Although billiards have been played for many hundreds of years, the game in its present form dates from the early part of the nineteenth century. It was introduced into New Zealand in the late 1880s and became popular in the decade following. The first New Zealand firms specialising in the manufacture of billiard tables were founded in Wellington (1892) and Auckland (1893). Although the New Zealand Amateur Billiards Championships have been held since 1908, there was no national organisation until about 1927 when the New Zealand Billiards Association was formed in Christchurch. In the early 1930s this was replaced by the New Zealand Billiards Association and Control Council which now controls amateur and professional billiards and snooker in New Zealand. The following eight provincial associations are affiliated: Wellington, Canterbury, Auckland, Southland, Otago, Northland, North Otago, and South Auckland – while the NZBA & CC is, in turn, an affiliate of the British Billiards Association and Control Council.
The first World Amateur Billiards Championship to be played in New Zealand was held at Pukekohe from 30 November to 16 December 1964, under the auspices of the South Auckland Amateur Billiards Association. Ten players competed, the contest being won by W. Jones (India). The highest placed New Zealander was H. Robinson, who came seventh in the tournament.
Prior to 1963 the New Zealand Billiards and Snooker Championships were restricted to two representatives from each affiliated association. In 1963 the system of sections and post section play was introduced and 32 players were accommodated in each event. In 1964 twenty competitors took part in the national championships and the winner and runner-up represented New Zealand at the World Amateur Billiards Championship.
The following are the New Zealand amateur billiards and snooker champions since the inception of their respective competitions.
| New Zealand Billiards Champions | |
| 1908 | J. Ryan |
| 1909 | No contest |
| 1910 | F. Lovelock |
| 1911 | F. Lovelock |
| 1912 | H. Valentine |
| 1913 | H. Valentine |
| 1914 | N. Lynch |
| 1915 | W. E. Warren |
| 1916 | H. Siedeberg |
| 1917 | H. Siedeberg |
| 1918 | W. E. Warren |
| 1919 | H. Siedeberg |
| 1920 | W. E. Warren |
| 1921 | H. Siedeberg |
| 1922 | E. V. Roberts |
| 1923 | E. V.Roberts |
| 1924 | R. Fredatovich |
| 1925 | C. Mason |
| 1926 | E. V. Roberts |
| 1927 | E. V. Roberts |
| 1928 | A. Bowie |
| 1929 | L. Stout |
| 1930 | W. E. Hackett |
| 1931 | A. Duncan |
| 1932 | C. Mason |
| 1933 | A. Albertson |
| 1934 | H. McLean |
| 1935 | L. Holdsworth |
| 1936 | S. Moses |
| 1937 | S. Moses |
| 1938 | L. Holdsworth |
| 1939 | R. Carrick |
| 1940 | S. Moses |
| 1941 | R. Carrick |
| 1942 | R. Carrick |
| 1943 | A. Albertson |
| 1944 | S. Moses |
| 1945 | J. Shepherd |
| 1946 | R. Carrick |
| 1947 | C. Peek |
| 1948 | R. Carrick |
| 1949 | R. Carrick |
| 1950 | R. Carrick |
| 1951 | L. Stout |
| 1952 | L. Stout |
| 1953 | A. Twohill |
| 1954 | A. Twohill |
| 1955 | A.Twohill |
| 1956 | A. Twohill |
| 1957 | A. Twohill |
| 1958 | A. Albertson |
| 1959 | A. Twohill |
| 1960 | W. Harcourt |
| 1961 | A. Albertson |
| 1962 | W. Harcourt |
| 1963 | H.C. Robinson |
| 1964 | T. Yesberg |
| New Zealand Snooker Champions | |
| 1945 | S. Moses |
| 1946 | J. Munro |
| 1947 | W. Thompson |
| 1948 | L. Stout |
| 1949 | L. Stout |
| 1950 | L. Stout |
| 1951 | N. Lewis |
| 1952 | L. Stout |
| 1953 | L. Stout |
| 1954 | R. Franks |
| 1955 | L. Stout |
| 1956 | L. Stout |
| 1957 | W. Harcourt |
| 1958 | W. Harcourt |
| 1959 | W. Thomas |
| 1960 | T. Yesberg |
| 1961 | R. Franks |
| 1962 | K. Murphy |
| 1963 | W. Harcourt |
| 1964 | T. Yesberg |
On its professional side, New Zealand billiards have been long dominated by Clark McConachy, who has been the New Zealand Professional Billiards Champion since 1915 and World Professional Billiards Champion since 1951. He was runner-up to Joe Davis in the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Championships in 1932 and to Horace Lindrum in the World Professional Snooker Championships in 1952. In 1964 McConachy was awarded the M.B.E. for his services to billiards. He is one of the two official examiners for the British Association and Control Council.
Snooker, which combines elements of pool, black pool, and pyramids, has gradually superseded these games and now rivals billiards in popularity. The game did not achieve any real importance overseas until after the First World War, and the New Zealand Snooker Championships date only from 1945.