New Zealand's newest sporting franchise and the Auckland-based baseball team competing in the Australian Baseball League will be called the Auckland Tuatara.
The club's official name, logo and colours were unveiled today.
The Tuatara logo features the head of the native New Zealand reptile as well as the teal and royal navy colours of the franchise.
The logo for the new Auckland team in the Australian baseball competition. Photo: Supplied: Auckland Tuatara
Former Major League player Steve Mintz, who played for the San Francisco Giants in 1995 and the Anaheim Angels in 1999, has been appointed club manager.
The creation of the franchise has been a long time coming with discussions first taking place eight years ago.
Late last year Baseball New Zealand was offered a spot in an expanded Australian Baseball League and the decision was made to go for it.
"We have tried to squeeze two years' worth of work into six months," said Baseball New Zealand chief executive Ryan Flynn.
The franchise is privately owned, with Baseball NZ as the major shareholder and a number of investors taking part shares in the organization.
The Auckland Tuatara will play 12 home games at McLeod Park in Auckland later this year, starting with their first home game on November 22nd.
-RNZ
