That was why the new man at the top was talking of consolidation, not radical changes, in Dunedin yesterday.
White was invited to attend his first NZC board meeting, held in the longroom at the University Oval, in preparation for when he replaces Justin Vaughan in the top job.
The former New Zealand and Northern opening batsman has been back in the country for three years, working for a company doing travel and hospitality linked to the Rugby World Cup.
His major roles before that were also in rugby, with the Blues/Auckland and the Hurricanes/Wellington, but cricket has never been forgotten.
"Cricket has been in my blood for as along as I can remember. I'm very comfortable with the sport," White said yesterday.
"I still know most of the people. It's great to see someone like Ross Dykes, who I've known for many years. He's a tremendously experienced guy and has done a great job for Otago cricket."
White has held no major role in cricket administration but has been involved with the players' association since its inception.
He inherits a tricky chair, with the Black Caps battling on the field, huge changes in team management, and a first-class scene struggling to provide a genuine launching pad to international cricket.
"I'm incredibly excited about this role. It's an exciting time for cricket, which has been in a constant period of change with things like broadcast rights and 20-over cricket.
"There's a lot of opportunity, but it's also important we enter into a period of consolidation.
"People have been asking me what my major role will be. First and foremost, I want to carry on the good work done by Justin to ensure financial stability and sustainability.
"But we also need to look at our high performance programme. We have to expand that, to ensure we have depth and a good first-class competition. We want to be able to pick players who, when they make the step up to the Black Caps or the White Ferns, can perform immediately."
There has been speculation the six New Zealand associations will be opened up to private investors, and White confirmed that was a concept being investigated.
White played more than 100 first-class games over 15 years, and played two tests and three one-day internationals on the tour of Pakistan in 1990.
He and his organisation will, rightly or wrongly, be judged by the performances of the Black Caps, who get an opportunity over the next five days to make amends after a poor performance in the first test against Australia.
"I think we've got a talented bunch of cricketers," White said.
"As John Wright said, they're all accountable, and they were incredibly disappointed with how they performed in the first test.
"We've got talent. And people have been working very hard with the players. The big challenge for the guys is to have consistent high-quality performances."
White recalls playing one game at the old University Oval in the 1980s, but was stunned at the changes in the redeveloped ground.
"It's fantastic. It looks amazing, just a stunning cricket ground.
"Most of my memories of Otago are playing at Molyneux Park. And I loved the 'Brook as well."
