Tennis New Zealand Explained

Tennis New Zealand
Logosize:140px
Sport:Tennis
Jurisdiction:National
Abbrev:(TNZ)
Founded:1886
Affdate:16 March 1923
Region:Oceania Tennis Federation
Regionyear:1993
Headquarters:Albany Tennis Park
Chairman:Terri-Ann Scorer
Chiefexec:Julie Paterson
Replaced:New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association
Url:www.tennis.kiwi
Countryflag:New Zealand

Tennis New Zealand (commonly known by the acronym Tennis NZ or TNZ) (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.[1] 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 Billie Jean King 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.

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 Park in Clive, Hawke's Bay, in December 1885.[2] New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association (NZLTA) 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 (England).[3]

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.[4] 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 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 (Tony Wilding).[5] [6] 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.[7] 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-Tasman partnership, in order to allow New Zealand players to represent their nation on international tennis events.[8] 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.[9] [10] New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association filed its first challenge with United States Lawn Tennis Association for 1924 International Lawn Tennis Challenge.[11] Tennis New Zealand was the founding member of Oceania Tennis Federation in 1993.

Structure

Governing staff

align=center bgcolor=#CCCCCCChief Executive Officeralign=center bgcolor=#CCCCCCJulie Paterson
align=center colspan=2 style="color:#FFFFFF" bgcolor=#000000Tennis NZ Staff Members
align=center Chairpersonalign=center Terri-Ann Scorer
align=center Commercial Manageralign=center Gareth Archer
align=center National Game Development Manageralign=center Chris Mundell
Head of High PerformanceEmily Carter
Tournament Operations ManagerMark Atkins
Coach Development ManagerAdam Roberts
Participation CoordinatorVacant
IT SupportChris Raynes
Club Support ManagerAli Telford
National Development CoachMatt Alexander
Systems SupportJosh Hill
Office ManagerLiesl Ploos Van Amstel
Technology Products ManagerJames Blackwell
National Performance CoachChris Bint
Kaitohu Ahurea o Tēnehi AotearoaAdam Whauwhau

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.[12]

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.[13]

Region Centre Headquarter CEO
bgcolor=PinkNorthern Tennis Northern Chris Casey
Auckland Tennis Auckland Rohan West
Waikato-Bay Tennis Waikato-Bays
bgcolor=YellowCentral Tennis Central Tim Shanahan
Canterbury Canterbury Tennis Bevan Johns
bgcolor=LightBlueSouthern Tennis Southern

Organisations

Tennis NZ affiliates several different tennis related private organisations, which are:[3]

Tournaments

Tennis NZ annually organises range of events from local tournaments to national and international events.[19] Tennis Auckland hosts two major events of international tennis tournaments each year at the ASB Tennis Centre, Parnell, just prior to Australian Open:[20] [21]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: The Making of New Zealand Cricket, 1832 - 1914 . Ryan, Greg . 2004 . . 22 - 23 . 0-7146-8482-1.
  2. Lawn Tennis . Lyttelton Times . 5 January 1886 . 4 .
  3. Web site: About Tennis NZ . 17 March 2011 . Tennis New Zealand's official website.
  4. Web site: The Origin of Australian Open Tennis History . 18 March 2011 . Tennis Theme.
  5. Web site: Champions – Men's Singles . 18 March 2011 . . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100115064147/http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/event_guide/history/men_s_singles.html . 15 January 2010.
  6. Web site: Grand Slam Tournaments – Australian Open (Men's Singles) . 18 March 2011 . . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110520121622/http://www.usta.com/presentations/USTAYearBook/25.pdf . 20 May 2011.
  7. Web site: History of the ITF . 17 March 2011 . International Tennis Federation's official website.
  8. Web site: History  - Australia’s Davis Cup success . Tennis Australia's official website . 19 April 2011.
  9. Web site: History of the Australian Open – the Grand Slam of Asia/Pacific . 18 March 2011 . Foenander, Tristan . Australian Open.
  10. News: Canada admitted to NET Federation . The Leader (Leader-Post) . 17 March 1923 . 19 April 2011 . 10.
  11. News: New Zealand Challenges . The Schenectady Gazette (The Daily Gazette) . 6 February 1924 . 19 April 2011 . . 11.
  12. Web site: Constitution of the organisation . 17 March 2011 . Tennis New Zealand.
  13. Web site: Regional Centres . 17 March 2011.
  14. Web site: Aotearoa Māori Tennis Association – a Brief History . 27 March 2011 . Aotearoa Maori Tennis Association.
  15. Web site: About the NZTUA . 27 March 2011 . NZ Tennis Umpires Association.
  16. Web site: Welcome to the IC of New Zealand . 27 March 2011 . International Lawn Tennis Club of New Zealand.
  17. Web site: Member Nations – Contact Details For Member Nations – New Zealand . 27 March 2011 . International Tennis Federation.
  18. Web site: Welcome to Tennis Seniors in New Zealand . 27 March 2011 . Tennis NZ – Seniors Tennis NZ.
  19. Web site: Tennis New Zealand Tournament Calendar January – December 2011 . 30 March 2011 . Tennis New Zealand.
  20. Web site: Our tennis open . 30 March 2011 . Romanos, Joseph . 8–14 January 2005 . . 2.
  21. Web site: ASB Classic & Heineken Open . 30 March 2011 . Tennis New Zealand.