Our history

History of the Christchurch Indian Sports Club (CISC)

The exact founding date of the Christchurch Indian Sports Club (CISC) remains uncertain, but intriguing evidence suggests it was established in 1936. A newspaper article from the Evening Post in Wellington, dated August 22, 1936, noted that the Canterbury Hockey Association had deemed it impractical for a team from the Christchurch Indians Club to travel to Wellington. However, the Wellington Hockey Association still hoped to arrange a match between the two clubs, indicating that both the Wellington Indian Sports Club and the Christchurch Indian Sports Club were likely affiliated members of their respective associations at that time.

Indians began settling in Christchurch around the turn of the 20th century. According to the 1921 New Zealand census, there were 671 Indians in New Zealand, with just 21 residing in Christchurch. In the same year, the Christchurch Indian Association was formed with 58 members, primarily from the Indian states of Gujarat and Punjab. Due to the small size of the local Indian community, the Sports Club initially operated as part of the Christchurch Indian Association. However, as club activities grew, it became an independent entity in 1966. The arrival of more Indian immigrants in New Zealand led to the establishment of additional associations and sports clubs across the country.