The history of tennis in New Zealand dates back to the 1870s, the decade when the development of modern tennis began. The first New Zealand Tennis Championships were played at Farndon Park in Clive, Hawke's Bay, in December 1885. New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association was formed at a meeting held in Hastings in December 1886. Shortly after its inauguration, the New Zealand Association became affiliated with the Lawn Tennis Association. In 1904 New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association amalgamated with six Australian state tennis associations to form the Lawn Tennis Association of Australasia. New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association played a significant role in the origin of the Australian Open. Lawn Tennis Association of Australasia created the tournament called The Australasian Mens Championships in 1905 and was first played in Warehouseman's Cricket Ground and it was decided that championships would be hosted by both Australian as well as New Zealand venues. New Zealand hosted the championship twice— Christchurch and Hastings. The geographical remoteness of both the countries made it difficult for foreign players to enter the tournament. In Christchurch in 1906, of a small field of 10 players, only two Australians attended, and the tournament was won by a New Zealander. Lawn Tennis Association of Australasia was one of the twelve national associations of tennis which established the International Lawn Tennis Federation in a conference in Paris, France on 1 March 1913. From 1905 until 1919, New Zealand and Australian tennis players participated in the International Lawn Tennis Challenge under the alias of "Team Australasia", the team claimed a title six times, however, there were attempts to severance this trans-Tasman partnership, in order to allow New Zealand players to represent their nation on international tennis events. In 1922, New Zealand dropped out from this partnership and on 16 March 1923 New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association was granted affiliation to the International Lawn Tennis Association and thereby became eligible to enter the International Lawn Tennis Challenge in its own right. New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association filed its first challenge with United States Lawn Tennis Association for 1924 International Lawn Tennis Challenge. Tennis New Zealand was the founding member of Oceania Tennis Federation in 1993.
Structure
Governing staff
Constitution
The constitution of the organisation was adopted on 12 August 2006 in the Special General Meeting in which the main purpose of the organisation is defined as to promote, develop, enhance and protect the sport of tennis mainly as an amateur sport for the recreation and entertainment of the general public in New Zealand.
Affiliates
Regional centres
Tennis NZ consists of six regional centres which are affiliated to the national body. They control their own activities subject to any requirements which may, from time to time, be legislated for by the national body.
Tennis Coaches NZ - New Zealand's association for professional tennis coaches.
International Lawn Tennis Club of NZ - member of Council of International Lawn Tennis Clubs, established in 1956 and has around 130 members.
NZ Wheelchair Tennis - Hamilton based organisation affiliated with International Wheelchair Tennis Association governs Wheelchair tennis in New Zealand.
Seniors Tennis NZ - national association for tennis players aged 35 years and above.
Tournaments
Tennis NZ annually organises range of events from local tournaments to national and international events. Tennis Auckland hosts two major events of international tennis tournaments each year at the ASB Tennis Centre, Parnell, just prior to Australian Open:
ASB Classic - is a most prominent women's and men's tournament of New Zealand. This ATP Tour and WTA Tour event is an International series tournament and is played on outdoor hardcourts during the first week of the tennis season.
