In 1975, the event was formed and hosted by Air New Zealand.

In 1977, the event became part of the PGA Tour of Australia's Order of Merit.

The 1979 event coincided with the Mount Erebus disaster.

On November 28, the day before the tournament began, Air New Zealand Flight 901 crashed into Mount Erebus in Antarctica.

However, Morrie Davis (CEO of Air New Zealand) decided that the tournament would go on.