Women's hockey has been played in most parts of New Zealand since the beginning of the century. Nelson records matches played in 1897, but the date of the formation of the first club there is not known. By 1900 the game was gaining interest in Auckland and Dunedin, and when the New Zealand Women's Hockey Association was formed in 1908 it was a popular sport in several districts. In that year 10 associations, which are still in existence, affiliated with the newly formed national body. Today there are 32 affiliated associations with an adult membership of about 8,000 players; further, there are at least 5,000 secondary- and several hundred primary-school girl players. These figures indicate the growing popularity of the sport.
The organisation and control of women's hockey in any district is in the hands of the local association, but the national body is the controlling authority and court of appeal for any problems that may arise between associations. Also affiliated to the New Zealand association is a strong umpires' association, though most of the district associations also have their own umpires' association. The work of the main body has achieved a uniform and high standard of umpiring throughout the country, with a resulting benefit to the game.
Apart from the war years, national tournaments have been held since 1908 and, since 1955, several secondary-school girls' tournaments have also been held. Interprovincial games are played by neighbouring associations in various grades and seven-a-side tournaments for interclub teams are very popular in many centres.
The Izard Cup was the first trophy competed for at the national tournament, but in 1924 this trophy was withdrawn and the K Cup became the championship trophy. Runners up in the tournament receive the Floyd Shield, which was first presented in 1913. In 1928 the Holden Cup was presented as a trophy for the winning team from among the runners-up in the section play. By 1948 the number of teams competing and the variation in the standard of hockey made it necessary to grade the tournament into major and minor sections. The Mills Cup, presented in 1908, is now the trophy for the winners in the minor section. In 1952 the Holden Cup was transferred to this section as the trophy for the runners-up.
During the tournament teams are selected from both sections for a North versus South Island match, which is played at the end of the tournament.
The first visit to New Zealand by an overseas team was in 1914 when an All England side toured the country, losing only one match – against Poverty Bay after the visitors had had a rough sea trip from Napier to Gisborne. The first overseas trip by a New Zealand team was to Australia in 1935. New Zealand won 13 out of 14 games, including the only test. A Fijian team toured New Zealand in 1936, but the visit resulted in a heavy financial loss both to the national and to local associations. In spite of these losses, the association was not disheartened and in 1938 was host to another English women's team. The visitors were not defeated throughout their tour, which included three tests.
The New Zealand Women's Hockey Association became affiliated to the International Federation of Women's Hockey Associations in 1939. In that year the third conference and tournament for member countries was to have been held in England, but the war intervened. For the next five years women's hockey was just kept alive in this country. In 1945 the national tournament was reinstated and in 1948 an Australian team arrived to take part in the tournament and win the only test by two goals to one. In 1953 the International Federation's tournament was held in England and the New Zealand team returned with 20 games played, 16 won and four lost. A Fijian team came to New Zealand in 1955 and played against local associations, mainly the minor associations, but did not play a test.
The next International Federation tournament was held in Australia in 1956, and the reputation of New Zealand women's hockey was further enhanced when, in 22 matches, the goals were 185 for and 14 against. At the end of the tournament teams from Holland, Scotland, and the United States came to this country and played local associations. The 1959 tournament was in Amsterdam. Before taking part the New Zealand team toured Scotland and Ireland and played South Wales at Newport and Belgium at Brussels. In 14 games they had nine wins, one draw, and four losses. During September 1963 the New Zealand representative team attended the International Tournament in Baltimore at which they were the only unbeaten team. This is not a championship tournament, but the New Zealand team defeated England, which is considered the premier country for women's hockey.
As 1960 was a jubilee year for women's hockey in Australia, New Zealand was asked to take part in the inter-State tournament. Before the tournament began, the team played matches in Victoria and New South Wales, winning them all. This record was maintained in the tournament till Western Australia held the visitors to a 2–2 draw. The only test was drawn.
Winners of national tournaments since 1908 are:
| 1908 | Hawke's Bay |
| 1909 | Hawke's Bay |
| 1910 | Hawke's Bay |
| 1911 | Nelson |
| 1912 | Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa |
| 1913 | Wairarapa |
| 1914 | No tournament |
| 1915 | Poverty Bay |
| 1916 | No tournament |
| 1917 | No tournament |
| 1918 | Poverty Bay |
| 1919 | Canterbury |
| 1920 | Poverty Bay |
| 1921 | Poverty Bay and Wellington |
| 1922 | Poverty Bay |
| 1923 | Southland |
| 1924 | Southland |
| 1925 | Southland |
| 1926 | Ruahine and Southland |
| 1927 | Ruahine |
| 1928 | Canterbury |
| 1929 | Southland |
| 1930 | Wellington and Eastern Southland |
| 1931 | Eastern Southland |
| 1932 | Eastern Southland |
| 1933 | Otago and Canterbury |
| 1934 | Eastern Southland |
| 1935 | Eastern Southland |
| 1936 | Eastern Southland |
| 1937 | Eastern Southland |
| 1938 | Eastern Southland |
| 1939 | Canterbury |
| 1940 | Canterbury |
| 1945 | Otago |
| 1946 | Otago and Auckland |
| 1947 | Wellington |
| 1948 | Canterbury |
| 1949 | Eastern Southland |
| 1950 | Canterbury A |
| 1951 | Otago |
| 1952 | Eastern Southland |
| 1953 | Auckland Town |
| 1954 | Eastern Southland |
| 1955 | Auckland Town |
| 1956 | Eastern Southland and Otago |
| 1957 | Maniototo |
| 1958 | Wellington |
| 1959 | Wellington and Canterbury |
| 1960 | Maniototo |
| 1961 | Maniototo and Auckland |
| 1962 | Otago |
| 1963 | Auckland |
| 1964 | Maniototo |
| 1965 | Canterbury |