The “father” of the sport in New Zealand was the Rev. H. Mathias, who was one of the founders of a club at Kaiapoi in the late 1890s. Both Ashburton and Christchurch became interested at that time. By 1900 the sport was established throughout the country. It is now played during the winter by over 12,000 youths and men.
The first representative game was played in 1898 between Canterbury and Wellington and was won by the southerners by three goals to nil. Canterbury was the pioneer province in hockey, but after the turn of the century all the main provinces from Auckland to Invercargill were fielding representative sides. Indeed, by 1903 an inter-Island match was played at Lancaster Park, Christchurch. This resulted in a draw. By 1907 Auckland was the premier province, winning the New Zealand Challenge Shield with seven representative victories in seven weeks.
The New Zealand Hockey Association was formed in 1902 by the Canterbury association and it held its first annual meeting in Christchurch the following year with representatives from Canterbury, Wellington, Nelson, Taranaki, and Manawatu being present. Two months later Auckland, Wairarapa, and Thames joined up. In the same year the association was recognised by the Hockey Association of England, at that time the international controlling authority of the game. There are now 24 associations affiliated with the national body. The total number of players exceeds 12,300, with Auckland and Canterbury, the strongest provinces, having well over 2,000 players each. The Hockey Association has had only seven each.
The premier hockey trophy, the Challenge Shield, has since 1907 been won by Auckland, 21 times, Wellington, nine times, and Canterbury, eight times. Otago's name does not appear on the trophy, but Manawatu has won it four times.
W. Havilah Down, for 35 years secretary-treasurer of the New Zealand Association, was an outstanding personality. Perhaps his greatest contribution to the game was a continuing insistence on the value of visits from the best overseas exponents of the game. He was personally responsible for the tour of this country by the Indian Army team of 1926, the first experience New Zealanders had of some of the world's top players.
New Zealand has sought a visit by an English team since 1908, but this has not yet eventuated. The first international series was played against Australia in 1922 when New Zealand won one game, drew one, and lost five. In 1925 New Zealand fared no better, but in 1934, 1948, 1952, and 1958 the results were overwhelmingly in New Zealand's favour. In 1952 New Zealand won 20 matches and drew two without losing a game. New Zealand teams in Australia in 1923, 1927, 1932, 1937, 1950, and 1954 won 93 games, drew 10 and lost only seven.
The regular exchange of visits with Australia undoubtedly did much to develop hockey in New Zealand, but there can be no doubt that meetings with Indian sides have been primarily responsible for the recent high standard of New Zealand teams. New Zealand's greater proficiency can be measured by the performance at Rome in 1960 when a single goal gave the New Zealand Olympic team victory over Australia and a placing of fifth in international competition. New Zealand was also sixth at the Olympic Games in Melbourne in 1956. Honours were even in the 1926 Indian Army team series – one win, one loss, one draw, but the All-India team in 1935 scored 307 goals with only 21 goals against them in 28 games. All the tests were lost. Three years later the Prince of Manavadar's team won the three tests by the convincing margins of 5–1, 4–0, 3–1. In 1955, however, local hockey had learnt enough to secure a clear-cut win in the second test against Indian Wanderers by four goals to two.
The Royal Pakistan Air Force team briefly visited New Zealand in 1952, but it was not until 1958 that a fully representative team from Pakistan came to this country. This team, which later won the hockey gold medal at the Rome Olympics, was held to a draw (two all) in the second test at Wellington.
The following is the full record of official test matches in New Zealand against Asian teams:
1926 v. Indian Army at
Christchurch, lost, 2 to 5
Auckland, won, 4 to 3
Auckland, drew, 1 all
1935 v. All India at
Christchurch, lost, 2 to 4
Wellington, lost, 2 to 3
Auckland, lost, 1 to 7
1938 v. Prince of Manavadar's team at
Christchurch, lost, 1 to 5
Wellington, lost, 0 to 4
Auckland, lost, 1 to 3
1955 v. Indian Wanderers at
Wellington, lost, 2 to 3
Auckland, won, 4 to 2
Christchurch, lost, 0 to 2
1958 v. Pakistan at
Christchurch, lost, 0 to 3
Wellington, drew, 2 all
Auckland, lost, 0 to 5
1961 v. Indian Wanderers at Auckland, lost, 0 to 2 (first test)
New Zealand first entered a team in the Olympic Games in 1956 at Melbourne. It lost to Germany (4 to 5) and to Pakistan (1 to 5), but won against Belgium (3 to 0) and (3 to 2).
It came sixth in international grading and this ranking endorsed by the 1958 draw with Pakistan, contributed to a recognition of New Zealand's place in international competition and spurred it to greater preparation in the 1960 Olympics. Training schools were held during Easter vacation in each year and plans were prepared to allow for acclimatisation to the high temperatures of Rome. Two matches were played in Singapore on the way – Singapore (lost, 0 to 1), and Malaya (won, 3 to 2). Six practice matches were played in Rome against other Olympic teams. In the Olympic matches the team drew with Holland (1 all), then won on a replay (2 to 1), lost to India (0 to 3), and won from Denmark (4 to 1). In the semi-finals it held Spain until the eighteenth minute of extra time, when Spain scored the only goal of the match to win. After a series of grading matches New Zealand gained fifth placing after beating Germany 1 to 0, and Australia 1 to 0.
The visit of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force team to India after the Second World War was the first by a New Zealand side to any country other than Australia. After the Rome Olympics there was a brief tour of Pakistan, India, and Ceylon to gain further international experience as well as to repay visits to New Zealand. The first-class surfaces and the stiff competition allowed the New Zealand team to excel itself. New Zealand won three games, lost two, and drew two.
by Mervyn Rowland Good, Hon. Secretary, New Zealand Hockey Association, Christchurch.
The New Zealand Challenge Shield was presented by the New Zealand Hockey Association in 1907, and was awarded to Auckland for the best performances in Inter-Provincial Matches in that year. The following is a complete record of the matches played to date.
(Name set in capitals denotes holder of trophy at start of season or any change during the year.)
| 1908 | AUCKLAND v. Taranaki, won 3–1; v. Canterbury, won 2–1; v. Manawatu, won 4–3; v. Nelson, won 3–0; v. Thames, won 5–0; v. Wellington, won 2–0; v. Wanganui, won 9–1. |
| 1909 | AUCKLAND v. Taranaki, won 4–1; lost to WELLINGTON, 2–3; Wellington v. Manawatu, won 3–1. |
| 1910 | WELLINGTON v. Hawke's Bay, won 2–1; v. Horowhenua, won 6–1; v. Wairarapa, won 6–3; v. Canterbury, won 2–1; v. Wanganui, won 11–4; v. Auckland, won 3–1. |
| 1911 | WELLINGTON v. Manawatu, won 6–2; v. Canterbury, won 3–2; v. Hawke's Bay, won 3–2; v. Auckland, drawn 2–2; v. Nelson, won 6–4; v. Otago, won 3–2. |
| 1912 | WELLINGTON v. CANTERBURY, lost 3–4; Canterbury v. Auckland, won 1–0; v. West Coast, won 6–0; v. Hawke's Bay, won 1–0; v. WELLINGTON, lost 1–2. |
| 1913 | WELLINGTON v. Hawke's Bay, won 4–1; v. Southland, won 4–0; v. Otago, won 7–3; v. AUCKLAND, lost 0–1. |
| 1914 | AUCKLAND v. Waikato, won 4–2; v. Wairarapa, won 6–1; v. Canterbury, won 2–1; v. WELLINGTON, lost 2–3. No matches were played during First World War. |
| 1919 | WELLINGTON v. MANAWATU, lost 1–3; Manawatu v. CANTERBURY, lost 1–2; Canterbury v. Hawke's Bay, won 2–1; v. Otago, won 7–2; v. Nelson, drawn 3–3; v. AUCKLAND, lost 0–1. |
| 1920 | AUCKLAND v. Nelson, won 7–1; v. Wanganui, won 6–0; v. Manawatu, won 5–0; v. Hawke's Bay, won 5–0; v. Canterbury, won 1–0; v. Wellington, won 4–2. |
| 1921 | AUCKLAND v. Nelson, won 5–2; v. Waikato, won 5–2; v. Wellington, won 4–0. |
| 1922 | AUCKLAND v. Waikato, drawn 3–3; v. Nelson, drawn 2–2; v. MANAWATU, lost 0–2; Manawatu v. Wellington, won 2–1. |
| 1923 | MANAWATU v. Hawke's Bay, won 3–1; v. Nelson, drawn 2–2; v. CANTERBURY, lost 2–6. |
| 1924 | Tournament held at Christchurch. Won by CANTERBURY. |
| 1925 | Tournament held at Wellington. Won by CANTERBURY. |
| 1926 | CANTERBURY v. Wellington, won 4–0. |
| 1927 | Tournament held at Auckland. Won by AUCKLAND. |
| 1928 | AUCKLAND v. Waikato, won 8–2; v. WELLINGTON, lost 1–2; Wellington v. Poverty Bay, won 4–2. |
| 1929 | WELLINGTON v. CANTERBURY, lost 1–4; Canterbury v. Otago, won 2–1; v. Auckland, won 2–1. |
| 1930 | CANTERBURY v. Otago, drawn 1–1; v. Wellington, drawn 2–2; v. Poverty Bay, won 1–0. |
| 1931 | CANTERBURY v. Buller, won 4–0; v. Waikato, drawn 2–2; v. Otago, won 5–1; v. Nelson, won 3–1; v. AUCKLAND, lost 2–3. |
| 1932 | AUCKLAND v. Waikato, won 3–1; v. Poverty Bay, won 4–1. |
| 1933 | AUCKLAND v. Waikato, won 4–2; v. Poverty Bay, won 6–1; v. Manawatu, won 5–4. |
| 1934 | AUCKLAND v. Waikato, won 7–2; v. Wellington, won 7–3; v. Manawatu, won 7–0. |
| 1935 | AUCKLAND v. Poverty Bay, won 8–1; v. Waikato, won 2–1; v. Wellington, won 3–2. |
| 1936 | AUCKLAND v. Wellington, won 4–2; v. Manawatu, won 3–1; v. Waikato, won 4–2; v. Canterbury, won 4–3. |
| 1937 | AUCKLAND v. Wellington, drawn 1–1; v. Poverty Bay, won 5–4; v. Waikato, won 5–1. |
| 1938 | AUCKLAND v. Waikato, drawn 3–3; v. Poverty Bay, won 9–1; v. Wellington, won 6–2. |
| 1939 | AUCKLAND v. Waikato, won 3–1; v. Wellington, drawn 2–2. |
| 1940–1944 | No matches on account of Second World War. |
| 1945 | AUCKLAND v. CANTERBURY, lost 3–4; Canterbury v. Wellington, drawn 4–4. |
| 1946 | CANTERBURY v. Wellington, won 8–1; v. Otago, won 4–2; v. Manawatu, won 6–1. |
| 1947 | CANTERBURY v. Otago, won 3–2; v. Wellington, won 3–0; v. Poverty Bay, won 4–3; v. Manawatu, won 5–2. |
| 1948 | CANTERBURY v.WELLINGTON, lost 2–3; Wellington v. Otago, won 3–2; v. Poverty Bay, won 2–0; v. MANAWATU, lost 1–3. |
| 1949 | MANAWATU v. Auckland, won 5–1; v. Poverty Bay, won 3–1; v. Canterbury, won 1–0; v. Wellington, drawn 2–2. |
| 1950 | MANAWATU v. Hawke's Bay, drawn 2–2; v. CANTERBURY, lost 0–1; Canterbury v. Auckland, drawn 2–2; v. Wellington, drawn 1–1. |
| 1951 | CANTERBURY v. South Canterbury, won 7–1; v. Otago, won 5–2; v. Hawke's Bay, won 6–3; v. Wellington, drawn 1–1; v. Manawatu, won 6–3; v. Waikato, won 4–1. |
| 1952 | CANTERBURY v. AUCKLAND, lost 2–3; Auckland v. WELLINGTON, lost 2–4; Wellington v. Waikato, won 8–2; v. Poverty Bay, won 5–2. |
| 1953 | WELLINGTON v. Hawke's Bay, won 7–0; v. Manawatu, won 7–1; v. Otago, won 4–1; v. Canterbury, won 4–1; v. AUCKLAND, lost 1–3. |
| 1954 | AUCKLAND v. Wellington, drawn 4–4; v. Manawatu, won 5–2; v. Poverty Bay, won 11–2; v. Canterbury, won 4–1; v. Waikato, won 9–3. |
| 1955 | Shield Tournament at Auckland. Entries: Auckland, Canterbury, Otago, Waikato, Hawke's Bay, and Wairarapa. AUCKLAND won by one point from Canterbury. |
| 1956 | Shield Tournament at Christchurch. Entries: Auckland, Canterbury, Wellington, Otago, Waikato, Hawke's Bay. CANTERBURY defeated Auckland 3–1 in final. |
| 1957 | Shield Tournament at Napier. Entries: Auckland, Central Hawke's Bay, Hawke's Bay, Manawatu, Otago, Canterbury, Poverty Bay, Wanganui, Wellington. CANTERBURY defeated Auckland 4–2 in final. |
| 1958 | Shield Tournament to have been played at Auckland was cancelled as the visits of two overseas teams to New Zealand this season made it difficult to secure sufficient entries. |
| 1959 | CANTERBURY v. Wellington, won 1–0; v. Otago, won 3–1; v. Manawatu, won 3–2; v. Auckland, won 2–1. |
| 1960 | CANTERBURY v. Otago, drawn 1–1; v. Auckland, drawn 0–0; v. Manawatu, won 3–1; v. Wellington, drawn 1–1; v. Wairarapa, won 2–1. |
| 1961 | CANTERBURY v. Otago, won 3–0; v. Manawatu, won 3–0; v. Wellington, drawn 2–2; v. Auckland, drawn 0–0; v. Whangarei, won 7–0. |
| 1962 | CANTERBURY v. Whangarei, won 2–0; v. Manawatu, won 3–0; v. Wellington, won 4–2; v. Wanganui, won 4–0; v. Otago, won 7–1. |
| 1963 | Shield Tournament at Christchurch. Entries: Ashburton, Auckland, Canterbury (2 teams), Hawke's Bay, Otago, Wairarapa, Wanganui, Wellington, and Whangarei. AUCKLAND defeated Whangarei 8–2 in the final. |
| 1964 | Shield Tournament at Wellington. Entries: Auckland, Canterbury, Hawke's Bay, Manawatu, Nelson, Otago, Taranaki, Waikato, Wairarapa, Wanganui, Wellington, and Whangarei. WHANGAREI defeated Canterbury 1–0 in the final, after extra time. |