On 20 August 1938, New Zealand, captained by Margaret Matangi, made their test debut in an away match against at Australia at Royal Park, Melbourne. Australia defeated New Zealand 40–11. This was the first netball Test between Australia and New Zealand. It was also the world's first international netball match.[3][4][5][6][7][8] On 20 August 1948, New Zealand, captained by Oonah Shannahan, hosted their first home test against Australia at Forbury Park. Australia defeated New Zealand 27–16.[7][9][10]
At the 1979 World Netball Championships, New Zealand shared the gold medal with Australia and Trinidad and Tobago.[25][26] After winning the 1987 World Netball Championships, with a team coached by Lois Muir and captained by Leigh Gibbs, New Zealand were world champions for a third time. New Zealand were dominant in group play, winning all eight matches. That saw them advance to a final round with Australia, England and Trinidad and Tobago. New Zealand were the only team to win all three of their games and were subsequently declared world champions. In 1996, the 1987 team was also inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame.[6][25][27][28][29]
At the 2003 World Netball Championships, with a team captained by Anna Rowberry, New Zealand won their fourth title. In the final they defeated Australia 49–47. At the 2003 Halberg Awards, the Silver Ferns won both the main award and were named Team of the Year. Their head coach, Ruth Aitken, was named Coach of the Year and Irene van Dyk, who scored 41 from 43 in the final, was named Sportswoman of the Year.[25][30][31][32][33][34]
New Zealand were world champions for a fifth time when, with a team captained by Laura Langman and featuring Casey Kopua and Maria Folau, they won the 2019 Netball World Cup. In just fourteen months, head coach Noeline Taurua turned a team, demoralised at missing out on a medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, into world champions. New Zealand rebounded from a round robin defeat to Australia to defeat them 52–51 in the final.[25][35][36][37][38][39] At the 2019 Halberg Awards, the Silver Ferns won both the Halberg Award Supreme and were named Team of the Year. Winning the 2019 Netball World Cup was declared New Zealand's Favourite Sports Moment and Taurua, was named Coach of the Year.[40] The team were also awarded the 2019 Lonsdale Cup.[41]
Between 1985 and 1993, New Zealand competed at the World Games, winning two gold and one silver medals.[55] With a team captained by Lyn Parker, New Zealand defeated Australia 39–37 in the final to win the inaugural title.[56][57] At the 1989 tournament, a New Zealand team captained by Waimarama Taumaunu, defeated Australia 33–29.[58] At the 1989 Halberg Awards, the Silver Ferns were named Team of the Year and their head coach, Lyn Parker, was named Coach of the Year.[59]
New Zealand has competed at every netball tournament at the Commonwealth Games. In 1990 they lost to Australia in a one-off match when netball was a demonstration sport. Between 1998 and 2014 they played in every tournament final, winning two gold and three silver medals.[61] In 2006 New Zealand won the gold medal for the first time with a 60–55 win over Australia.[62] In 2010, New Zealand, led by Maria Tutaia and Irene van Dyk, won their second gold medal after they defeated Australia 66–64 in an epic encounter. Tutaia scored the winning goal in double extra time after 84 minutes of play.[13][14][63][64] The Silver Ferns were also awarded the 2010 Lonsdale Cup.[65][66][67]
Since 2009, the Fast5 Ferns have played in the Fast5 Netball World Series. They have been the dominant team in the series. Between 2009 and 2018, they won seven of the nine tournaments played.[168][169]