The game of indoor bowls began in New Zealand in the Auckland area as a social activity of many of the lodges in that city. As early as 1908 J. Jenkin of Auckland had seen indoor bowls played in London and was impressed by its possibilities. He introduced the game to the Hope of Auckland Rechabite Tent where, on 15 March 1912, the first official match, under modern conditions, was played. The game became popular among the Rechabites who in February 1915 formed the Independent Order of Rechabites Indoor Bowling Association. Its popularity spread to the Foresters (1917), the Druids (1918), the Oddfellows (1924), and the Orange Lodges (1927), and each of these formed indoor bowling associations to control the game within their respective orders. In 1927 the game was taken up by the various returned servicemen's clubs and, in the early 1930s, by many business houses and social clubs. About this time the first district associations were formed.
Since its introduction, the game of indoor bowls has grown in popularity to the extent where it rivals some of the longer established sports. In 1938 there were about 150 indoor bowling clubs catering for a handful of enthusiasts. Eleven years later, when the Federation was formed, there were only 1,854 registered members. By 1962 there were nearly 2,000 clubs, having a total membership of over 66,000. This recent upsurge of public interest is due largely to the formation of the New Zealand Indoor Bowls Federation (Inc.), and the consequent adoption of uniform playing rules.
The New Zealand Indoor Bowls Federation, the controlling body of the sport in New Zealand, was formed in August 1949. It consists of an Executive Committee which meets monthly between April and September of each year. The Executive, which controls the national championships, is elected by and responsible to the annual general meeting of the Federation, which is attended by delegates from each of the 33 district associations. It also coordinates the activities of all indoor bowling clubs in so far as they affect interclub, interdistrict, or national championships or tournaments. The Federation maintains liaison with similar bodies overseas, and arranges international competitions.
It is laid down in the Federation's constitution that all members shall be amateurs and, indeed, there is no provision made for professional competition. The following are the lists of national title winners:
| 1950 (Wellington) | |
| Fours | R. G. P. Caldwell, E. D. Stevens, A. H. Childs, K. R. Smith (skip), Wellington |
| Pairs | J. Walsh, F. G. Gooch (skip), Wellington |
| Singles | H. Hubbard (Wellington) |
| 1951 (Christchurch) | |
| Fours | C. H. G. Ward, G. McDonald, A. E. Curry, E. J. D. Macdonald (skip), Wellington |
| Pairs | J. M. McPadden, R. E. Craig (skip), Wellington |
| Singles | J. McGuinness (Wellington) |
| 1952 (New Plymouth) | |
| Fours | C. H. G. Ward, G. McDonald, A. E. Curry, E. J. D. Macdonald (skip), Wellington |
| Pairs | R. Learmonth, W. Edwards (skip), Waikato |
| Singles | C. E. Minifie (Waikato) |
| 1953 (Hastings) | |
| Fours | Mrs W. Reed, W. Reed, T. Odlum, L. J. Hills (skip), Taranaki |
| Pairs | F. Haines, W. Wearne (skip), Canterbury |
| Singles | O. Jordan (Taranaki) |
| 1954 (Christchurch) | |
| Fours | C. A. Clark, H. W. Robins, G. McDonald, E. J. D. Macdonald (skip), Hutt Valley |
| Pairs | F. F. Smith, E. G. Smith (skip), Canterbury |
| Singles | G. McDonald (Hutt Valley) |
| 1955 (Auckland) | |
| Fours | A. A. Smith, M. T. Dempsey, D. G. Sinclair, H. T. Keys (skip), Hutt Valley |
| Pairs | Mrs E. Petersen, E. Pilgrim, Horowhenua |
| Singles | J. Pirrett, jun. (Auckland) |
| 1956 (Hamilton) | |
| Fours | H. Waswo, C. Claridge, E. Death, S. D. Dick (skip), Taranaki |
| Pairs | G. Bain, A. H. Thomas (skip), Wellington |
| Singles | J. Pirrett, jun. (Auckland) |
| 1957 (Invercargill) | |
| Fours | G. Labrum, R. Haines, F. Haines, C. E. Minifie (skip), Waikato |
| Pairs | Mrs S. Fridd, R. Fridd (skip), Canterbury |
| Singles | A. H. Thomas (Wellington) |
| 1958 (Hastings and Napier) | |
| Fours | H. R. Howard, E. E. Cooper, G. F. Bain, A. H. Thomas (skip), Wellington |
| Pairs | Mrs N. Buckley, L. Dunn (skip), Canterbury |
| Singles | R. J. A. Pinhey (Hutt Valley) |
| 1959 (Rotorua) | |
| Fours | Mrs J. Cantwell, Mrs A. Scott, W. Preston, J. Cantwell (skip), Hawke's Bay |
| Pairs | P. Webby, R. Loader (skip), Waikato |
| Singles | W. Wells (Wellington) |
| 1960 (Lower Hutt) | |
| Fours | K. Howan, D. J. Keast, E. Reader, J. Ewing (skip), Wellington |
| Pairs | E. R. Trask, R. McK. Bethwaite (skip), Wellington |
| Singles | J. W. Woods (Wellington) |
| 1961 (Dunedin) | |
| Fours | Mrs L. Harvey, E. E. Boyd, M. Harvey, E. Blackmore (skip), Southland |
| Pairs | M. Lunt, E. G. F. Smith (skip), Canterbury |
| Singles | G. A. Keith (Mid-Canterbury) |
| 1962 (Auckland) | |
| Fours | Mrs K. Smith, L. Taylor, P. Cearns, S. E. N. Smith (skip), Auckland |
| Pairs | N. Hull, R. Loader (skip), Waikato |
| Singles | T. Burr (Waikato) |
| 1963 (Wanganui) | |
| Fours | Mrs P. King, W. Vette, J. King, C. King (skip), Waikato |
| Pairs | C. J. Thomson, Mrs C. J. Thomson (skip), Waikato |
| Singles | B. McClennan (Waikato) |
| 1964 (Christchurch) | |
| Fours | Mrs N. Nee, W. Trembath, D. R. Fleming, P. Nee (skip), Canterbury |
| Pairs | D. B. Cook, W. H. Cuttance (skip), Canterbury |
| Singles | L. Bellis (Greymouth) |