Bay of Plenty Cricket Trust is seeking $500,000 in funding to upgrade Bay Oval's permanent facilities ahead of the Black Caps maiden visit to Mount Maunganui this October.

New Zealand Cricket recently released the itinerary for the ANZ International Series with South Africa, with the two sides playing three one-dayers over Labour Day weekend.

Bay of Plenty Cricket Trust general manager Kelvin Jones at the new finished Bay Oval Cricket Pavilion.

Bay Oval will host the first two ODI's on October 21 and October 24 before the final match at Hamilton's Seddon Park on October 27. This is the first time Mount Maunganui will host international cricket.

Bay Cricket Trust general manager Kelvin Jones is delighted with the result in what is a 'massive” boost for the organisation after impressing during the Cricket World Cup qualifiers earlier this year.

'I think to choose an opposition as your first game the South African's are right up there as the top two team in the world; they are really exciting cricketers,” says Kelvin.

'We are racking our brains, but can't think of a bigger sporting event that has happened in Tauranga probably ever in terms of its global significance or reach.”

But the Trust is setting lofty ambitions between now and the October deadline, looking to spend half a million dollars on temporary and permanent infrastructure.

Permanent improvements include better side screens, scoreboards and terraces.

The Trust currently holds a local level of service contract with Tauranga City Council – providing funding just to a club standard. Any further funding is sourced by the Trust.

'Some of it we could get by with temporary infrastructure but it's a bit of attitude of ours that we do it well so it's not a once off and matches come back here.

'We are constantly trying to source funding for these things we don't have large amounts of funding lying around so we have to go back after just fundraising and paying for our pavilion.”

New Zealand Cricket head of cricket Lindsay Crocker says the Bay of Plenty climate is key with the 'holiday” style venue offering a new dimension to NZ Cricket's international portfolio, catering for people and families while on holiday.

'It's a type of ground that suits the holiday mood. It's not a stadium ground so you couldn't compare it to a MCG or Eden Park,” says Lindsay.

'It certainly fills a niche holiday atmosphere and the carnival type feel rather than a spectacular high profile event.”