This year will be remembered for the Black Caps magnificent run at the World Cup and Kane Williamson's rich vein of form.
Otago had precious little to celebrate earlier in the year but did make the final of the twenty20 tournament this month. Cricket writer Adrian Seconi looks back at the year.
Our best batsman
Glenn Turner often gets overlooked in the discussion. It seems once Martin Crowe's name comes up there is very little point sifting through any other options.
But lately Kane Williamson's name has been coming up a lot.
We have all known about his prodigious talent since he scored an undefeated century to help the Black Caps salvage a draw against South Africa at the Basin Reserve in 2012.
But his impressive form on the tour of Australia got our friends across the Tasman talking as well. And what a year it has been for Williamson.
He started 2015 with a test average of 41.89 and ends the period with an average of 49.93.
Fifty has traditionally been the measure of greatness but in the past 12 months he has been closer to the other more immortal benchmark of 100.
His undefeated 108 in the second test against Sri Lanka took his year's total to 1172 runs and he has scored those runs at a Bradmanesque 90.15.
He broke two New Zealand records in the process. He overhauled Brendon McCullum's 2014 record total of 1164 runs and he became the first New Zealander to score five test centuries in a calendar year.
The only slight dip Williamson suffered was during the World Cup when he was less than his remarkable self, scoring 234 runs at an average of 32.42 from nine matches.
He did hit a six to seal a dramatic one-wicket win against Australia during a World Cup pool match at Eden Park, though.
World Cup run
The show got under way at Hagley Oval on Valentine's Day with New Zealand romping to a 98-run win against Sri Lanka. Brendon McCullum (65) and Martin Guptill (49) put on 111 for the first wicket, and Corey Anderson thumped 75 to help the Black Caps post 331 for six.
Tim Southee's seven wickets and McCullum's punishing knock of 77 accounted for the English in emphatic style, and the dramatic one-wicket win against Australia a week later confirmed the Black Caps as genuine contenders.
Martin Guptill went ballistic in the quarterfinal, whacking 237 against the West Indies, and Grant Elliott's heroics in the semifinal win against South Africa had everybody believing it was our time.
It was not to be. Mitchell Starc bowled McCullum in the opening over which was a mighty blow and New Zealand limped through to 183.
Australia overhauled the modest target with seven wickets in hand. I remained disappointed for a nano second. It was a marvellous tournament for the Black Caps.
They played a wonderful brand of aggressive cricket which captured the nation's imagination. They can be proud.
Twenty20
Neil Broom's return and the arrival of Warren Barnes helped reverse Otago's fortunes in the twenty20 competition.
The Volts finished last in 2014 and that was with the help of talisman Ryan ten Doeschate and former Australian international Dirk Nannes.
With no overseas players on the roster in 2015, the expectations were the Volts might be middle of the pack at best.
Instead, they made it to the final where they were well beaten by Auckland.
Broom found some impressive form early and his combination with Anaru Kitchen at the top of the order got Otago off to some excellent starts.
In Nathan McCullum, Otago had the best spinner in the competition, who, as well as being miserly, also picked up 13 wickets. And the Otago pace duo of Barnes and Jacob Duffy combined to take 30 wickets.
Barnes was particularly impressive. The rookie has a fabulous action, genuine pace and looks a player with a bright future.
Retirement
In April, Otago opener Aaron Redmond called it quits after 16 seasons - 11 of them spent in Otago colours.
Redmond played 74 first-class games for Otago and scored 4795 runs, including 11 centuries, at an average of 39.30.
While his form could be up and down, at his best he was a delight to watch, and he was a very popular team-mate. His name belongs alongside some of the greats in Otago cricket.
The Duffman
Otago pace bowler Jacob Duffy had a breakthrough season in 2014-15. He was the leading wicket-taker in the Plunket Shield with 45 scalps at an average of 24.06 and was named Otago player of the year.
He also grabbed 18 wickets in the one-day tournament and seemed to have turned the corner after a disappointing start to his first-class career. He even got to spend time in the Black Caps' set-up on the tour of England.
Duffy has enjoyed more success again this summer. He was the joint leading wicket-taker in the twenty20 tournament with 15 wickets at an average of 20.13. He shapes as a key bowler for the Volts in the one-day competition along with new hot shot Warren Barnes.
Questions for 2016
Can Williamson have another year as good as 2015?
Who will replace McCullum at No 5 when he calls stumps?
Will bowling coach Dimitri Mascarenhas be held responsible for Trent Boult's sudden lack of pace?
Is Mitchell Santner really a test all-rounder?
When will New Zealand Cricket finally give up on its twenty20 tournament and ask Sky for its permission to join the Big Bash?
