TIMELINE
September 2016
New Zealand Fistball Is Born
NZFA President Blase Dowall and Vice President Vikki Buston establish New Zealand Fistball after discovering the sport overseas. The association is recognised by the International Fistball Association (IFA), becoming New Zealand’s official governing body for the sport.
February 2017
International Debut
New Zealand’s first national men’s and women’s teams travel to Australia for the inaugural Trans-Tasman Fistball Championship over Waitangi Weekend.
January 2018
Christchurch Hosts Trans-Tasman Championship
Australia travels to Christchurch for the second annual Trans-Tasman Championship and Pavlova Plate, marking New Zealand’s first major international hosting opportunity.
July 2018
Women’s World Championship Campaign
New Zealand prepares a women’s team to compete at the IFA Women’s World Championship in Austria, taking another significant step onto the international stage.
November 2018
Asia-Pacific Fistball Championships
New Zealand’s men’s and women’s teams both win gold at the Asia-Pacific Fistball Championships in Melbourne, Australia. The victories mark the country’s first Asia-Pacific titles and establish New Zealand as a leading force in the region.
May 2019
Inaugural Oceania Championship
NZFA hosts the inaugural Oceania Fistball Championship at MainPower Oval in Rangiora, welcoming teams from New Zealand, Australia, Samoa, the Cook Islands, NZ Māori, and an International All Stars side.
August 2019
Men’s World Championship Debut
The New Zealand Men’s Team competes at the IFA Men’s World Championship in Winterthur, Switzerland, recording a historic first international victory against Serbia and finishing 11th overall.
July 2022
Fistball Ferns Reach The World Games
The Fistball Ferns represent New Zealand at The World Games in Birmingham, Alabama, competing among the world’s leading nations.
October 2022
Triple Asia-Pacific Success in Geelong
New Zealand’s men’s, women’s and masters teams all claim championship titles at the Asia-Pacific Fistball Championships in Geelong, Australia, completing a clean sweep of the tournament and reinforcing New Zealand’s position as a leading force in Asia-Pacific fistball.
July 2023
IFA Men’s World Championship
The New Zealand Men’s Team travels to Mannheim, Germany, for its second consecutive IFA Men’s World Championship appearance.
November 2024
Trans-Tasman Champions
New Zealand wins both the men’s and women’s divisions at the Trans-Tasman Championships in Geelong, Australia, retaining the Pavlova Plate.
November 2024
Fistball Ferns Compete at the World Championship
The Fistball Ferns represent New Zealand at the IFA Women’s World Championship, competing against leading nations including Chile, Namibia, Colombia, and the United States as they battle for a place in the knockout stages.
August 2025
The World Games in Chengdu, China
New Zealand’s men’s and women’s national teams represent the country at The World Games in Chengdu, China, competing against many of the world’s leading fistball nations at one of the sport’s most prestigious international events.
UPCOMING
July 2026
Under-18 World Championship Debut
New Zealand’s Under-18 Men’s Team makes its debut at the IFA U18 World Championships in Reiden, Switzerland. The squad represents an important milestone in the development of youth fistball pathways and the future of the sport in New Zealand.
November 2026
Asia-Pacific Championships Come to New Zealand
For the first time, New Zealand hosts the Asia-Pacific Fistball Championships at Kakaha Park in Prebbleton, bringing together the region’s top teams for one of the sport’s premier international events.
