Tennis New Zealand
Encyclopedia
Tennis New Zealand (formally the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association) is the governing body
of tennis
in New Zealand
. Founded in 1886, it is one of the world's oldest tennis associations. It is affiliated to both International Tennis Federation
and Oceania Tennis Federation
. Tennis NZ has six geographically divided regional centres. Tennis NZ operates all of the New Zealand's national representative tennis sides, including the New Zealand Davis Cup team
, the New Zealand Fed Cup team
and youth sides as well. Tennis NZ is also responsible for organising and hosting tennis tournaments within New Zealand and scheduling the home international fixtures.
in December 1886. Shortly after its inauguration, the New Zealand Association became affiliated with the Lawn Tennis Association
(England
). 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 (which later became Australian Open) 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
(1906
) and Hastings
(1912
). The geographical remoteness of both the countries (Australia and New Zealand) made it difficult for foreign players to entered 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 (Tony Wilding
). Lawn Tennis Association of Australasia was one of the twelve national associations of tennis which established the International Lawn Tennis Federation (ILTF) 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 (Davis Cup) under the alias of "Team Australasia", the team claimed a title six times (1907
, 1908
, 1909
, 1911
, 1914
, 1919
), however, there were attempts to severance this trans-tasmanian
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.
, Parnell
, just prior to Australian Open:
Sport governing body
A sport governing body is a sports organization that has a regulatory or sanctioning function. Sport governing bodies come in various forms, and have a variety of regulatory functions. Examples of this can include disciplinary action for rule infractions and deciding on rule changes in the sport...
of tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. Founded in 1886, it is one of the world's oldest tennis associations. It is affiliated to both International Tennis Federation
International Tennis Federation
The International Tennis Federation is the governing body of world tennis, made up of 205 national tennis associations.It was established as the International Lawn Tennis Federation by 12 national associations meeting at a conference in Paris, France on 1 March 1913...
and Oceania Tennis Federation
Oceania Tennis Federation
Oceania Tennis Federation is the regional governing body of tennis in Oceania. It was formed as a regional association of International Tennis Federation in 1993 with seven member nations to foster the development of tennis in the Oceania region specially main focus on small island nations and...
. Tennis NZ has six geographically divided regional centres. Tennis NZ operates all of the New Zealand's national representative tennis sides, including the New Zealand Davis Cup team
New Zealand Davis Cup team
The New Zealand Davis Cup team represents New Zealand in Davis Cup tennis competition and are governed by Tennis New Zealand.New Zealand currently compete in the Asia/Oceania Zone of Group II. They have played in the World Group on 8 occasions, the most recent of which was in 1991. They reached...
, the New Zealand Fed Cup team
New Zealand Fed Cup team
The New Zealand Fed Cup team represents New Zealand in Fed Cup tennis competition and are governed by the Tennis New Zealand. They currently compete in the Asia/Oceania Zone of Group I.-History:...
and youth sides as well. Tennis NZ is also responsible for organising and hosting tennis tournaments within New Zealand and scheduling the home international fixtures.
History
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 in Hawkes Bay in 1886. New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association (NZLTA) was formed at a meeting held in HastingsHastings, New Zealand
The city of Hastings is a major urban settlement in the Hawke's Bay region of the North Island of New Zealand, and it is the largest settlement by population in Hawke's Bay. Hastings city is the administrative centre of the Hastings District...
in December 1886. Shortly after its inauguration, the New Zealand Association became affiliated with the Lawn Tennis Association
Lawn Tennis Association
The Lawn Tennis Association is the national governing body of tennis in Great Britain, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.As the governing body, the LTA is responsible for the coaching and development of junior players, offering courses and qualifications on coaching, as well as the...
(England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
). In 1904 New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association amalgamated with six Australian state tennis associations to form the Lawn Tennis Association of Australasia
Lawn Tennis Association of Australasia
Lawn Tennis Association of Australasia was the tennis organisation formed after the amalgamation of New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association and six Australian state tennis associations in 1904. New Zealand split from the tennis association partnership in 1922 and hence caused dissolution of LTAA...
. New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association played a significant role in the origin of the Australian Open
Australian Open
The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam tennis tournament held in the southern hemisphere. The tournament was held for the first time in 1905 and was last contested on grass in 1987. Since 1972 the Australian Open has been held in Melbourne, Victoria. In 1988, the tournament became a hard court...
. Lawn Tennis Association of Australasia created the tournament called The Australasian Mens Championships (which later became Australian Open) in 1905 and was first played in Warehouseman's Cricket Ground
Albert Cricket Ground
Albert Cricket Ground, also known as the Albert Reserveand Warehouseman's Cricket Ground , is the home of the Victoria cricket team, in St Kilda, in Melbourne, Victoria.-Tennis:...
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
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
(1906
1906 Australasian Championships (tennis)
The 1906 Australasian Championships was a tennis tournament played on Grass courts in Christchurch, New Zealand the event is a part of the Grand Slam. The tournament was held from 26 to 31 December.-Singles:...
) and Hastings
Hastings, New Zealand
The city of Hastings is a major urban settlement in the Hawke's Bay region of the North Island of New Zealand, and it is the largest settlement by population in Hawke's Bay. Hastings city is the administrative centre of the Hastings District...
(1912
1912 Australasian Championships (tennis)
The 1912 Australasian Championships were held at Hastings. Travel by sea was slow, limiting the attendance of Australian players, and New Zealand player Tony Wilding did not return from Europe. Below are the results and a list of Champions :-Men's singles: James Cecil Parke defeated Alfred...
). The geographical remoteness of both the countries (Australia and New Zealand) made it difficult for foreign players to entered 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 (Tony Wilding
Tony Wilding
Anthony "Tony" Frederick Wilding was a champion tennis player from Christchurch, New Zealand and a soldier killed in action during World War I near Neuve-Chapelle, Pas-de-Calais, France....
). Lawn Tennis Association of Australasia was one of the twelve national associations of tennis which established the International Lawn Tennis Federation (ILTF) in a conference in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France on 1 March 1913. From 1905 until 1919, New Zealand and Australian tennis players participated in the International Lawn Tennis Challenge (Davis Cup) under the alias of "Team Australasia", the team claimed a title six times (1907
1907 International Lawn Tennis Challenge
The 1907 International Lawn Tennis Challenge was the seventh edition of what is now known as the Davis Cup. As defending champions, the British Isles team played host to the competition. After several years of more varied competition, only Australasia and the United States would challenge for the...
, 1908
1908 International Lawn Tennis Challenge
The 1908 International Lawn Tennis Challenge was the eighth edition of what is now known as the Davis Cup. For the first time, ties were held in different countries and at different times, rather than the all the matches being played in the same venue, as before...
, 1909
1909 International Lawn Tennis Challenge
The 1909 International Lawn Tennis Challenge was the ninth edition of what is now known as the Davis Cup. For the second straight year, only the British Isles and the United States would challenge Australasia for the Cup. After defeating the British in Philadelphia, the US traveled to Sydney, only...
, 1911
1911 International Lawn Tennis Challenge
The 1911 International Lawn Tennis Challenge was the tenth edition of what is now known as the Davis Cup. After no country decided to challenge Australasia in 1910, only the British Isles and the United States would challenge for the Cup, for the third straight edition...
, 1914
1914 International Lawn Tennis Challenge
The 1914 International Lawn Tennis Challenge was the 13th edition of what is now known as the Davis Cup. The bulk of the competition returned to the United States for the first time since 1903. The United States fell to Australasia in the final, which was played at the West Side Tennis Club in New...
, 1919
1919 International Lawn Tennis Challenge
The 1919 International Lawn Tennis Challenge was the 14th edition of what is now known as the Davis Cup. After not being played for four years during World War I, the competition resumed with four teams challenging Australia for the cup. Australia had participated in winning the 1914 competition...
), however, there were attempts to severance this trans-tasmanian
Trans-Tasman
Trans-Tasman is an adjective used primarily in Australia and New Zealand, which signifies an interrelationship between both countries. Its name originates from the Tasman Sea which lies between the two countries...
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
1924 International Lawn Tennis Challenge
The 1924 International Lawn Tennis Challenge was the 19th edition of what is now known as the Davis Cup. The tournament was, for the second straight year, divided into the America and Europe Zones. 17 teams competed in the Europe Zone, and 6 in America...
. Tennis New Zealand was the founding member of Oceania Tennis Federation in 1993.
Governing staff
| Chief Executive Officer | Steve Johns |
| Tennis NZ Staff Members | |
| Chairman | David Patterson |
| High Performance Programme Manager | Tracy Hall |
| National Coach | Marcel Vos |
| National Game Development Manager | Jamie Tong |
| Coach Education Co-ordinator | Craig Bell |
| National Events Co-ordinator | Daniel Shepherd |
| Game Development Programme Co-ordinator | Justine Wallendorf |
| Finance Administrator | Roger Watson |
| Office Administrator | Tracey Siddins |
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.Regional centres
Tennis NZ consists of six regional centres with clearly defined geographical boundaries. These regional centres, which are affiliated to the national body, control their own activities subject to any requirements which may, from time to time, be legislated for by the national body.| Region | Centre | Headquarter | CEO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern | Tennis Northern | Albany Albany, New Zealand Albany is a northern suburb of Auckland, one of the several cities in northern New Zealand. The name derives from Alba and its Latinisation. It is located to the north of the Waitemata Harbour, 15 kilometres northwest of the Auckland city centre. The suburb is in the Albany ward, one of the... |
David Frank |
| Auckland | Tennis Auckland | Auckland Auckland The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world... |
Davis Frank |
| Waikato-Bay | Tennis Waikato-Bays | Hamilton East Hamilton East, New Zealand Hamilton East is a suburb in central Hamilton in New Zealand. The suburb's primary commercial and retail precinct is located along Grey Street. Hamilton East is characterised by villas and bungalows built early in the 20th century.-History:... |
Leslie Wilkinson |
| Central | Tennis Central | Wellington Wellington Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range... |
Charlie Cordwell |
| Canterbury | Canterbury Tennis | Christchurch Christchurch Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of... |
David Blackwell |
| Southern | Tennis Southern | Dunedin Dunedin Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until... |
Garth Blake |
Organisations
Tennis NZ affiliates several different tennis related private organisations, which are:- Aotearoa Maori Tennis Association (AMTA) - national tennis body of Māori people.
- NZ Tennis Umpires Association (NZTUA) - national body, which governs tennis officiatingOfficial (tennis)In tennis, an official is a person who ensures that a match or tournament is conducted according to the International Tennis Federation Rules of Tennis and other competition regulations....
in New Zealand. - Tennis Coaches NZ (TCNZ) - 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 (IWTA) governs Wheelchair tennisWheelchair TennisWheelchair tennis is one of the forms of tennis adapted for those who have disabilities in their lower bodies. The size of courts, balls, and rackets are same, but there are two major differences from pedestrian tennis; they use specially designed wheelchairs and the ball may bounce up to two times...
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 CentreASB Tennis Centre
The ASB Tennis Centre is a tennis facility located in the Parnell district of Auckland, New Zealand. The centre was founded in 1920 by Tennis Auckland. It hosts the Heineken Open for men and the ASB Classic for women on consecutive weeks in January each year before the Australian Open...
, Parnell
Parnell, New Zealand
Parnell is a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. It is often billed as Auckland's "oldest suburb" since it dates from the earliest days of the European settlement of Auckland in 1841...
, just prior to Australian Open:
- Heineken OpenHeineken Open (tennis)The Heineken Open is a tennis tournament on the ATP International Series played in Auckland, New Zealand. It was also a combined mens and womens tournament until 1981.-History:...
- is the biggest men’s professional tennis event in New Zealand, held in AucklandAucklandThe Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
since 1956. Played in the week prior to the Australian Open, the tournament is part of the ATP World Tour 250 seriesATP World Tour 250 seriesThe ATP World Tour 250 series is a new series for tennis tournaments of the Association of Tennis Professionals from the 2009 ATP World Tour...
.
- ASB ClassicASB ClassicThe ASB Classic is a tennis tournament held in Auckland, New Zealand. Held since 1986, this WTA Tour event is an International series tournament and is played on outdoor hardcourts during the first week of the year....
- is a most prominent women's tournament of New Zealand. Held since 1986, this WTA TourWomen's Tennis AssociationThe Women's Tennis Association , founded in 1973 by Billie Jean King, is the principal organizing body of Women's Professional Tennis. It governs the WTA Tour which is the worldwide professional tennis tour for women. Its counterpart organization in the men's professional game is the Association of...
event is an International series tournamentWTA International tournamentsThe International Tournaments is the new category for tennis tournaments of Women's Tennis Association from the 2009 WTA Tour. Tournaments are replacing Tier III and Tier IV events...
and is played on outdoor hardcourts during the first week of the tennis season.
External links
- Official website
- Tennis NZ website, oriented towards children