In 1930, at the suggestion of the the then High Commissioner, Sir Thomas Wilford, a meeting was held to form the New Zealand Women's Association. This meeting was held in the High Commission on the Strand on 16 June 1930. 

Sir Thomas made it a proviso that the Association be run in a business-like way to assist the High Commission when appropriate and to form links with other New Zealand women. Lady Wilford, his wife, became chairman and amongst those present was Mrs. Hilda Harrop, who with her husband, Dr. Angus Harrop, started the New Zealand News in 1927.

Early activities consisted of two meetings a year held either in the Grosvenor House Hotel or the Dorchester in Park Lane. Up to 350 attended these events, usually to entertain visiting dignitaries including Governor Generals, Lady Galway, Lady Bledisloe, Lady Newall, the Duchess of Kent and Jean Batten, the aviatrix.

Although NZWA records over the War years are scant, the Association continued. Over the Post-War period, meetings were held in various hotels until New Zealand House was built in 1963 in The Haymarket. Since that time, the Association has continued to meet each month in the Penthouse by kind permission of the High Commissioner.

To celebrate the 75th Anniversary of NZWA, a party was held at The Farmer’s Club, Whitehall in June 2005. The Guest of Honour was Sir Michael Wilford, grandson of the New Zealand High Commissioner, Sir Thomas Wilford, who was instrumental in forming the Association. See photographs of the happy occasion in the Gallery.