[2] The tournament was played at the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Club (founded 1881),[3] at Christchurch, New Zealand.
Although an open event for all comers the championships mainly featured players from within New Zealand, but also from Australia.
It became more internationalised following the World War II and in part due to commercial jet airliners making the time to travel to New Zealand shorter, it became part of the worldwide ILTF Circuit.
Multiple New Zealand winners of the men's and women's singles titles include Richard Harman,[1] May Spiers, Joy Marshall,[1] Thelma Poole, Jean MacGibbon and Robyn Legge Hunt.
International winners of the women's singles include Rita Bentley, Kathy Harter and Mary Struthers.