The curtain rises on the 2025–26 Hallyburton Johnstone Shield, New Zealand’s premier women’s one-day cricket championship, ushering in its 9th consecutive season under this storied title from 15 November 2025 through 21 February 2026.
As the nation’s top provincial sides, Auckland Hearts, Canterbury Magicians, Central Hinds, Northern Districts, Otago Sparks, and Wellington Blaze, prepare to vie for supremacy in a demanding 50-over format, all eyes gravitate towards defending champions Otago Sparks, whose dramatic triumph in the 2024–25 final set the stage for another electrifying summer.
History:
The Shield’s origin dates back to the 1935–36 season, inspired by the excitement of England’s women’s tour in 1934–35, when Auckland received the original trophy from Hallyburton Johnstone and Wellington won the opening challenge match by 10 wickets in February 1936. For a decade, the competition ran on a challenge basis before transforming into a round-robin in 1946–47, featuring Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago.
Across eight decades, the tournament saw format changes, new team entries (from North Shore in 1965–66, Central Districts in 1979–80), various renaming’s (Hansells Cup, Pub Charities National Tournament, State Insurance Cup, State League, Action Cricket Cup), and a progressive shift from multi-day to one-day matches.
No side has dominated quite like Canterbury, boasting a phenomenal record with 39 titles and 1 shared, punctuated by outright streaks, claiming 20 out of 21 championships between 1978–79 and 1998–99. Auckland (20 titles) and Wellington (18) follow, while Otago’s resurgence, culminating in the last two wins, signals evolving parity.
Format:
The Hallyburton Johnstone Shield now stands as the centerpiece of domestic one-day cricket for women, running parallel to the vibrant T20 Super Smash through New Zealand’s midsummer. Each weekend brings a double-header round where the six provincial teams lock horns in back-to-back encounters, all played in the 50-over format introduced in 1996–97 and continuing ever since.
Teams follow a double round-robin (10 matches each) in a six-team group, with all games in the 50-over format. The top two teams advance to the final.
Points system:
- Win – 4
- Tie / No Result – 2
- Loss – 0
- Bonus Point – 1 (run rate ≥ 1.25× opponents)
Squads:
Otago Sparks
Caitlin Blakely, Olivia Gain, Anika Todd, Anna Browning, Felicity Leydon-Davis, Isy Parry, Poppy Jay Watkins, Chloe Deerness, Emma Black, Louisa Kotkamp, Suzie Bates, Harriett Cuttance
Central Hinds
Aniela Apperley, Cate Pedersen, Emma McLeod, Georgia Atkinson, Kerry-Anne Tomlinson, Anna Gaging, Flora Devonshire, Grace Foreman, Jessica Ogden, Ocean Bartlett, Ashtuti Kumar, Claudia Green
Canterbury Magicians
Abigale Gerken, Izzy Sharp, Jodie Dean, Natalie Cox, Gabby Sullivan, Kate Anderson, Kate Chandler, Darcy Prasad, Abigail Hotton, Melissa Banks, Molly Loe, Sarah Asmussen
Wellington Blaze
Gemma Sims, Natasha Codyre, Rebecca Burns, Hannah Francis, Isla McKenzie, Rachel Bryant, Jessica McFadyen, Sam Mackinder, Jessica Simmons, Nicole Baird, Xara Jetly
Northern Brave
Caitlin Gurrey, Eve Wolland, Marina Lamplough, Yasmeen Kareem, Carol Agafili, Jess Watkin, Skye Bowden, Tash Wakelin, Holly Topp, Kayley Knight, Marama Downes, Nensi Patel
Auckland Hearts
Bella Armstrong, Eve Meachen, Jessica Smith, Ayaan Lambat, Josie Penfold, Prue Catton, Elizabeth Buchanan, Amie Hucker, Anika Tauwhare, Olivia Anderson, Rishika Jaswal, Talia Hurley
Schedule:
| Date | Venue | Match | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Nov 2025 | Whangarei | Northern Brave vs Wellington Blaze | 03:00 AM |
| 14 Nov 2025 | New Plymouth | Central Hinds vs Canterbury Magicians | 03:00 AM |
| 14 Nov 2025 | Dunedin | Otago Sparks vs Auckland Hearts | 03:00 AM |
| 15 Nov 2025 | Whangarei | Northern Brave vs Wellington Blaze | 03:00 AM |
| 15 Nov 2025 | New Plymouth | Central Hinds vs Canterbury Magicians | 03:00 AM |
| 15 Nov 2025 | Dunedin | Otago Sparks vs Auckland Hearts | 03:00 AM |
| 29 Nov 2025 | Whangarei | Northern Brave vs Otago Sparks | 03:00 AM |
| 29 Nov 2025 | Palmerston North | Central Hinds vs Wellington Blaze | 03:00 AM |
| 29 Nov 2025 | Rangiora | Canterbury Magicians vs Auckland Hearts | 03:00 AM |
| 30 Nov 2025 | Whangarei | Northern Brave vs Otago Sparks | 03:00 AM |
| 30 Nov 2025 | Palmerston North | Central Hinds vs Wellington Blaze | 03:00 AM |
| 30 Nov 2025 | Rangiora | Canterbury Magicians vs Auckland Hearts | 03:00 AM |
| 13 Dec 2025 | Auckland | Auckland Hearts vs Northern Brave | 03:00 AM |
| 13 Dec 2025 | Palmerston North | Central Hinds vs Otago Sparks | 03:00 AM |
| 13 Dec 2025 | Rangiora | Canterbury Magicians vs Wellington Blaze | 03:00 AM |
| 14 Dec 2025 | Auckland | Auckland Hearts vs Northern Brave | 03:00 AM |
| 14 Dec 2025 | Palmerston North | Central Hinds vs Otago Sparks | 03:00 AM |
| 14 Dec 2025 | Rangiora | Canterbury Magicians vs Wellington Blaze | 03:00 AM |
| 07 Feb 2026 | Auckland | Auckland Hearts vs Central Hinds | 03:00 AM |
| 07 Feb 2026 | Wellington | Wellington Blaze vs Otago Sparks | 03:00 AM |
| 07 Feb 2026 | Christchurch | Canterbury Magicians vs Northern Brave | 03:00 AM |
| 08 Feb 2026 | Auckland | Auckland Hearts vs Central Hinds | 03:00 AM |
| 08 Feb 2026 | Wellington | Wellington Blaze vs Otago Sparks | 03:00 AM |
| 08 Feb 2026 | Christchurch | Canterbury Magicians vs Northern Brave | 03:00 AM |
| 14 Feb 2026 | Mount Maunganui | Northern Brave vs Central Hinds | 03:00 AM |
| 14 Feb 2026 | Wellington | Wellington Blaze vs Auckland Hearts | 03:00 AM |
| 14 Feb 2026 | Dunedin | Otago Sparks vs Canterbury Magicians | 03:00 AM |
| 15 Feb 2026 | Mount Maunganui | Northern Brave vs Central Hinds | 03:00 AM |
| 15 Feb 2026 | Wellington | Wellington Blaze vs Auckland Hearts | 03:00 AM |
| 15 Feb 2026 | Dunedin | Otago Sparks vs Canterbury Magicians | 03:00 AM |
| 21 Feb 2026 | Wellington | Final (TBD) | 03:00 AM |
Streaming and Broadcasting Details:
All matches of the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield 2025–26 will be live streamed for free on NZC’s official website and the NZC YouTube channel, making every game accessible to fans across the country without any subscription barriers. Spectators are welcome to attend games at venues with free admission, ensuring everyone can catch the action either online or in person throughout the summer.
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