Although polocrosse racquets appeared here and there in New Zealand during the mid-fifties, it wasn't until 1967 that competition play commenced at Kaitieke (Raitiki) in the North Island. The first N.Z. Polocrosse Association formed in the King Country during 1970 and in December 1973, the N.Z. Polocrosse Council was formed. Several unsuccessful attempts were made to introduce the game to the South Island, but apart from an exercise for Pony Club members, it has never been established as a South Island sport until now.
 
Mid 1980, a public meeting was advertised in Queenstown, for all interested in Pony Club and general horsemanship, to see films and hear the game of polocrosse explained by Mr. Owen Genty-Nott. Over 40 turned up and enthusiasm was obviously instilled by Mr. Genty-Nott, who has had a long career with the sport commencing with its inception at Ingleburn, New South Wales, and lately as Foundation President and Instructor for the Papua Equestrian Association in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. He is now resident of Queenstown and keen to see the game established in the South Island. With an assurance from the North Island N.Z. Council that a representative team would be eager to play the South, Owen laid out a field on the Wakatipu Pony Club grounds and the first instructional meeting was held just prior to Christmas last year.
 
As this letter goes to press, a dozen players are turning out regularly with another dozen negotiating for mounts, equipment etc. Play is held on Sunday evenings in Summer and is preceeded by a barbeque between 5 and 6 pm. Times will become earlier as the daylight diminishes, but it is obvious that polocrosse is here to stay. Spectator interest is high and inter-club teams are beginning to form up. A good rating handicap system will be employed as was established in Papua New Guinea and found highly successful where neighbouring clubs were days away or non-existant. Hopefully, others will take the lead and Mr. Genty-Nott is willing to visit clubs and interested groups in Otago and Southland to explain how the game is played etc.
 
With over 700 players in the North Island, it had to start down South eventually and the carrot that Owen is waving in front of the pony's nose is the prospect of a South Island team playing a representative team from the North Island. If the Christchurch A & P Society could accommodate such a match, it would be a terrific boost to the " King of the One Horse Sports ", but if not at Christchurch, there will be other venues eager to supply the stage for what is not only a terrific game for horsemen and women of all ages, it is an exciting spectator sport.

Office Bearers for the innaugural year were:

President - Owen Genty-Nott
Vice President - Bob Young
Sec/Treasurer - Margaret Hillock
Committee:
Susy Walker
Glyn Smith
Ann Mullins
Larry Birch

Glenys Young, Susy Watson, Susy Hooper, Owen Genty-Nott
John Mullins, Scott Morrison, Glyn Smith