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'We could have handled this better': NZC chair fronts on NZ20, stakeholder tension
Alex Chapman • October 7th, 2026 2:21 pm
Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
New Zealand Cricket Board Chair Diana Puketapu-Lyndon wants to use her final month in the role easing stakeholder tension, while admitting the organisation “could have done a better job” explaining one of its biggest decisions.
NZC’s broken its silence on why it opted for NZ20 as its preferred domestic T20 competition, saying it offers greater long-term benefits for the game than a Big Bash League team.
But Puketapu-Lyndon has also acknowledged NZC should have communicated the decision — and the process behind it — much earlier.
“That's why I'm here today to front up to this, and to take responsibility for not having come out sooner to explain our decision,” Puketapu-Lyndon told Sport Nation Mornings.
“We should have done a better job of that.”
Puketapu-Lyndon says NZ20 was ultimately considered the option which would best strengthen the game at all levels.
“It's an inspirational league to have.” Puketapu-Lyndon said.
“We've seen a lot of the leagues around the world, and to have a league like that in New Zealand with a Kiwi flavour to it, I think ticks a lot a boxes.
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“From a community perspective, we felt that NZ20 was very supportive of the community. There's an opportunity for a capital fund to be created through NZ20 that will inject capital into our major associations and district associations for a community.
“Our job, New Zealand Cricket, is here constitutionally for community cricket in New Zealand, and we felt that the NZ20 option gave community, it gave fans, it gave players the best exposure and the best way that we could strengthen cricket in New Zealand.”
The much-discussed Deloitte report was just one of four commissioned, which had input from 30 to 40 community leaders, along with current and former players, coaches and administrators.
In Your Corner was tasked with two reports — analysing community cricket and high-performance cricket — while Honoco looked at fan insights.
NZC also received presentations from Cricket Australia on the BBL proposal and from NZ20, while workshops were held with Deloitte and In Your Corner.
Diana Puketapu-Lyndon | Photo: Photosport
“There was a lot of information that was put together to bring an extensive and rigorous process to the decision making to come to the position that NZ20 was our preferred option.” Puketapu-Lyndon said.
Feedback from the likes of the Major Associations, District Associations, and the players were also significant factors behind the decision to proceed with NZ20.
Sport Nation understands that getting a team into the BBL also presented more hurdles than NZ20.
The comments by Puketapu-Lyndon and efforts to present reassurances will give some stakeholders comfort who previously have expressed concern.
Many of the fears stem from the way it was previously and continues to be governed, as well as what was allowed to happen under the watch of the current Board.
Sources in various roles who Sport Nation’s spoken to on the condition of anonymity have also expressed dissatisfaction over "the lack of front-facing leadership" from Puketapu-Lyndon and the Board.
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"Stakeholder tension" was another term repeatedly used.
New CEO Geoff Allott has made an effort to address those concerns in the three months since replacing Scott Weenink, travelling around the country and meeting with figures throughout the cricket network.
Puketapu-Lyndon accepted more work is required.
"We've got this great season of Summer of Cricket coming through, starting in two weeks time with India. Our staff at New Zealand Cricket are fully committed to delivering that. The network are excited about it. Fans are excited by it. So, I feel like the game of cricket is in a good state. And we've got strong relationships with the Cricket Players Association and with the Major Associations.
“We're not saying that we're getting everything right. We've got a lot of work to do. We also need to work with the stakeholders that are disgruntled.”
Among those are Sir Richard Hadlee and Lesley Murdoch, who have written letters criticising the organisation and demanding access to a full version of the Deloitte report, which they claim they were promised after taking part in the process.
While confidentiality is standard practice for Deloitte, Puketapu-Lyndon said NZC wants to “ensure that they are brought into this decision-making”.
Allott has since sat down with Sir Richard and offered the same opportunity to Murdoch.
But the stakeholder tension isn’t confined to NZ20 or the Deloitte report. NZC's financial position has also caused concern.
In August, NZC announced “a preliminary deficit of $7.3m for the financial year ending 31 July 2026, a material change from the budget forecast deficit of $1.8m.” Further to that, Scott Weenink was paid out one million dollars when he left as CEO, while it’s understood another member of staff received a substantial payout. Large legal fees also would’ve been attached to their departures. NZC also engaged high-profile lawers during the name, imagine likeness [NIL]' stoush with the players last year. The NZ20/BBL commissioned reports also would’ve come at substantial cost.
Puketapu-Lyndon will stand down at next month's Annual General Meeting after nine years on the Board, leaving her only weeks to address some of those strained relationships.
She wants to ensure she leaves them in a stronger position than they are currently.
“What I'll be doing is making sure between now and when I finish, is making sure that we can carry on the conversations around NZ20, and make sure that the board is strong. We've been talking about succession plan of the board and sort of putting all the things in place, making sure that we've got, a strong Board going forward and strong leadership going forward.
“Geoff Allott’s been brought in as CEO and I think he is doing a brilliant job. He's doing a great job of getting around the country and talking to all of the DAs, all of MA's and many, many others within the cricket network.”
Listen to the full interview below:
