The New Zealand Women’s Association was founded in London in 1930, at the suggestion of Sir Thomas Wilford, New Zealand’s High Commissioner to  the UK. Sir Thomas, seeing the value to New Zealanders far from home of the New Zealand Society, was sure that a similar organisation, for women only, would be successful.

The founding meeting of the NZWA took place in June 1930 in New Zealand House, at that time in the Strand, under the chairmanship of Sir Thomas’s wife, Lady Wilford. She became the first President of the NZWA. (Nowadays the High Commissioner’s partner is  the NZWA’s Patron, and we elect our President from among the members of our very active committee.)

During the years since then the NZWA has lived up to Sir Thomas’s hopes for it, continuing to be a  wonderfully friendly and welcoming organisation in the UK for New Zealand women and women with strong NZ connections.

We continue to retain good links with New Zealand, partly through our connection with the New Zealand High Commission in London, and partly through a careful choice of speakers at our monthly lunches. Over the years our speakers have included New Zealand-born writers, actors, musicians, fashion designers and cookery book writers.

Our history

One of our earliest guest speakers was the famous aviatrix, Jean Batten. Guests of honour from the UK have included Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, who was entertained to tea at New Zealand House, by now in Haymarket, in 1966.

In June 2010 the NZWA will celebrate its 80th birthday. Plans are already well advanced to mark the occasion in style. We look forward to another 80 years of promoting the interests of New Zealand women in the UK.

Left: The Queen Mother being presented with flowers, March 1966

Top right: Farewell to Lady Macdonald March 1968

Bottom right: First Christmas Party; held in New Zealand House Haymarket 1963