Brief History of Korfball in New Zealand

Korfball New Zealand

In late 1996, with guidance from the IKF, Christchurch based Rob Smith set out to re-initiate korfball in New Zealand. Rob, along with partner Ursula Cheer, was introduced to korfball while living in the UK at Cambridge in 1990, before playing and administering korfball in London for Mitcham, the most successful and longest established English korfball club.

Early social grade in Canterbury

Korfball NZ Inc. (KNZ) was officially incorporated on 23 September 1997, gained IKF affiliation on 18 April 1998 and achieved full IKF membership on 8 November 2003. In April 2004 KNZ was accepted for associate membership of the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC).

During the first years of its existence, KNZ has primarily focused on running regular adult korfball competitions in Christchurch, where the majority of its members are based. At present there are around 100 players participating regularly in korfball in the Christchurch competition.