Netball the national game for women turns 100

22 October 2024

Faculty of Education and Social Work, The Challenge, Future of health and wellbeing

Netball is celebrating its centenary in New Zealand. Auckland University researcher Dr Margaret Henley has been digging deep in the archives.

Netball pioneers: early image of team in Auckland. Netball NZ archive — Netball pioneers: early image of St Lukes team in Auckland, 1906.. Netball NZ archive

SPECIAL FEATURE: Our game turns 100 Researcher Dr Margaret Henley refers to the women who pioneered netball in Aotearoa New Zealand as 'silent feminists' who fervently believed in creating a safe and fulfilling recreational space for young women in between leaving school and getting married.

Republication queries: Gilbert Wong, gilbert.wong@auckland.ac.nz