BRINGING VOLLEYBALL TO AOTEAROA

Ctirad Benacek has been said to have introduced volleyball to New Zealand, and being apart of creating the club “Sparta” in 1954 in Panmure, Auckland.A Czech Republic National Representative who played in the 1948 Olympics in London had come to New Zealand in the early 1950’s & in the New Zealand volleyball circles was nick-named “Mr Volleyball”. Benacek was also mentioned to be one of the best top 3 coaches in the world of Volleyball during the 1970’s & 80’s.

Historical OverviewIn 1967 saw the formation of the “New Zealand Federation of Volleyball Clubs”. The sport was about to create its new history throughout the country. The following year, 1968, the first “New Zealand Club Championships” was created.One of the pioneering clubs in New Zealand was Sparta Volleyball in Auckland. They were founded by a group of immigrants in 1954. Being one, of many of the original clubs, played the Maiden New Zealand Club Championships in 1968, in which the Sparta men’s team won (the team of 1968 comprised of 1 Dutch, 1 Australian, 1 Samoan, 1 Russian, 1 Kiwi & 4 Czechs).Also that year winning the first ever Women’s New Zealand Volleyball Title (known as Spiders Cup) was Hamilton Teacher’s College. And like Sparta’s men, Hamilton Teacher’s College would win the next two years before relinquishing it’s reign.

In 1969, Wellington Eagles (another pioneer club of NZL Volleyball) donated to the “New Zealand Federation of Volleyball Clubs” a silver cup known as the “Eagles Cup” for the winner of the Men’s National Championships. They flew to the top of New Zealand Volleyball by winning the cup in 1971 and have since appeared in five finals. But as for Sparta’s Men, they would dominate in years to come, tallying the most wins for any men’s club team with 13 National Championships.

Maureen Booth with the reinstalled Richard Farmer Memorial Cup at the 2025 Trans-Tasman Test Series

Remembering Maureen Booth​​​​​​​

A pioneer, leader, and lifelong champion of Volleyball in Aotearoa

The New Zealand volleyball community mourns the passing of Maureen Booth, the first captain of the Volley Ferns and a foundational figure in the women’s game in Aotearoa.

Her impact went far beyond the court. Maureen helped shape the early identity of the national programme through leadership, resilience, and a deep belief in what the game could become for wāhine in New Zealand.

One of her most special recent moments was in 2025 during the Trans-Tasman Test Series in Canberra, where she travelled with her daughter Maree, to reconnect with the team she helped build more than 50 years ago. During the tour, she presented the reinstalled Richard Farmer Memorial Cup, a trophy she originally donated in memory of her brother Richard Farmer, who passed away in 1972.

She spent the week with the Volley Ferns, attending trainings and matches, sharing guidance, warmth, and connection to the game’s history. She also shared personal stories, including how Maree would attend her trainings as a child and how the team would take turns babysitting on the sidelines in those early years, reflecting the close-knit whānau spirit of the game.

Maureen came to volleyball later in life, starting just before 30, but quickly rose through the ranks after previously representing regions in swimming, gymnastics, and netball. She transitioned from spiker to setter and embraced whatever role kept her on court. In 1968, she was selected in the first New Zealand women’s team to play Australia and later became captain for five years.

After her playing career, she continued to serve the game through teaching, coaching, and community volleyball in Geraldine, staying close to the sport she helped shape.

Her legacy is one of courage, humility, and service. Her presence with the Volley Ferns last year was a powerful reminder of how far the game has come and the people who made that journey possible.

Volleyball New Zealand extends its deepest condolences to her whānau, friends, and all those who were impacted by her life and contribution to the game.