ANZ is celebrating a remarkable 25 years of partnership with New Zealand Cricket this season, and they're taking their community commitment even further. As part of this celebration, ANZ is proud to support the Gear Bag Grant initiative, which is making a big difference in secondary schools across New Zealand.

Thanks to ANZ’s generous contribution, deserving students from schools nationwide have received high-quality gear to help grow and develop their cricket programs. This support is a game-changer, ensuring that schools can nurture young talent and create future stars of the sport.

The initiative offers a powerful way to fuel cricket's growth in the youth market. Auckland Cricket is excited to work closely with Rutherford College, providing continued support as these programs evolve. Here’s to many more years of collaboration and cricket development!

From Gill Bloxham - Director of Sport, Rutherford College"

"Last year, Auckland Cricket introduced a program called “Yeah! Girls” to Rutherford College, which offered an incredible opportunity for girls to participate in a cricket competition, marking their first experience with the sport.

This year, interest in cricket has surged among our girls and new students at our school, and we are excited to announce our entry into the Auckland Secondary Schools 9-a-side cricket competition. This signifies our return to the competition after several years away.

We are immensely grateful for the support from Astrid at Auckland Cricket and Marble from Waitākere Cricket, who have worked closely with our school.

In recognition of our potential, they nominated us to New Zealand Cricket for a new gear bag filled with high-quality cricket equipment.

We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to New Zealand Cricket, ANZ, and Auckland Cricket. The generous gifts presented to our players were met with overwhelming excitement. The surprises continued as Astrid also provided the team with new playing pants, towels, and a variety of other goodies.

This support has not only equipped our team with the essentials but has also reinforced Auckland Cricket’s commitment to promoting female participation in the sport.

As our team prepares for their first game this week, we look forward to seeing them take the field with confidence and pride."

Quote from Astrid van Uden, GM - Community Strategy and Women & Girls:

"ACA is proud to support Rutherford College as they reignite their female school cricket programme. Working with Waitakere Cricket Club, student from Rutherford College participated in NZC’s Yeah! Girls programme in term 4, 2024. This programme delivered skills sessions and modified games afterschool, which has led to the school entering a team in the Auckland College Sport Competition in Term 1, for the first time since 2019.

Thanks to the hard work of Rutherford College and Waitakere Cricket Club, ACA was able to work with NZC and ANZ to provide the school not only with a gear bag, but with playing pants that ACA clubs and schools have been gifted through ANZ’s Culottes to Colours initiative. 

We are excited to see female cricket grow in West Auckland and equally as thrilled to see the partnership blossom between Rutherford College and Waitakere Cricket Club.”

Article added: Tuesday 18 February 2025