EXCLUSIVE: NZ Cricket's Major Associations considering action over 'uncomfortable' new project
Alex Chapman • August 7th, 2025 8:55 am
Photo: Alan Lee/Photosport
Proposed changes to the way cricket is run in New Zealand could result in a massive revolt from the Major Associations with threats of action against the national body.
“Project Alignment”, which has been instigated by New Zealand Cricket CEO Scott Weenink, would look into the business of all levels of the game and how it’s run, with an eye to making changes that one source has described as “uncomfortable.”
Full details of the project are unclear, however it’s understood a meeting will be held on Monday for key stakeholders to understand more about the project and give their feedback on it.
Leading stakeholders and sources Sport Nation has spoken to under anonymity insisted they weren’t consulted on any aspects of the planning so far.
As one source described it, “it’s more like a corporate with its branches and offices, rather than a sports body looking after its members”, with a second calling it “Project Misalignment”.
Among the proposed changes that are understood to have been put forward so far are the removal of each Major Association's individual CEO in favour of two “umbrella” general managers, who would sit under Weenink.
Northern Districts are the current holders of the Plunket Shield | Photo: Trev Hill/Photosport
The current domestic cricket model allows Auckland, Northern Districts, Central Districts, Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago to all be independent associations, as well as their respective District Associations, while also still being aligned with NZC.
Another aspect of Project Alignment would focus on “user pays”, with those who play having to fork out more money than they already do as part of fees and equipment purchases.
One source expressed worry that it “could put people off playing an already expensive sport”.
Part of that was a fee for players to use Play HQ software. The $7.50 fee was to be introduced for the 2025/26 summer at the time of registration and applied once per player, per season, at all levels. And while it’s since been put on pause for a year, Sport Nation understands it will now be taken out of the NZC community cricket budget, with NZC looking to impose it for 2026/27.
Other parts of the project are believed to include finances and grounds.
One source said they understood that Project Alignment initially was “going down one view but has since travelled down tracks that weren’t anticipated” and “didn’t include a growth component”, while another felt it was “very New Zealand Cricket focussed” and “doesn't consider community and pathways”.
Otago Sparks with the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield | Photo: Blake Armstrong/Photosport
Another source raised concerns that Project Alignment "neglects” the impact of volunteers at a time when their numbers are declining, which they believe “will mean participation dwindles, which means we aren’t looking after the game.”
The level of concern has led sources to speculate “there could be a rebellion from a few MA’s” should the green light be given, and another saying that Weenink has “made an enemy of the MA’s”.
It’s understood that a delegation of representatives from various MA’s have approached the board about the leadership of New Zealand Cricket, which one source recounted “went down like a cup of cold sick”, with another believing that there’s “a fear for those who hold the purse strings”.
While some sources that Sport Nation’s spoken to have felt encouraged by aspects of Project Alignment - such as that NZC is looking at new opportunities - the overwhelming feedback has been that it comes from as one source put it, “a place of control and efficiency rather than growth and communication”.
Another source voiced concerns of “an obsession of putting everything under a corporate structure so that NZC controls everything” before adding that the changes “won’t result in growth, it’ll become a one show in town situation.”
NZ Cricket possible restructure could result in revolt | Sport Nation Mornings
In reaction to the above story, NZC CEO Scott Weenink has provided the following statement to Sport Nation:
"Like all sports in New Zealand, cricket is facing an uncertain future due to shrinking revenues and increasing costs. This is particularly true in relation to community cricket which is the lifeblood of our game.
"As NZC is forecasting that its financials will come under increasing pressure in the next few years it has, with the support of the Major Associations, commissioned an independent report to consider how the game is best delivered across the country, and to ensure that it is done in the most optimal manner.
“NZC and the Major Associations want to ensure that community, pathway and high-performance cricket continue to thrive into the future. If NZC and the Major Associations were not undertaking this work, they would be acting negligently and likely in breach of their fiduciary duty to their stakeholders."
"This is not about cost cutting, but rather about trying to ensure money is directed into the right parts of the New Zealand cricket system, including community cricket and to support community cricket volunteers. It's also to help ensure NZC and the Major Associations can continue to pay its professional players."
"The group undertaking the review is led by respected international sports agent and former Central Districts Board member, Simon Porter, and is made up representatives from the Major Associations, the District Associations, cricket clubs, and NZC. This group, which has been specifically set up as an independent group (independent of the NZC Board and NZC CEO) that represents the full spectrum of our national cricket network, is yet to come to any formal findings and is still in the information gathering stage.
“It has consulted widely across the game and will continue to consult widely before it finalises any independent report. The final independent report will be shared with NZC, the Major Associations and the District Associations for approval before any recommendations are made."
"There has also been a review of NZC and Major Association financials by Grant Thornton as part of Project Alignment, and this review has recently been shared with the Major Associations for feedback. The aim of the financial review is to help ensure that NZC and the Major Associations are using their funds in an optimal way to support high-performance, pathway and community cricket. Any actions resulting from the Grant Thornton review will require the support and approval of NZC and the Major Associations.
"A separate, but related project, is looking at how NZC and the Major Associations can, together with their broadcast partners, reduce unnecessary costs related to a lack of permanent broadcast infrastructure at some major cricket venues. The aim of this project is to enable NZC and the Major Associations to work with councils, and other ground owners, to reduce broadcast infrastructure costs where possible, and to redirect the saved funds into cricket related spend instead.
"NZC can confirm that it does not envisage replacing the Major Association model and/ or assuming any further "control" over the game here, least of all by having the Major Association executives report into the NZC CEO. The Major Associations are our members, separate and independent entities, best placed to know what works best in their regions. We respect that.”
Tune into Alex Chapman on Sport Nation Mornings, Thursdays and Fridays from 9am.
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