Read Getting Set for an Active Nation - Sport New Zealand

period has been observed by some sport sociologists as having increasingly capitalistic and
democratic values such as the division of labour, discipline, constitutions, meetings, thrift,
subscriptions, sanctions and assigned duties. In the cities, the provision of facilities such as
the Auckland Domain in 1890 and support of team sports was a practical means toward the
organisation of spare time and the influencing of social values about recreation and sport.
The nineteenth century closed with major sports consolidating their organisation and male
sports dominating national associations, sporting columns and resources. Despite this,
women preceded the men in introducing hockey, basketball and baseball. Outdoor women’s
basketball changed to netball and this became the dominant sport for women and with more
clubs affiliated to its governing body than any of its male counterparts. At that time New
Zealand horses were experiencing success in Australia’s prestigious Melbourne Cup and a
decrease in violent blood sports, such as coursing with live hares and live pigeon shooting had
become increasingly evident.
Into the Twentieth Century
Rugby, first played in Nelson in 1870, assumed increasing prominence in the early years of
twentieth century New Zealand. The 1888-89 New Zealand Natives team, primarily comprised
of Maori players, was the first New Zealand sports team to tour the British Isles. The 1905
“Originals” national team who toured the British Isles became known as the “All Blacks”
because of their black jerseys. These words became elevated to the realm of national sport
mythology. Rugby’s entrenchment as the perceived national game was enhanced by the
political recognition and public support accorded that particular team. This sport has,
arguably, more than any other form of recreation and sport, been the focus of national
attention, debate, media attention and an echo of the New Zealand voice. The virtues of
rugby were lauded in similar terms as the qualities of New Zealanders at war, reflecting a
“moral, imperial, highly structured and highly gendered” model of physical recreation (Phillips,
2000, p.3).
Recreation activities such as tramping, hunting and fishing developed club structures after
World War I. In 1913 the noted climber Freda Du Faur made the Grand Traverse of Mt Cook.
In the same broad period there was local government recognition of leisure and sport with the
establishment of community facilities. At the national level, the advent of the YMCA (1855)
and YWCA (1878), Boys’ Brigade (1889), Boy Scouts (1908), Girl Guides (1923) and Girls’
Brigades (1928), fostered an emphasis upon healthy physical activity and associated moral
virtues, particularly that of “playing the game”. Before World War I the national school
curriculum had sport and physical drills securely established with an emphasis upon perceived
values and formative experiences of team play. A survey of New Zealand school readers
supplied by the Education Department reveals tales of English public schools, where “chaps”
played “rugger” and cricket. The exposure of young Kiwi people to moral and sporting values
espoused at school fashioned many lasting attitudes in adults. Along with an exhortation to
“play the game of Empire” in School Journals were comments that “As British people we love
fair play” and “Life itself is a game, and by playing it unselfishly, honourably and nobly we
shall be carrying out the wishes of our Great Captain” (Cited in Jenkins, 1939, p.5). Moral
exhortations included the ultimate sport metaphor, urging young New Zealanders to “always
be ready to sacrifice ourselves for the good of the side” (ibid). Later years reinforced the
same sport morality links which are redolent of espoused beliefs found in nineteenth century
British schools. New Zealanders of British descent continued to often refer to England as
Ministerial Taskforce on Sport, Fitness & Leisure January 2001 page 19 of 153