Eden Park’s neighbours fight test

Local group pulls stumps on plans for a Sunday night cricket international

Agroup of Eden Park neighbours are front-footing plans to hold New Zealand’s first day-night cricket test at the stadium, asking fellow residents to sign up to keep their “special” Sunday nights free of sporting events.

Auckland is scheduled to host to a day-night test between the Black Caps and England in March next year, but the Eden Park Neighbours’ Association (EPNA) is not keen to play ball.

The group is opposed to events being held at the ground on a Sunday night, with the historic pink-ball test set to run from Thursday, March 22 before wrapping up the following Monday, March 26.

In a newsletter sent to residents the group said: “Sunday night is special — allowing people to rest and prepare for the week ahead, and it is especially crucial for the many young children in the area”. It asks residents to make a submission to Auckland Council against granting resource consent for the test.

Reaction from those who live nearby was mixed, with EPNA president Mark Donnelly telling the Herald there were protections in place to guarantee residents’ rights to peaceful Sundays.

“Sunday night has always been protected for night events. [It’s] always seen as a quiet night of the week for people to get ready for the coming week. It’s a very important night for kids to get sleep at the beginning of the school week.

“We believe that rule needs to be enforced and that Sunday nights need to be protected.”

The day’s play would begin at 2pm and finish at 10pm, which Donnelly said would cause disruptions “very late” on the Sunday night. “That basically means that you’ve got traffic restrictions until 11, you don’t clear the area for an hour or an hour and a half afterwards, so it’s very late.”

Donnelly disputes the notion that putting up with the effects of events comes with the territory of living near

HFor a video report see nzherald.co.nz