Story: Cricket

Soldiers playing cricket in Taranaki, about 1866 (1st of 2)

Soldiers playing cricket in Taranaki, about 1866

Cricket was introduced to New Zealand by gentlemen arriving from England as settlers, but it received a boost in the North Island by the presence of soldiers during the New Zealand wars. This photograph shows a cricket match at Pukearuhe Armed Constabulary Station in north Taranaki. The players are non-commissioned officers of No. 9 Company, Taranaki Military Settlers. The fieldsman closest to the camera at mid-on is wearing a pistol holster.

Using this item

Puke Ariki - Taranaki Museum & Library
Reference: A64.098

This item must not be copied or reproduced in any print or electronic media without the prior permission of Puke Ariki Museum and Library. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Don Neely, 'Cricket - Early history to 1894', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/38284/soldiers-playing-cricket-in-taranaki-about-1866 (accessed 25 April 2024)

Story by Don Neely, published 5 Sep 2013, updated 1 Apr 2016