Squash New Zealand Poipātū Aotearoa

13/10/2026

SHARE YOUR BEST MASTERS MEMORY & WIN!

For many players, the G.J. Gardner National Masters Championships are about so much more than results on the scoreboard. They're about years of friendships, rivalries, road trips, laughter, and unforgettable moments both on and off the court.

We're looking for your favourite Masters memory!

Share your favourite photo from the G.J. Gardner National Masters Championships, past or present, and tell us:
What keeps you coming back to Masters Nationals?

Is it:
⭐ The friendships
⭐ The competition
⭐ Representing your district
⭐ The squash community
⭐ The stories and memories made along the way

👇 Tag a fellow Masters player, teammate, or friend you've shared the journey with and let us know how long you've known each other through squash.

As a bonus, the best memory shared will win a double pass to the Quarter Finals night of the NZ Open in Palmerston North on Friday night!

Because the strongest communities, the greatest friendships, and the best squash memories are built over time.

12/10/2026

🌟 G.J. Gardner Masters Nationals Player Spotlight 🌟

For many players, Masters Nationals isn't just a tournament, it's a chance to reconnect with friends, renew old rivalries, and celebrate a lifelong connection to squash. Few people capture that spirit better than Michel Galloway.

💬 What keeps you coming back to Masters Nationals year after year?
We all love the teams event and I am really lucky that I get asked to play each year. It's great being able to play your own age group, and I'm looking forward to Squash New Zealand considering introducing the next age group in the teams and giving us a reason to keep playing for longer.

💬 After all these Nationals, what's one thing that never changes?
It's always a truly great social event but at the same time pretty competitive, and there are some long-term rivalries. It's also a really supportive environment and the people are an awesome eclectic mix. Never a dull moment.

💬 What does the squash community mean to you?
The squash community is tight-knit and this event is an opportunity to catch up with players from around the country that I might not otherwise see, some of them from juniors in the 70s. It's so good to see people still playing after so many years, keeping fit and healthy at the same time. The squash community to me is like a great big family.

💬 What's been the highlight of your Masters career so far?
I would never have envisaged as a junior that I would still be playing at 70 years old, let alone playing in the World Masters. It's a win just to be on the court, an absolute privilege.

From junior squash in the 1970s to competing on the world stage and still proudly taking the court today, Michel's journey is a powerful reminder that squash can be a sport for life. The friendships, memories, and opportunities created through Masters squash continue to inspire generation after generation.

📅 With the G.J. Gardner Homes Masters Nationals fast approaching, we look forward to seeing more stories like Michel's unfold as players from across New Zealand come together for another unforgettable week of competition and connection.

11/10/2026

🌟 G.J. Gardner Masters Nationals Player Spotlight 🌟

We're shining the spotlight on Kashif Shuja, a familiar face at Masters Nationals and someone who perfectly captures what makes this event so special.

💬 What keeps you coming back to Masters Nationals year after year?
Masters is such a fun event to play and catch up with people we have known for decades. It reminds me of the real reason we started playing sport, to play and have fun with mates.

💬 After all these Nationals, what's one thing that never changes?
It's always something to look forward to on my squash calendar. To see everyone, play some good games and relax at the end of it all. There is nothing really like Masters Nationals for me.

💬 What does the squash community mean to you?
The squash community is like family to me. I was by myself here in NZ for two decades and it is the friendships made through squash that helped me find belonging alongside the opportunity to play this amazing sport of ours.

💬 What's been the highlight of your Masters career so far?
Being part of the World Masters Games in Auckland in 2017 stands out. With over 20,000 participants across all sports, it was great for squash to be included. I played and hung out with squash mates. The win was just a bonus.

Kashif's story is a great reminder that Masters Nationals is about much more than results. It's about friendships, community, and sharing a love for the game with people who become like family.

We can't wait to welcome players from around the country to the G.J. Gardner Homes Masters Nationals. Who are you most looking forward to catching up with at this year's event?

11/10/2026

🌟 G.J. Gardner Masters Nationals Player Spotlight 🌟

We caught up with Juli Voykovic, a long-time Masters competitor whose passion for the people, the competition, and the squash community keeps her coming back year after year.

💬 What keeps you coming back to Masters Nationals year after year?
Honestly, it's the people. You get to catch up with friends from all over the country who you might only see once a year, and you still have that buzz and connection there straight away. I don't really play a lot of squash throughout the year, so Masters Nationals is where I get to scratch that itch with good, fun people.

💬 After all these Nationals, what's one thing that never changes?
Well one thing is for sure it's not age, we're all just getting older and slower, and it's so nice to see the younger generations filtering through. But the two things that never change are the nerves and the camaraderie. I'm a pretty social player, but come competition time the nerves are out the gate. Something I have never been able to get on top of and probably never will, so I think it's time I need to embrace those butterflies. The other constant is the camaraderie on and off the court, the laughs, the banter, the life catch ups and the team environment, which is intense but very special.

💬 What does the squash community mean to you?
It means a lot. Squash is a huge part of who I am as a player, a coach, and through owning the pro-shop at Franklin Squash Club. Watching people I coach, from little kids to social mums and dads, to the more advanced players, fall in love with the game, find their place where they can enjoy the sport, and make lifelong friendships is really special.

💬 What's been the highlight of your Masters career so far?
Well, I've been a bridesmaid a few times, but claiming two Masters titles has been pretty nice. I started playing NZ Masters 11 years ago and have been in the Auckland team ever since, and winning team titles with them has been a real highlight too. The last 18 months have been really challenging, with injury and a couple of surgeries in the last 10 months, so genuinely, just being able to keep representing Auckland and competing at this level is something I'm really proud of right now.

Juli's story highlights exactly what makes Masters squash so special. The competition is fierce, the nerves never disappear, but the friendships, support, and sense of belonging keep players coming back year after year.

The countdown to the G.J. Gardner Homes Masters Nationals is on, and we can't wait to see players from around New Zealand reconnect, compete, and create more memories on and off the court.

10/10/2026

September's Most Improved Players have been announced!

These players have shown significant progress over the past month, making their mark with strong results and ranking improvements.

Check out this month's top movers.

10/10/2026

🌍🏆 Happy World Squash Day! 🏆🌍

To celebrate, we're throwing it back to this year's G.J. Gardner Junior Interdistrict Teams event, where our districts were split into Team All Stars and Team Superstars as part of the worldwide World Squash Day competition!

Every time districts from opposite teams faced off throughout the tournament, the result was registered towards the global tally, adding an extra layer of excitement to an already action-packed week of squash.

After a series of hard-fought battles, it was Team All Stars who came out on top!

⭐ Team All Stars
Bay of Plenty
Auckland
Waikato
Eastern

🌟 Team Superstars
Central
Canterbury
Wellington
Northland

Congratulations to Team All Stars on claiming the bragging rights, and a huge thank you to all players, managers, coaches, supporters and volunteers who made the competition such a memorable one.

It's a great reminder that squash is about more than just results. It's about teamwork, friendships, competition and being part of a global squash community.

08/10/2026

🌟 Volunteer of the Month: Simon Flett 🌟

This month, we're thrilled to recognise Simon Flett and the incredible Squash City "Red Shirt" team for their outstanding contribution to squash in New Zealand.

Fresh off delivering another successful E Grade SuperChamps National Finals, Simon once again stepped into the Tournament Controller role, helping welcome teams from across the country to Southland for a memorable national event.

Squash City has built a reputation for consistently delivering first-class national tournaments, and Simon has been at the heart of that success for many years. While he'd be the first to point out that events of this scale are never a one-person job, he is always the calm and friendly face at the centre of proceedings, tackling challenges with a smile and ensuring everything runs as smoothly as possible.

Of course, Simon is backed by the legendary Red Shirt brigade, whose dedication and hard work are a huge part of every event's success. A special mention goes to Karyn Flett, who works tirelessly behind the scenes handling tournament administration before, during, and after events.

When national events are awarded to Southland, districts and clubs can be confident they're in good hands. The Squash City team consistently goes above and beyond to ensure players, officials, and supporters are well looked after and leave with great memories, regardless of what the Southland weather might have in store!

While Simon may joke that his playing days are largely behind him, his contribution to our sport remains as valuable as ever. Thank you, Simon, Karyn, and the entire Red Shirt crew, for the countless hours you volunteer and for everything you do to make our squash community stronger.

👏 Congratulations to our Volunteer of the Month - Simon Flett

08/10/2026

We’re thrilled to help share some exciting news with the squash community, the World Squash Academy has officially launched!

Did you spot a familiar name in the launch announcement?

Our very own John Fletcher has played a key role in the development of this exciting new resource, contributing his extensive knowledge, experience, and countless hours to help shape what promises to be a valuable platform for players, coaches, and squash enthusiasts around the world.

We’re incredibly proud to see John’s expertise helping drive a project of this scale and significance. His passion for growing the game and supporting player development continues to make an impact well beyond New Zealand.

The launch of the World Squash Academy is just the beginning, and we’re excited to see how this resource evolves and supports the global squash community in the years ahead.

Congratulations to everyone involved in bringing this vision to life. We can’t wait to see what comes next!

Introducing the World Squash Academy 🎓

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of the World Squash Academy, the official learning division of World Squash!

Find out more: https://tinyurl.com/5dk25cpz

07/10/2026

The Boast is here — and it’s a big one!

Open New Zealand squash’s biggest edition yet, packed with feature stories, 100+ photos and countless memories from across the squash community.

Inside you’ll find plenty to celebrate, including Juniors, Masters, SuperChamps and more.

From the rising stars of the sport to the players, volunteers and communities who keep turning up, this edition is a great snapshot of the people and moments that make New Zealand squash what it is.

Have a read and see who you can spot!

Read The Boast – October 2026

06/10/2026

After an unforgettable five days of competition, we've reached the conclusion of the G.J. Gardner Junior Nationals 2026.

From the Individual Championships through to the Interdistrict Teams Event, we've seen an incredible standard of squash, outstanding sportsmanship, and plenty of memorable moments. After two days of team competition and some fiercely contested finals, our champions have been crowned.

Girls
🥇 Canterbury
🥈 Auckland
🥉 Waikato

Boys
🥇 Central
🥈 Bay of Plenty
🥉 Auckland

Gifford Cup Team Winner
🏆 Canterbury

The week showcased not only the depth of junior squash across the country, but also the friendships, resilience and team spirit that make this tournament so special.

Thank you to everyone who was part of the journey. Safe travels home, and we look forward to seeing what this talented group of players achieves over the next 12 months.