New Zealand Amateur Lacrosse Union (‘NZALU’)

This is the governing body for all Lacrosse in New Zealand and is affiliated with SPARC. The Men’s and the Women’s NZ Associations are affiliated with the NZALU.

New Zealand Lacrosse Association (“NZLA’)

Governing body for all Men’s Lacrosse in New Zealand to which all men’s clubs are affiliated.

New Zealand Women’s Lacrosse Association (‘NZWLA’)

Governing body for all Women’s Lacrosse in New Zealand to which all women’s clubs are affiliated.

History of lacrosse in New Zealand

Eight years ago, a few English and American ex-pats found each other through searching links in New Zealand to their favourite sport. Their reluctance to give up their extra appendages (their lacrosse sticks) instigated the passion to start and grow the sport in New Zealand. In 2000, a men’s senior league was started in Auckland, and a year later, the New Zealand Women’s Lacrosse Association was formed and a women’s league was established.

The efforts of the original founders resulted in tremendous growth in schools, clubs and national representative teams. Over the last five years, lacrosse has been integrated into schools’ athletic curriculum, with over 20 schools and 500 players participating in the Auckland Schools League. This year, efforts in Christchurch have seen lacrosse introduced into primary schools. We also estimate at least 900 school children across New Zealand are learning and playing the sport at the youth level each year.

National lacrosse leagues are now centred in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. The Auckland Club League is comprised of 120 players, making up eight men’s and women’s teams. The Wellington Lacrosse Association and Canterbury Lacrosse Association have seen their membership double in the last year.  Club teams from each region compete in the Official National Tournament held annually.
Just five years after its inception, the New Zealand Women’s Lacrosse Association sent the first Women’s National Team to the IFWLA World Cup in 2005 – the ultimate competition in the women’s lacrosse world. In 2006, the New Zealand Men’s Lacrosse Association sent its first men’s team to the ILF World Cup. Further, the BLAX’s growth is fostered by the Under-19 National Squad, who competed for the first time in 2007 at the Junior World Championships and the Development Squad. The men’s Under-19 team has sent teams to Melbourne for the Australian Under 17 tournament.

Lacrosse was officially recognized as a sport in New Zealand by SPARC in 2005.