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-ever captain of the Volley Ferns and a foundational figure in the women’s game in Aotearoa.

Maureen’s impact on volleyball stretched far beyond the court. She helped shape the early identity of the national programme through leadership, resilience, and a deep belief in what the sport could become for wāhine in New Zealand.

One of her most special recent moments came 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 earlier. 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.

Maureen spent the week alongside the Volley Ferns, attending trainings and matches, offering guidance, warmth, and connection to the game’s history. She also shared personal stories with the group, including how Maree would often attend her trainings as a child and how, in those early years, whoever wasn’t on court would end up babysitting her on the sidelines. It reflected the close-knit, whānau-driven nature of the game in its early days.

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, later becoming captain for five years before her teammate Mary Edmonson took on the captaincy. 

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

Maureen’s 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 who were impacted by her life and contribution to the game.

Article added: Tuesday 26 May 2026