Major championship winners who have claimed the New Zealand PGA title include Sir Bob Charles, Peter Thomson, Kel Nagle, and Tony Jacklin.
The event is also notable for Masashi Ozaki's lone international win.
Sponsorship problems caused the tournament to be terminated after the 1987 event.
In 2002, a PGA Tour of Australasia and U.S.-based Nationwide Tour co-sanctioned event, called the Holden Clearwater Classic was started at the Clearwater Resort in Christchurch, New Zealand.
It was played again in 2003 and in 2004 the event resumed the name New Zealand PGA Championship.