The NZ Ice Hockey Federation
Ice hockey in New Zealand is played in Auckland, Christchurch and also in Otago. There are three official Regions registered with the New Zealand Ice Hockey Federation (NZIHF). Auckland, Canterbury and the Southern Ice Hockey League which encompasses clubs in Albury, Dunedin, Ranfurly, Gore, Alexandra and Queenstown. Each Region holds it's own leagues in the respective age groups and is responsible for conducting these competitions. The NZIHF is administered by a committee made up of 12 people, each Region having no more than 4 delegates on a representative basis. The President is elected for a two-year term at the NZIHF Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in February each year. Other committee positions are elected annually. These committee members each hold at least one portfolio, such as... coaching, referees, archives, women's, etc, and they are responsible for the administration of those portfolios for the year.

Every year National Championships are held in each of the age groups: - Peewees (under 13), Midgets (Under 16), Juniors (under 19), Seniors and Women's. The dates and venues for these competitions are set two years in advance at the AGM. The NZIHF has jurisdiction over any visits to New Zealand by overseas teams and also any local or National Teams that travel overseas.

The NZIHF is a member of the IIHF and is represented at IIHF Congresses usually by the President. Membership of the IIHF gives the NZIHF access to the World Championships, the Asian/ Oceania Championships, all IIHF Development Camps and also the Equipment Support Program for developing countries. In future the NZIHF will be involved in the Junior World Championships and also the Women's World Championships. The IIHF offer considerable help to developing countries in the form of Development Camps for Players, Coaches, Referees and Administrators.

History of the Game
The game was first played on frozen lakes and waterways in Canada, players using crude sticks to hit a piece of wood into the goals. In 1893 Lord Stanley gave the Stanley Cup for amateur competition. In 1910 the Stanley Cup became the award for the winners of the professional league play-offs.

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) was formed in 1908 when delegates from France, England, Belgium and Switzerland met in Paris. The first European Championship was played in 1910. In 1920 the Olympic Games were held in Antwerp, Belgium and ice hockey was introduced for the first time. This was the first time teams from beyond the seas had participated when Canada and the USA proved too strong for the Europeans. At this time Canada and the USA became members and for the first time the Federation extended beyond Europe. In 1930 the first World Championship was held in Chamonix and the best-placed European team was named European Champion. Canada emerged victorious in 1930 and that year Japan became a member extending the Federation into Asia and the Pacific. Over following years apart from interruptions caused by war, IIHF World Championships were held every year except Olympic years. From 1992 onwards IIHF World Championships have also been held on Olympic years.

History of Ice Hockey in New Zealand
The sport has been played in New Zealand for over 60 years and started in the South Island high country where farmers and farm workers played on frozen ponds and lakes. The first organised ice hockey tournament was played at Opawa, near Albury in South Canterbury in 1937 when Wyndham Barker gave a trophy called the Erewhon Cup. A meeting was held afterwards and the New Zealand Ice Skating Association formed. Ice hockey was always the poor relation in the NZISA and it wasn't until 1986 when the New Zealand Ice Hockey Federation was formed at a meeting at Lake Tekapo that ice hockey began to flourish. New Zealand's international debut was at the IIHF D Pool World Championships in Perth, West Australia in 1987 where the team won the Bronze medal.

New Zealand Senior teams have competed at World Championships regularly since 1995, but success has been elusive and the standard of competition very high. Junior teams began competing in the IIHF Asian/ Oceania Junior Championships in 1998. In 1999 a Bronze medal was achieved in Division 2 of these Championships, and in 2000 the New Zealand Juniors won the Gold Medal in Thailand.

New Zealand teams have regularly crossed the Tasman to play games in Australia against State teams. Our under 16 Midgets play every year in the Australian age group State Championships, the De Fris Cup.

Women's ice hockey is also played in New Zealand and this year our National Women's Team is travelling over to Sydney to play games against some club teams and an All Star Women's selection.

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