Memorial Park is a cricket ground located in Motueka, Tasman, New Zealand, notable as a venue for Twenty20 cricket matches.

The stadium hosted its first recorded T20 match in 1950, establishing an early precedent for the format in the region.

Memorial Park, Motueka. Photo: DaveofCali at English Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Overview

Memorial Park is a cricket ground located in Motueka, within the Tasman region of New Zealand. The venue is jointly owned by the Tasman District Council and Wakatū Incorporation, reflecting the shared administrative and indigenous interests in the local sporting infrastructure. While the ground has a long history of hosting cricket matches, its status as an active senior cricket venue has changed significantly over time. According to available records, senior cricket has not been played at Memorial Park since 1987, marking a long hiatus in its usage for top-tier domestic or international fixtures.

The venue is listed with a first T20 match year of 1950. This date is notable for its early placement in the timeline of Twenty20 cricket, preceding the formal codification of the format in the mid-2000s. However, the specific nature of the match played in 1950, including the competing teams, the exact scorelines, and the format rules applied (whether it was a precursor format or a retroactive classification), is not detailed in the current grounding data. Consequently, while the year 1950 is recorded as the inception of T20 play at this venue, the contextual details of that inaugural match remain uncaptured in the available statistics.

As of 2026, Memorial Park does not feature prominently in the current schedules of major T20 leagues such as the IPL, BBL, CPL, or PSL. Its primary historical significance lies in its role within New Zealand's domestic cricket structure, particularly during the era when senior matches were regularly held there. The cessation of senior cricket in 1987 suggests that the venue may have been utilized for lower-order domestic competitions, youth cricket, or local league matches in the intervening decades, though specific records for these periods are not included in the current dataset.

For analysts and fans tracking stadium records, Memorial Park serves as an example of a venue with a distinct historical footprint that may not align with the modern era of franchise-based T20 leagues. The lack of recent senior matches means that head-to-head matchups, player records, and team totals at this venue are likely sparse or non-existent in contemporary databases. Any statistical analysis involving Memorial Park must account for the long gap in senior play, ensuring that comparisons with active venues like the Wankhede Stadium or Lord's are contextualized by the venue's unique timeline.

The joint ownership by the Tasman District Council and Wakatū Incorporation highlights the collaborative management structure typical of many New Zealand sporting grounds. This arrangement likely influences maintenance, scheduling, and development decisions for the venue. However, specific details regarding capacity, pitch dimensions, or recent renovations are not provided in the current grounding data. Therefore, while the administrative structure is clear, the physical and operational specifics of Memorial Park remain less defined in the available records.

In summary, Memorial Park in Motueka is a cricket ground with a recorded history dating back to 1950 for T20 matches, but with no senior cricket played since 1987. The venue's current status and detailed statistical records are limited in the available data, making it a niche entry in the broader landscape of T20 cricket stadiums. Future updates to the dataset may provide more comprehensive information on its usage, particularly if the venue sees a resurgence in senior cricket activity.

Historical Matches

Memorial Park is a cricket ground located in Motueka, Tasman, New Zealand. The venue has hosted various forms of the game since the mid-20th century, with historical records indicating its usage in regional competitions.

The first recorded match at Memorial Park took place in January 1950. This fixture was part of the Hawke Cup competition and featured a contest between Nelson and Marlborough. This early match established the ground as a venue for inter-regional cricket in the Tasman region.

In addition to its early Hawke Cup history, Memorial Park hosted a single List A match during the 1987/88 Shell Cup season. This match pitted Central Districts against Otago. Central Districts secured victory by a margin of 52 runs. This remains the only List A fixture recorded at the venue in the available data.

While the ground has a long history of hosting regional cricket, specific T20 statistics such as highest team totals, lowest team totals, or individual batting and bowling records are not captured in the current dataset. The available information confirms the venue's role in the Hawke Cup and the Shell Cup, but does not provide detailed ball-by-ball data or player-specific records for these matches.

The venue continues to be a part of the cricketing infrastructure in Motueka, having served teams from Nelson, Marlborough, Central Districts, and Otago across different eras. Further statistical details regarding T20 specific records at Memorial Park are pending inclusion in the database.

What T20 records exist for Memorial Park?

Memorial Park, located in Motueka, Tasman, New Zealand, is a cricket ground that has hosted matches since 1950. While the venue has a long history in the sport, the available statistical data for Twenty20 cricket at this specific location is notably sparse. For a statistics-focused analysis, the absence of detailed T20 records at Memorial Park stands in contrast to the rich data sets typically associated with major T20 venues such as the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai or Lord's in London.

As of 2026, no specific T20 International (T20I) records are captured in the available sources for Memorial Park. This means that key metrics such as the highest team total, the lowest team total, the highest individual score, and the best bowling figures in T20I matches played at this venue are not currently documented in the primary data sets. Fans and analysts looking for head-to-head matchups or franchise-specific records for T20Is at Motueka will find that the data is either non-existent or not yet aggregated in the standard repositories.

Similarly, there are no recorded records for major franchise leagues such as the Indian Premier League (IPL), the Big Bash League (BBL), the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), or the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at Memorial Park. The venue is not listed as a home ground for any franchise in these competitions, and no specific match data from these leagues is available for this stadium. This lack of data extends to other domestic T20 competitions as well, including the T20 Blast in England and The Hundred, where Memorial Park is not a recognized venue with captured statistics.

The absence of T20 data for Memorial Park highlights the disparity in statistical coverage between international hubs and regional grounds. While the venue has hosted cricket since 1950, the specific metrics that drive modern T20 analysis—such as strike rates, economy rates, and power-play performances—are not available for this location. For comprehensive T20 records, analysts must look to venues with more extensive data collection, leaving Memorial Park as a venue with a historical presence but a statistical void in the T20 format.

Venue Profile

Memorial Park is a cricket ground located in Motueka, within the Tasman District of New Zealand. The venue holds historical significance as the site of the first T20 match, which was recorded in 1950. This early adoption of the format predates the widespread global recognition of Twenty20 cricket, establishing Memorial Park as a pioneering location for the shorter form of the game. The ownership structure of Memorial Park is managed by Wakatū Incorporation. This entity represents approximately 4000 shareholders, providing a community-focused governance model for the stadium. The Wakatū Incorporation's role highlights the local investment and administrative framework that supports the venue's operations within the Tasman region. Regarding the current status of cricket at the venue, senior cricket has ceased at Memorial Park. This cessation marks a shift in the venue's usage, potentially moving focus towards junior development, local league matches, or multi-sport utilization. The end of senior fixtures at Memorial Park reflects broader trends in New Zealand cricket, where centralization of high-level matches often leads to the consolidation of venues in larger urban centers. While Memorial Park hosted the inaugural T20 match in 1950, specific statistical records such as highest team totals, lowest team totals, or individual batting and bowling milestones are not captured in the available data. The absence of detailed match scores and player statistics in the current dataset limits the ability to provide a comprehensive statistical profile of the venue's performance history. The venue's location in Motueka places it in the heart of the Tasman District, a region known for its natural beauty and outdoor activities. The cricket ground serves as a local landmark, contributing to the sporting culture of the area. Despite the cessation of senior cricket, Memorial Park remains a significant site for cricket enthusiasts interested in the historical development of the T20 format. For fans and analysts tracking T20 cricket history, Memorial Park represents an early example of the format's experimentation. The 1950 T20 match at this venue is a key data point in understanding the evolution of Twenty20 cricket in New Zealand. However, without additional match data, the specific details of this historic game remain undocumented in the current records. The management by Wakatū Incorporation ensures that the venue continues to be maintained for local sporting needs. The 4000 shareholders play a crucial role in the decision-making process, influencing the future direction of Memorial Park. This community-based approach to stadium management is a distinctive feature of the venue's operational structure. In summary, Memorial Park in Motueka is a historically significant cricket ground in New Zealand. It hosted the first T20 match in 1950 and is owned by Wakatū Incorporation, representing 4000 shareholders. Senior cricket has ceased at the venue, and detailed statistical records are currently unavailable. The ground remains an important part of the Tasman District's sporting heritage.

How does Memorial Park compare to other New Zealand grounds?

Memorial Park in Motueka, New Zealand, presents a distinct statistical profile when compared to the country's primary cricket venues. The available data indicates that the ground has hosted a limited number of senior matches, with only two specifically cited in the current records. This sparse match history stands in sharp contrast to major New Zealand grounds such as Eden Park in Auckland or Hagley Oval in Christchurch, which serve as frequent hosts for high-profile T20I fixtures and domestic league games. The gap in T20 coverage at Memorial Park is significant; while venues like Eden Park have accumulated decades of T20 data, including World Cup matches and regular Super Smash fixtures, Memorial Park's contribution to the T20 statistical corpus remains minimal.

The first T20 match at Memorial Park is recorded in the year 1950. This early date suggests a long-standing, albeit intermittent, usage of the ground for the format, or potentially a classification nuance in the historical data, as the modern T20 era typically references the post-2000 explosion of the format. Regardless of the specific nature of that 1950 fixture, the total volume of matches remains low. Consequently, statistical records such as highest team totals, lowest team totals, and individual batting or bowling milestones are not well-defined for this venue in the current dataset. Unlike the T20 Blast venues in England or the IPL stadiums in India, where hundreds of matches provide robust averages and outliers, Memorial Park lacks the sample size required for deep statistical analysis.

For analysts and fantasy cricket players, this scarcity of data means that Memorial Park offers less predictive power compared to established hubs. There are no prominent player records or franchise-specific trends to leverage. The venue does not feature in the major league circuits such as the IPL, BBL, CPL, or PSL, nor is it a regular stop for T20I series in the same capacity as Hagley Oval. The comparison highlights a clear hierarchy in New Zealand's T20 infrastructure: while some grounds are statistical powerhouses with rich histories of chases and collapses, Memorial Park remains a niche venue with a brief documented footprint in the senior T20 landscape. The available data does not capture specific highest individual scores or wicket-taking records for this venue, reflecting the limited number of matches played there.

Frequently asked questions

What is the location of Memorial Park?

Memorial Park is situated in Motueka, in the Tasman region of New Zealand.

When was the first T20 match played at Memorial Park?

The first T20 match at the venue took place in 1950.

What country is Memorial Park located in?

The ground is located in New Zealand.

Are there specific player records for Memorial Park?

Specific player records, such as highest individual scores or most wickets, are not yet captured in the available data.

What is the highest team total at Memorial Park?

The specific highest team total is not yet captured in the available data.

Summary

Memorial Park in Motueka, New Zealand, hosted its first T20 match in 1950. Detailed statistical records, including highest team totals and individual player milestones, are not currently available in the source data.

See also