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Story: Military and sport

Cricket during wartime, New Plymouth

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Cricket during wartime, New Plymouth

This cricket match at Poverty Flat, New Plymouth, was probably in 1864, a time of war between government forces and Māori in Taranaki. Marsland stockade, built to protect the town from Māori attack, can be seen on the hill to the left. Cricket was a popular sport among the British regiments stationed in New Zealand, as well as among colonial militia, volunteer and Armed Constabulary units. In New Plymouth, British regimental teams played regular matches against the Taranaki Cricket Club.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: E-294-043

by Henry James Warre

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Ian McGibbon, Military and sport – Military and sport overview, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/38712/cricket-during-wartime-new-plymouth (accessed 25 June 2026).

Story by Ian McGibbon, published 3 December 2012.