NZ Herald Headlines | Friday, February 13, 2026.
Hospital parking changes, Valentine's Day, and SailGP returns to Auckland. Video / NZ Herald
A Christchurch retirement village has scored a new name that honours a New Zealand cricket legend.
The Ryman Healthcare Northwood village will be named after Sir Richard Hadlee, who was born in Christchurch in 1951 and is widely regarded as one of the finest fastbowlers and allrounders in cricket history.
Hadlee made his test debut for New Zealand in 1973 and quickly became the spearhead of the national side’s bowling attack.
Over a noteworthy career, he became the first cricketer in the world to take 400 Test wickets, achieving the milestone in 1990.
Sir Richard Hadlee dons his cap after being inducted into the Cricket Hall of Fame in 2009. Photo / Mark Mitchell
He also scored more than 3000 Test runs, including two centuries, cementing his status as an allrounder of rare calibre.
One of his most memorable performances came in the 1985–86 series in Australia, in which he took 33 wickets in three tests, including a remarkable 9-52 in Brisbane, a spell widely considered one of the greatest in the history of the game.
Hadlee was knighted in 1990 for services to cricket and has continued to the sport as a mentor, selector and international ambassador.
Sir Richard Hadlee during the first test against Australia on 21 February 1986 when he joined the elite "300 club". Photo / Paul Estcourt
In 2018, he was diagnosed with stage four colorectal cancer. Secondary cancer was discovered in his liver later that year, leading to the 68-year-old having a third of his bowel removed, along with 15% of his liver, his gall bladder and appendix.
It features 3.6m cricket lanes with 20m run-ups, a 300sq m mezzanine floor with gender-neutral changing rooms and a balcony facing the oval.
The Sir Richard Hadlee Sports Centre in Christchurch. Photo / George Heard
Ryman Healthcare chief executive Naomi James said it was “a privilege for Ryman to name its Northwood village after Sir Richard”.
“Sir Richard is a New Zealand legend whose achievements were known by people around the world, but he has always remained a proud Cantabrian.
“He inspired a generation of budding cricketers, and his dedication, humility, and excellence reflect our Ryman values.
“It is such an honour for us to have his name associated with our Northwood village and to continue his legacy through the community our residents and team are building there.”
