Amanda Knapp
Badminton is a popular sport in New Zealand, with a long history dating back to the mid-19th century. In 2012, about 120,000 New Zealanders played badminton, with 12,000 of those playing regularly and belonging to 27 regional associations represented by Badminton New Zealand. The country has also competed in international tournaments and produced notable players such as Daniel Shirley, Rhona Robertson, and Martin Lubransky. Para badminton has gained prominence, with Wojtek Czyz becoming the first Para badminton player to represent New Zealand at the Paralympic Games in Paris 2024.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of data | 2012 |
| Number of badminton players | 120,000 |
| Number of regular badminton players | 12,000 |
| Number of regional associations | 27 |
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What You'll Learn
Badminton New Zealand
Badminton has been a popular sport in New Zealand for over a century. The Auckland Badminton Club, formed in 1900, was the country's first official badminton club. In 1925, the Auckland, Whanganui and Napier clubs joined forces to establish the New Zealand Badminton Association, which later became known as Badminton New Zealand.
The first national championships were held in Whanganui in 1927, and the sport has since grown in popularity across the nation. In 2012, it was estimated that approximately 120,000 New Zealanders played badminton, with around 12,000 of them playing regularly. These players were spread across 27 regional associations, all represented nationally by Badminton New Zealand.
New Zealand has competed in international badminton tournaments, including the Thomas Cup for men and the Uber Cup for women. The country's national team achieved a notable result at the 2025 VICTOR Oceania Mixed Team Championships, finishing as runners-up.
Para badminton has also gained prominence in New Zealand, with the country set to be represented in this discipline at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Wojtek Czyz, a four-time Paralympic champion, will be the first Para badminton player to represent New Zealand at the Paralympics.
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Number of regular players
Badminton has been a popular sport in New Zealand for over a century, with the Auckland Badminton Club forming around 1900. In 2012, about 12,000 people played badminton regularly in New Zealand, belonging to 27 regional associations represented by Badminton New Zealand. This number represents about 10% of the total estimated 120,000 New Zealanders who played badminton in some capacity that year.
The sport has a strong national presence, with the New Zealand Badminton Association, later named Badminton New Zealand, forming in 1925. The first national championships were held in Whanganui in 1927, and the country has since competed internationally in the Thomas Cup (men) and Uber Cup (women). Badminton became an Olympic sport in 1992, and New Zealand has also seen success in the Paralympic variant of the sport, with para badminton becoming a Paralympic sport in 2021.
New Zealand's national team has achieved notable success in international competitions, including a strong showing at the 2025 VICTOR Oceania Mixed Team Championships, where they finished as runners-up. The country has also produced several notable badminton players, including Daniel Shirley, Rhona Robertson, and Martin Lubransky, who have been recognised for their contributions to the sport.
In addition to its senior achievements, New Zealand also fosters young talent, as evidenced by the inclusion of a Secondary School Invitational Team in the New Zealand Tertiary Badminton Championships. This initiative aims to highlight and strengthen the development of junior players, who will represent the future of badminton in the country.
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International competitions
Badminton has been an Olympic sport since 1992, and New Zealand national badminton team has competed in international tournaments for the Thomas Cup (men) and the Uber Cup (women). The highlight of the 2024 badminton calendar will be the Paris 2024 Olympics, which will be held from 27 July to 5 August. The Olympic qualification period for badminton runs until 28 April 2024.
Para badminton players have competed internationally since the 1990s, with the first World Championships taking place in 1998 in the Netherlands. Para badminton became a Paralympic sport in 2021, debuting at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Wojtek Czyz will be the first Para badminton player to represent New Zealand at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
In addition to the Olympics and Paralympics, there are several other international badminton competitions. These include the BWF World Tour, which consists of 31 events, the World Tour Finals, and the Malaysia Open BWF Super 1000 tournament. There are also A-Tier and B-Tier tournaments, such as the International Challenge, International Series, and Future Series. The Malaysia Masters in January and the BWF World Tour Finals in December bookend the 2024 badminton season.
New Zealand also has a strong presence in junior badminton competitions. A selected group of junior badminton players will be heading to Melbourne for the U15 Australian Invitational, providing an international development opportunity for young players.
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Para badminton
Badminton has been a popular sport in New Zealand since the mid-19th century, with the earliest matches likely played by people who had learned the game in England or India. In 2012, about 120,000 New Zealanders played badminton, with around 12,000 of those playing regularly.
The playing court dimensions for Para badminton differ slightly from traditional badminton. In singles matches for wheelchair and standing classes, half-court is used, while full-court is utilised for doubles matches. The area between the short service line and the net is defined as the outside court limit in wheelchair classes.
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History of the sport in New Zealand
Badminton has been played in New Zealand for approximately 150 years, with the earliest matches probably played in the mid-19th century by people who had learned the game in England or India. The sport has been played in the country since the 1870s, initially in private venues as a form of upper-class recreation alongside games like croquet and tennis. Badminton equipment was advertised for sale in Wellington from as early as 1874, and regular play began around 1900 with the formation of the Auckland Badminton Club.
In 1925, the Auckland, Whanganui, and Napier clubs combined to form the New Zealand Badminton Association, later known as Badminton New Zealand. The organisation was established in 1927 under the stewardship of Archdeacon Ralph Creed Meredith of Whanganui, one of its first champions. In 1927, the first national championships were held in Whanganui. In 1934, New Zealand was one of nine nations that formed the International Badminton Federation (now the Badminton World Federation). Badminton New Zealand became a founding member and was incorporated on 26 May 1938.
Badminton has historically been considered a minor sport in New Zealand, receiving minimal attention in scholarly discussions compared to sports like tennis and squash. However, the country has produced notable achievements in badminton, such as the New Zealand Uber Cup squad reaching the semi-finals in 1960 and 1972. Badminton has also been a Commonwealth Games sport since 1966 and an Olympic sport since 1992.
In recent years, badminton has gained popularity in New Zealand, especially among young people. It is the fastest-growing sport in secondary schools, with more than 13,000 participants annually, and is the number one individual sport for young people aged 13-18.
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Frequently asked questions
In 2012, about 120,000 New Zealanders played badminton, with about 12,000 of those playing regularly.
Badminton players in New Zealand are represented by Badminton New Zealand, which was formed in 1925. There are also 27 regional associations across the country.
Daniel Shirley, Rhona Robertson, and Martin Lubransky have been recognised for their contributions to the sport. Wojtek Czyz will be the first Para Badminton player to represent New Zealand at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Yes, New Zealand has competed in international tournaments such as the Thomas Cup and the Uber Cup. Badminton has been a Commonwealth Games sport since 1966 and an Olympic sport since 1992.
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