In mid-1906, the new Kia Ora Ladies Hockey Club was formed at a well-attended meeting in Richmond, with strong support from local residents and young women keen to take up the sport.
Annual subscriptions were set at 2s 6d, and the club adopted cream jerseys and caps with green trim as its colours.
Mrs Orford was appointed the club’s first president. She and her husband, Dr Robert Orford, had only recently arrived in Richmond to fill a 12-month locum position for Dr Moore while he visited England. The couple quickly became involved in community life, with Robert supporting the local cricket team and a newly-formed men’s hockey side.
Reene Cresswell was elected captain and Miss Papps vice-captain. Richmond mayor Croucher provided a temporary practice ground until a suitable area could be marked out at the recreation ground.
Results in the club’s first season were modest, but that was expected for a new team. The first annual meeting showed the club was in a sound financial position, and members expressed satisfaction with its progress.
The 1907 season ended in September with a friendly fancy-dress match against the Richmond Men’s Hockey Club.
The men, made up of players Cundy, Fittal, Walker, Strange, Fiven, Gifford, Green, T. Lammas, W. Coleman, Glidewell and Tanner, were required to wear skirts and play one-handed during the first half. In the second half they swapped their sticks for broom handles.
Despite those handicaps, the men still won three goals to nil.
In 1908, the Kia Ora club secured the services of a coach. Regular players included F. Thomas, M. Wray, E. Robinson, I. Ingram, G. Robinson, E. Papps, Quinice Cowles, O. Hammond, J. Ingram, R. Lammas and G. Holdaway.
Midway through the year, the Orfords were farewelled before returning to England.
At the start of the 1909 season, players were warned they would be fined if they missed Saturday practices without a valid reason.
The season proved highly successful, with victories over Motueka, St Johns, Thistle 4, Wainui 3 and College.
However, a win over Thistle sparked controversy. Thistle lodged a complaint alleging Kia Ora players wore skirts that were too long, breaching an association rule requiring skirts to be at least six inches from the ground. The club argued this had unfairly influenced the result.
Officials ruled the match must be replayed.
The dispute continued for some time, with the Kia Ora players maintaining the referee had no authority to comment on skirt length. Feelings were running high when the replay was held in Richmond in late June 1909 in front of a large crowd.
Kia Ora again emerged victorious, winning two goals to one.
Over the following years, and into the years before World War I, the team flourished, with victories becoming increasingly common.
One match report offered a detailed assessment of several players:
“Miss Papps is the best back, Miss Ingram is frequently penalised for obstruction and is inclined to shoulder her opponent, she hits well but should be more careful with her stick. Miss Gledhill is the best all round player. Miss E. Robinson dribbles well, Miss Cowles is good but is often inclined to get offside, Miss Hunt gives a lot of obstruction when getting the ball but shows promise as a young player, and Miss G. Robinson is fair.”
After the war years, information about the club becomes scarce. It appears the original organisation may have folded, as reports show a newly-revived Richmond Kia Ora Hockey Club was formed in June 1928.
