Blind cricket is cricket adapted for players with visual impairments — using an audio ball containing ball bearings that rattle as it moves, with adapted rules for different visual classifications. Blind Cricket NZ governs the sport in New Zealand. New Zealand fields a national blind cricket team and has active clubs in Auckland and other centres. This guide covers the key funding sources for blind cricket in New Zealand.
Blind Cricket NZ governs blind cricket:
- B1 (totally blind), B2 (partially sighted), B3 (partially sighted, less severe) classifications
- National competition events
- National team programme
- Regional associations
Contact Blind Cricket NZ and Blind Sport NZ for Sport NZ investment access.
Blind Sport NZ governs sport for people with visual impairments:
- Blind cricket as a core discipline
- Regional blind sports associations fund programmes
Cricket NZ has potential alignment with blind cricket:
- Shared cricket culture and grassroots infrastructure
- Community cricket grants applicable in some contexts
Sport NZ funds blind cricket through the relevant disability pathway:
- Para-sport development investment
- Community participation
RSTs fund community blind cricket.
RSTs fund blind cricket clubs:
- Equipment grants for audio balls and adapted equipment
- Junior development
- Women's blind cricket
Key RSTs:
- Aktive Auckland: Auckland blind cricket community
- Sport Wellington: Wellington blind cricket
- Sport Canterbury: Christchurch visual impairment sport
Gaming trusts fund blind cricket clubs:
- Four Winds Foundation: Disability sport and community organisations
- Grassroots Trust: Community sport and recreation
- Pub Charity: Equipment and community grants
- Lion Foundation: Community sport
Gaming trust applications for blind cricket:
- Audio cricket balls — $50–$150 each (much more expensive than standard)
- Tactile pitch markers
- Sound-based boundary markers
- Protective equipment adapted for VI players
- Junior programme development
Blind cricket uses adapted equipment:
- Audio cricket balls: Ball with rattling ball bearings — $50–$150 each
- Tactile pitch markers: For orientation in the crease
- Boundary markers: Sound or tactile devices
- Protective gear: Standard pads, helmets, gloves
Audio balls are a recurring consumable and the main equipment grant target — they wear out faster than standard balls and cost significantly more.
Blind Low Vision NZ (formerly Blind Foundation):
- Support for blind sport programmes
- Services for people with visual impairment
- Potential partnership for blind cricket development
Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People:
- Disability sport participation support
- Community access for people with visual impairment
Junior development:
- Youth players: Young people with visual impairment in cricket
- Schools for VI: Physical education including adapted cricket
- Junior pathway: Development toward national team
Women's participation:
- Growing nationally and internationally: Women's blind cricket expanding
- Inclusive programmes: Women in blind cricket clubs
Lottery Sport: Community blind cricket clubs with active competition programmes.
Strong applications demonstrate:
- Participant numbers: Players by classification (B1, B2, B3), age, and gender
- Equipment: Audio balls as primary ongoing cost — consumption rate justified
- Visual impairment community: Connection to Blind Sport NZ and VI community
- National team pathway: Connection to Blind Cricket NZ national team
- Junior development: Youth blind cricket pathway
- Community access: Open programme for people with visual impairment
- Organisation governance: Affiliation to Blind Cricket NZ and Blind Sport NZ
Tahua's grants management platform helps blind cricket clubs manage grant applications across Blind Cricket NZ, disability funders, Sport NZ, RSTs, and gaming trusts, tracking equipment, visual impairment inclusion, and participation outcomes.