The fourth edition of the Rangatahi Cricket Festival will take place this week, hosted for the first time at Lloyd Elsmore Park, home of Howick Pakuranga Cricket Club.
The festival will officially open with a pōwhiri today at Lloyd Elsmore Park, before two full days of cricket action unfold on Wednesday and Thursday, bringing together Māori, Pasefika, South Asian and Howick Pakuranga Invitational sides across both boys’ and girls’ competitions.
The festival continues its mission to provide rangatahi with an opportunity to deepen their cultural identity through cricket and showcase their talents on a national stage.
Over the past three years, the Rangatahi Cricket Festival has grown into a highlight on the youth cricket calendar.
The 2026 edition promises to build on that legacy with another outstanding group of rising stars selected.
Among the players named for this year’s festival include a host of age‑group representatives and notable cricketing whānau connections.
Ryan Bond (Ngāi Tahu), son of former Blackcaps fast bowler Shane Bond, features in the Aotearoa Māori Schoolboys side.
The event also welcomes Indie and Jett Mene‑Nash, the children of former New Zealand cricketer Dion Nash and Silver Fern legend Bernice Mene, representing the Pasefika Schoolgirls and Schoolboys teams respectively.
Pasefika Schoolgirls captain Tia Fetumapu (Samoa), vice‑captain Sonnia Vaia (Tonga & Kuki Airani), and Zamera Ikiua (Niue & Kuki Airani) all represented their Major Association U19 squads over the summer and will be players to keep an eye on.
Every member of the Aotearoa Māori Schoolgirls squad has represented a Major Association age‑group side this summer, highlighting the strength and depth of Māori wāhine in the national pathway.
All matches will be live scored on PlayHQ and can also be found at nzc.nz.
Aotearoa Māori Schoolboys
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Jay Benefield - Ngāpuhi
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Tom Bracewell - Ngāti Maniapoto
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Leo Bridgman - Ngāi Tahu
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Ryan Bond - Ngāi Tahu
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Toby Costain - Te Whānau-ā-Apanui
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Charlie Furlong - Ngāti Porou and Ngāi Tahu
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Luca Grace - Ngāti Raukawa
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Johny Gray - Ngāti Porou
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Potiki Hamilton-Morrison - Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngā Rauru
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Jayden Mataira - Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Ātiawa
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Jack Rangiwahia - Ngāti Ruanui and Taranaki
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Kaia Tauwhare - Ngāi Tahu & Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei
Coaches:
Alistair Alcock
Charlotte Dickenson
Aotearoa Māori Schoolgirls
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Madison Brown - Ngāti Maru
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Aria Cameron - Te Arawa/Tūhourangi
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Ineka Cartwright - Ngāi Takoto, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāpuhi
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Chloe Graham - Ngāi Tahu
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Madison Greenaway - Ngāti Tuwharetoa, Ngāti Haua
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Brooke Huddleston - Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa
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Raiha Jeory Reynolds - Ngāti Porou
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Aria Kearney - Ngāti Raukawa
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Christelle McGuire - Ngāpuhi
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Charlotte Morris - Ngāi Tahu
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Amelia Newell - Te Atī Awa
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Olivia Ross - Taranaki
Coaches:
Justine Dunce
Katie Midwood
Pasefika Schoolgirls
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Tia Fetumapu (c) – Samoa
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Sonnia Vaia (vc) - Tonga & Kuki Airani
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Roma Bowers-Fleming - Kuki Airani & Aotearoa
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Ashiya Chand - Fiji
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Mia Hedge - Samoa & American Samoa
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Zamera Ikiua - Niue & Kuki Airani
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Olive Lefaga Lemoe - Samoa
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Indie Mene-Nash - Samoa & Aotearoa
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Hardiya Padda - Samoa
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Nora-Jade Salima - Samoa & American Samoa
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Summersiale Taruia - Niue & Kuki Airani
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Esther Williams - Kuki Airani
Coach: Paul Young
Pasefika Schoolboys
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Kaden Cossill (c) - Niue
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Malcolm Barrow - Fiji
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Finnbar Cavanagh-Briggs - Samoa
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Sol Cousins - Niue
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Arthur Gabriel - Samoa
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Aidan Hennessy - American Samoa
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Oscar Holt - Tonga
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Kurtis Hynam-Nyberg - Samoa & Kuki Airani
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Noah Mead - Samoa & Kuki Airani
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Joshua McNaughton - Samoa & Aotearoa
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Taine Pere Morgan - Samoa & Aotearoa
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Jett Mene-Nash - Samoa & Aotearoa
Coach: Kerry Cousins
South Asian Schoolboys
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Hardik Bahal - Indian
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Ashish Bavihal – Indian
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Jayveer Behgal – Indian
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Sai Chilkoori – Indian
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Hirresh Mauran - Sri Lankan
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Shlok Malhotra - Indian
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Abhi Patel - Indian
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Om Patel - Indian
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Ankur Singh - Indian
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Eknoor Singh Sindu Indian
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Gurashish Singh - Indian
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Swarith Tagarisa - Indian
Coaches:
Kaushalya Gajasinghe
Prabodha Arthavidu
South Asian Schoolgirls
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Nitya Choudhary - Indian
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Arishta Dube - Indian
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Aaliyah Jain – Indian
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Nabeeha Kamran - Pakistani
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Sabaa Kothiwala - Indian
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Deanna Mathew – Indian
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Tanaz Mohammed - Indian
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Aaliyah Patel - Indian
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Aanya Patel – Indian
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Sia Patel - Indian
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Suniska Patel - Indian
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Laasya Pusarla - Indian
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Maiah Rama – Indian
Coaches:
Anjana Patel
Sunny Patel
