Cricket fans can again look forward to Ford Trophy and Hallyburton Johnstone Shield matches in every region of Aotearoa during the 2026-27 summer.
Fourteen grounds, spanning from Whangarei’s Cobham Oval to Invercargill’s Queen’s Park, will play host to matches across the men’s and women’s schedules announced today, with both one-day competitions concluding on Finals Weekend at Wellington’s Cello Basin Reserve from 19-21 February.
Auckland’s Colin Maiden Park is set to return to the domestic venues rota for the first time since 2023 following the ground’s extensive redevelopment, with the intention to host Auckland Aces and Hearts home fixtures from early 2027.
In keeping with the previous two domestic seasons, the men’s Ford Trophy competition will kick-off the summer with defending champions Central Stags hosting Northern Districts Men at Nelson’s Saxton Oval on October 28.
Northern Districts Women, who claimed their historic maiden domestic crown last summer, begin their Hallyburton Johnstone Shield title defence with a trip to Palmerston North’s Fitzherbert Park to face the Central Hinds on November 14.
Former WHITE FERNS skipper Amy Satterthwaite begins her reign as the new Canterbury Magicians head coach with a Southern showdown against the Otago Sparks at Hagley Oval, while the Hearts host the Wellington Blaze in Auckland.
Last year’s beaten finalists Canterbury travel to Auckland to take on the Aces at Kennards Hire Community Oval, while the Wellington Firebirds host the Otago Volts at the Cello Basin Reserve to round-out the opening Ford Trophy fixtures.
The 10-round men’s one-day competition will maintain the same structure as in previous seasons, with the first five rounds running across October and November, before pausing for the Plunket Shield and Super Smash, and then restarting across February ahead of the Finals Weekend in the Capital.
With New Zealand’s major cricket grounds all hosting matches across the season, the domestic competitions also provide a platform to showcase some of New Zealand’s more unique regional cricket grounds, including New Plymouth's Pukekura Park, Nelson’s Saxton Oval and the picturesque Sir John Davies Oval in Queenstown.
NZC Chief Cricket Operations Officer Catherine Campbell said the schedules put New Zealand’s best domestic talent on the doorstep of fans across the country.
“No matter where you live in Aotearoa, there's a good chance a Ford Trophy or Hallyburton Johnstone Shield match is coming to a ground near you this summer," said Campbell.
“This year’s schedule once again gives fans the chance to watch our best domestic talent up close at some fantastic regional venues.
“The combined Finals Weekend concept continues to be a success and it’s exciting to be bringing it back to the Cello Basin Reserve this summer.
“This schedule also dovetails nicely with our international summer, meaning there's top-class cricket on offer right through the peak summer cricket months.”
All Ford Trophy and Hallyburton Johnstone Shield matches will be live scored at nzc.nz and live streamed on the NZC YouTube channel.
The Plunket Shield schedule will be announced on Tuesday 1st September, followed by the Super Smash schedule to be revealed in late September.
2026/27 Ford Trophy schedule | 2026/27 Hallyburton Johnstone Shield schedule
At a glance | New Zealand domestic cricket grounds – 2026/27 Ford Trophy & Hallyburton Johnstone Shield
Northern Districts
Cobham Oval, Whangarei
Bay Oval, Tauranga
Seddon Park, Hamilton
Auckland
Kennards Hire Community Oval
Colin Maiden Park
Central Districts
McLean Park, NapierPukekura Park, New Plymouth
Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North
Saxton Oval, Nelson
Wellington
Cello Basin Reserve
Canterbury
Hagley Oval, Christchurch
Otago
University of Otago Oval, Dunedin
Sir John Davies Oval, Queenstown
Queen’s Park, Invercargill