Harry Barker Reserve held its first
first-class match when
Northern Districts played
Otago in the 1974–75
Plunket Shield. As of April 2025 the ground has held 28 first-class matches, the most recent in January 2014. The first
List A match there was in the 1981–82
Shell Cup when Northern Districts played
Wellington. As of April 2025 the ground has held 11 List A matches, the most recent in January 2015. A three-day match between a New Zealand XI and the
touring Zimbabwean team was played at the ground in January 2012. As well as the main cricket ground there are several other pitches spread out across the reserve. The
Poverty Bay Cricket Association often holds an entire senior three-match round of club cricket on the reserve simultaneously. It is the headquarters and main home ground of the Association. ==Hockey==