History

Connecting New Zealand Indians through sport

NZISA has a fantastic history since its inception in 1962, but the Indian sporting community was present well before NZISA’s formation. Below is a brief history of our organisation. A full history is available in our 50th Jubilee publication which is available to purchase. Click on the button below for more information.

1901

• The New Zealand Census recorded 24 “Asiatic” Indians living in New Zealand in 1901. By 1936, 1200 Indians lived in New Zealand with a concentrated population living in the larger cities: 206 in Wellington, 126 in Auckland and 58 in Christchurch.

• The touring 1926 Indian Army hockey team is significant in both Indian and New Zealand sporting history because it was the first overseas tour by an Indian hockey team. The star player of this team was Dhyan Chand whose magical Indian dribble and goal scoring captured the imagination of the public wherever he played. He toured again in 1935 as captain of the All-India team and was a member of the victorious Indian teams at the 1928, 1932 and 1936 Olympic Games.

1935

• The 1935 All-India tour has been cited in a number of histories of Indian Sports Clubs as a catalyst which encouraged Indians living in New Zealand to take up hockey.

• The Wellington Indian Sports Club was founded in 1935. The Evening Post on 24 April 1936 reported their entry into Wellington hockey as follows: ‘The Wellington Indian Sporting Club has applied for affiliation for the purposes of entering a team in the third grade. This entry, which is unique in New Zealand hockey will lend added interest to the sport this year’.

• The following year in 1936 the Auckland Indian Sports Club was established. Auckland first organised cricket matches before progressing to hockey.

1937

• The Christchurch Indian Sports Club was founded in 1937. They did not have sufficient players to field a hockey team in their own right, but with the addition of a few European players, they played under the banner of the Selwyn Hockey Club.

1945

• Founded in 1945 the Pukekohe Indian Sports Club entered a hockey team in the Franklin competition.

• The earliest recorded encounter between two Indian Sports Clubs occurred in 1945 when Wellington travelled to Auckland by train and played against Auckland. On their return trip, Wellington stopped at Pukekohe where they played the newly formed Pukekohe Indian Sports Club.

• In 1947 the Manawatu Indian Sports Club was founded. During the King’s Birthday Weekend in 1947, the first recorded match played by the Manawatu Indian Sports Club was played against the Wellington Indian Sports Club.

• In the late 1940s the increasing number of games between Indian clubs saw a proposal for an inter-provincial Indian hockey tournament called the Freedom Cup.

1953

• The inaugural Coronation Tournament, held over the Sovereign’s Birthday Weekend in 1953, was the forerunner of today’s Queen’s Birthday Tournament. It took place at Maidstone Park, Wellington, in 1953. Teams from Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington took part.

1954

• Foundation year of the Waikato Indian Sports Club. Records indicate that sometime in 1953/54, a group of eight families from around the district met in Hamilton for the purposes of forming a hockey and cricket team.

• The Indian Wanderers hockey team toured New Zealand in 1955 and 1961. The tourists were warmly welcomed by the Indian community in New Zealand. The 1955 Indian Wanderers tour also saw the selection of the first New Zealand Indians hockey team, who played against the visitors at Victoria Park, Feilding on July 4 1955.

1956

• The Coronation Tournament alternated between Wellington and Auckland. Six teams competed in the 1956 tournament.

• The first Wanganui team, many of whom worked as fruiterers, played in 1956. In 1957, 1961 and 1962 Manawatu-Wanganui teams played in the Coronation Tournaments because there were not enough players from either club to send a team.

• 1958 is the foundation year of the Bay of Plenty Indian Sports Club. The history of the Bay of Plenty Indian Association notes that ‘the object of the club was to foster sport for the younger generation of the Bay of Plenty area and engender friendship with the Sports Clubs in NZ’.

• An indicator of the development of Indian hockey in New Zealand was the increasing selection of Indian players in age group and provincial representative teams.

1962

• The enthusiastic response to the Coronation Tournament and the expansion, consolidation and regeneration of Indian Sports Clubs during the 1950s culminated in the formation of the New Zealand Indian Central Sports Organisation (later renamed New Zealand Indian Sports Association) with its purpose being: “To satisfy a long-felt need to co-ordinate and promote participation in sport by Indians living in New Zealand”. It was felt that the Association would provide greater opportunity and incentive for talented Indian sportspeople throughout New Zealand to participate in first-class competition.

• The New Zealand Central Indian Sports Organisation holds its first Annual General Meeting at the Bharat Bhavan Hall in Wellington in 1963.

• The Dhyan Chand Trophy, to be awarded to the winning Men’s hockey team at the tournament, was donated by New Zealand Indian Central Association. The first social NZCISO Hockey Tournament is played in 1963 in Wellington and the Dhyan Chand Trophy is first won by Wellington.

1965

• The Wellington Indian Sports Club hosts the inaugural Queen’s Birthday Tournament. Seven affiliated clubs participate and a total of eight Men’s hockey teams are entered. Auckland, Christchurch, Manawatu, Pukekohe, Waikato, Wanganui, Wellington (2).

• In 1966 the New Zealand Central Indian Sports Organisation adopts a draft constitution and changes its name to the New Zealand Indian Sports Association.

1966

• The inaugural NZISA Men’s hockey team is named to play against a Wellington provincial representative team. The team play different provincial teams each year from 1967 to 1973 and again in 1975.

• The Queen’s Birthday Tournament in 1967 attracts a greater following and participation and becomes an annual event from then on.

1968

• The inaugural NZISA Men’s cricket team is selected to play Thames Valley at Harris Park in Te Aroha.

• The Association becomes an Incorporated Society in October 1969.

• In December 1969 the inaugural North v South NZISA cricket match takes place. The NZISA cricket team secured a match in 1970 against Franklin Districts and after the draw in 1968, NZISA beat Thames Valley in 1971. During 1973 the team played at Eden Park in Auckland against a Rothman’s U23 team and won outright.

1974

• Turners and Growers sponsor a Men’s Hockey Challenge Shield. The first match is played between eventual victors Christchurch and Wellington A. The Challenge Shield experiences many rule changes over the years but is still actively competed for today.

• Women’s hockey is played at QBT for the first time in Wellington in 1974 with Auckland, Pukekohe and Wellington, the eventual victors.

1976

• Tournament entries for Men’s hockey increase and now require a two-section format. The new British Airways Trophy is now awarded to the winners of the newly formed B Section. Otago, who formed in 1974, are the first winners.

• Ramesh Patel and Mohan Patel are members of the successful NZ Men’s Olympic hockey team and become the first of many NZ Indian hockey players to achieve national and international honours.

• In 1977 Air India sponsor a Men’s Cricket Challenge Trophy. The first game is played in Wellington between Christchurch and Auckland. The Challenge Trophy is still competed for today.

1981

• NZISA Men’s hockey team play its first national team, the New Zealand Juniors in Auckland, result 3-3.

• 1982 is the foundation year of the Central Districts Indian Sports Club, which encompass the Manawatu, Taranaki and Wanganui regions.

• The strength of Indian Men’s hockey in New Zealand was evident in the 1980s when there were four national players of Indian descent. Its strength resulted in the first international match for NZISA against an Indian Hockey Federation National Men’s team in 1983 at Mount Smart Stadium.

1985

• The first NZISA Women’s hockey team is selected to play a Wellington Senior Reserve Team and over the next 14 years plays eight games against provincial teams.

• The NZISA Men’s hockey team play a Japan Hockey Federation Team and draw 1-1. In 1987 they play Japan again and win 2–0.

1986

• Football is introduced to QBT in 1986 with Auckland and Wellington (winners) participating. Waikato participates in later years.

• 1989 is the foundation year of the North Harbour Indian Sports Club.

1993

• Netball, having been played as a demonstration sport at QBT since 1988, is made an official sport in 1993, with Pukekohe the winners.

• The inaugural NZISA 40-Over Cricket Tournament is held in 1994, hosted by Bay of Plenty Indian Sports Club. Six teams are entered with Waikato the victors. The tournament becomes an annual NZISA event and is still played today.

• The first NZISA Men’s U21 Hockey Tournament is played in Auckland with four teams entering, Auckland A being the eventual winners. In 1997 after a number of challenges it becomes an annual U23 tournament.

• In 1995 Pukekohe hosts the largest QBT Tournament to date, with 25 team entries.

2001

• After two significant quadrangular tournaments in 1996 and 1998 the NZISA Men’s hockey team play the touring Indian National Squad in Albany.

• The 2003 U23 Hockey Tournament includes a Women’s section for the first time.

• 2003 saw a Barbarians team enter the U23 Hockey Tournament, who won against Christchurch. Known as the BaaBaa’s, this consisted of players from what was then known as ‘minor clubs’ being Bay of Plenty, Central Districts, Christchurch and Waikato. A BaaBaa’s team has entered the event on and off since, which is dependant on availability of players.

• Golf is introduced as a sport for NZISA clubs. Pukekohe hosts the very first NZISA Golf open in October 2005.

2006

• Preparations start for the NZISA 50th Jubilee in 2012 including the writing of a historical publication with Geoff Watson engaged as principal writer.

• A review of NZISA objectives is made to ensure all clubs still agree with the principals of NZISA.

2008

• NZISA Men’s hockey team play New Zealand Maori during the NZHF Olympic Qualifier Fixture in 2008.

• Historical moment for NZISA when the Men’s hockey team participates in the Oceania Hockey Federation – Pacific Cup Tournament in Suva Fiji, the first international tour by an NZISA team. Competing teams were Fiji A & B, NZ Barbarians, Australian Country and NZISA. NZISA finishes 2nd to the NZ Barbarians.

2009

• The link between Dhyan Chand and New Zealand Indians is further reinforced by his son Ashok Kumar (himself a former Indian Hockey International) attending the Indian hockey team tour of New Zealand in February 2009. The first match of this tour is in Wellington against the NZISA Men’s team. The following day the NZISA team played the Wellington U21 team as a curtain raiser to the New Zealand v India International match.

2011

• The largest recognition process of persons involved with NZISA is undertaken with nominations being sought from all Indian Sports Club for NZISA Life, Associate and Honoured Membership. A full list of members can be found here.

• Auckland celebrate their 75th Jubilee by hosting QBT.

• NZISA commence their 50th Jubilee celebrations by cutting a ceremonial cake at their 50th AGM in October in Wellington.

2012

• 50th Jubilee Celebrations are finalised with the main event being the NZISA 50th Jubilee dinner held at Eden Park in Auckland. The event saw over 200 people attend to celebrate the history of NZISA and to celebrate the awarding of Life, Associate and Honoured Members to over 45 past and present office bearers and delegates.

• NZISA publish and release the ‘Sporting Foundations of New Zealand Indians’ book to commemorate their 50th Jubilee at the Golden Oldies Indian hockey tournament in Palmerston North in October.

2015

• Central Districts host their first NZISA Golf Open in Dannevirke. The event saw the highest number of entries for an NZISA Golf Open with 72 registered Indian Sports Club members partaking.

2017

• NZISA adopt a Strategic Plan to further enhance NZISA as an organisation. The Strategic Plan document can be found here.

2019

• NZISA play its first representative cricket fixture since 1986 by organising a fixture against Northern Districts Maori at Seddon Park in Hamilton. The event saw a number of high profile players represent NZISA including Ajaz Patel, Bharat Popli and Navin Patel along with the team being coached by past international bowler Dipak Patel. NZISA were victorious and won the match by 208 runs.