ABOUT US - Who Are We?
What is our purpose?
Kung-Fu Wushu New Zealand Incorporated, "The Society", (formerly known as New Zealand Kung-Fu Wushu Federation) is established and maintained exclusively for the charitable purpose of promoting and developing the sport, art-form, practice and spirit of Kung Fu/Wushu to and for all New Zealanders.
What is our official status?
Kung-Fu Wushu New Zealand achieved National Sport Organisation (NSO) recognition from Sport & Recreation NZ in 2007, Associate Member status with the New Zealand Olympic Committee in 2008, and NSO re-recognition from Sport NZ on 26 May 2025. The Society is the only New Zealand group recognised by the International Wushu Federation, Kung Fu Wushu Oceania, Sport New Zealand and the New Zealand Olympic Committee.
Similar sounding groups that are NOT the same as us!
Over the years several groups have formed that may have confused the public and external organisations due to having similar sounding names with the words "New Zealand" and "Wushu" in their title. These organisations include New Zealand Wushu Academy; New Zealand Wushu Development Trust; New Zealand Wushu Dragon & Lion Dance Federation; Plus, any group that attempts to use the Societies' former name of New Zealand Kung-Fu Wushu Federation. None of these organisations are officially recognised by Sport NZ as a National Sport Organisation (NSO) or can claim to be the Peak Governing Body for Kung-Fu Wushu in New Zealand. None are recognized by the International Wushu Federation, Kung Fu Wushu Oceania, or the New Zealand Olympic Committee.
What are we responsible for?
We are the sole organisation responsible for exercising governance, leadership and administrative control over Kung Fu/Wushu in New Zealand.
What do we cover?
We cover all forms of Kung Fu/Wushu in New Zealand, which includes all contemporary (sport) and traditional Chinese martial arts and their associated sports and art-forms; including Sport Wushu Taolu, Sport Wushu Sanda, Traditional Kung-Fu, Tai Chi Chuan, and health-related internal arts such as Qigong. Our Cultural Membership also covers Lion Dance, Dragon Dance, Kung-Fu Dance, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Healing Arts such as Acupuncture and Acupressure.
Who can be a member?
Constituent Members are clubs and organisations that teach and practice Kung Fu/Wushu, who have members able and willing to participate in Kung Fu/Wushu competitions and events. Only Constituent Members can vote at General meetings, where each has one vote.
Associate Members are clubs and organisations who are not eligible to become Constituent Members.
Individual Members are individual people.
Cultural Members are clubs and organisations who promote Chinese culture through activities such as Lion Dance, Dragon Dance, Kung-Fu Dance or Traditional Chinese Medicine and Healing Arts such as Acupuncture, Acupressure, and Qi-Gong.
Organisational Development and Founding Members
All the organisations mentioned below are in essence the same entity evolving and maturing over time and all were either founded or co-founded by Mr Glen KEITH, the current President of KWNZ over a span of 36 years since 1990.
1: The Wellington Chinese martial arts community worked with the New Zealand Hillary Commission to form the Wellington Chinese Martial Arts Assn Inc. (WCMAA), Incorporated on 23 Aug 1990. The WCMAA was recognised by the Hillary Commission, in the absence of a national body, as the sole representative group for Chinese martial arts in New Zealand.
2: The WCMAA was also recognised by the International Wushu Federation (IWUF) on 3 Oct 1990 as the official representative body for Kung Fu/Wushu in New Zealand. IWUF is the world leading governing body for all forms of sport and traditional Kung Fu/Wushu (Chinese martial arts).
3: The WCMAA Inc was dissolved and replaced with a national body named the New Zealand Chinese Martial Arts-International Wushu Council Inc. (NZCMA-IWC). The 15 Founding Members of NZCMA-IWC who attended its Inaugural Meeting on 11 Mar 1995 are copied on the last page of the KWNZ Constitution. The NZCMA-IWC became Incorporated on 18 Jul 1995.
4: The NZCMA-IWC was formerly renamed the New Zealand Kung-Fu Wushu Federation Inc. (NZKWF) and Incorporated on 18 May 2005.
5: The NZKWF was first recognised by Sport and Recreation New Zealand (SPARC) on 29 Oct 2007 as the National Sport Organisation (NSO) for sport Kung Fu/Wushu and was also recognised by the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) as an ‘Associate Member’ under Section 9 (9.9) of the NZOC Constitution on 18 Dec 2008.
6: The NZKWF has maintained its status as New Zealand’s sole official representative to the IWUF since 1990 and to the Oceania Kung-Fu Wushu Federation Limited (OKWF) since 1998. The OKWF changed its name to Kung Fu Wushu Oceania Incorporated (KWO) in Jan 2026.
7: The NZKWF was recognised / re-recognised by Sport NZ on 26 May 2025 as the sole National Sport Organisation (NSO) and therefore Peak Governing Body for sport Kung Fu/Wushu in New Zealand. This constitutes 26 continuous years of SPARC/Sport NZ NSO recognition.
8: Kung-Fu Wushu is defined in its constitution as "all contemporary (sport) and traditional Chinese martial arts and their associated sports and art-forms; including Sport Wushu Taolu, Sport Wushu Sanda, Traditional Kung-Fu, Tai Chi Chuan, and Health-Related Internal Arts such as Qigong." KWNZ has a also has a Cultural Membership category which covers Lion Dance, Dragon Dance, Kung-Fu Dance, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Healing Arts such as Acupuncture and Acupressure.
9: The NZKWF was renamed Kung-Fu Wushu New Zealand Inc. (KWNZ) “The Society", at its Annual General Meeting held 16 Dec 2025 and successfully re-registered under the Incorporated Societies’ Act 2022 on 3 Feb 2026.
10: KWNZ applied on 5 May 2026 for registration as a Charitable Entity under the Charities Act 2005. Discussion is ongoing with the Charities’ Commission.
11: KWNZ has hosted National Kung-Fu Wushu Championships every year since 1995 and Continental Kung-Fu Wushu Championships every four years. The Continental event alternates every two years between KWNZ and Kung-Fu Wushu Australia (KWA) and includes several Pacific Island Nations.
12: KWNZ in addition to running its own annual national event, has managed the selection of National Kung-Fu Wushu Teams to participate in international competitions and events every year, based on a revolving four-year programme of events run by IWUF as far back as 1995, some 30 plus years.
13: KWNZ has developed Athlete, Judge and Coach Development Pathways, from national through to international level and more recently, an Athlete Development Pathway to the Youth Olympic Games, with a New Zealand Wushu Athlete selected to participate in the inaugural Wushu Event at the Dakar Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Nov 2026.
14: KWNZ is part of a Commonwealth Wushu Group set up by the IWUF to promote Wushu’s entry into the next Commonwealth Games, which will be hosted by India in 2030. KWNZ is working with the Wushu Association of India (WAI) for the Inaugural Commonwealth Wushu Championships scheduled to be held in India in 2027. WAI will send a Wushu delegation to New Zealand to meet with KWNZ Executives in 2027.
15: KWNZ, through its Member Clubs, has extended its ‘grassroots’ reach into many Primary and Secondary Schools across New Zealand, to the point we now have a ‘Schools Group’ competition category in our National Kung-Fu Wushu Championships. Many elderly New Zealanders compete in the ‘Taichi Group’ Competition Category. Wushu competitors across all event categories range from 8yrs to 90yrs.
16: KWNZ has membership from the majority of sport and traditional kung-fu wushu clubs across New Zealand. It has strong relationships with other national sport codes, continental and international wushu organisations, government departments and agencies, and cultural and diplomatic groups such as the China Cultural Centre, the Embassy of the Peoples Republic of China and the China Consulate General. Over the course of the last 36 years KWNZ has firmly established itself as a credible NSO and peak governing body for sport Kung-Fu Wushu in New Zealand.
Founding Members from NZCMA-IWC Wellington Region Branch
Founding Members from NZCMA-IWC Auckland Region Branch
What is our purpose?
Kung-Fu Wushu New Zealand Incorporated, "The Society", (formerly known as New Zealand Kung-Fu Wushu Federation) is established and maintained exclusively for the charitable purpose of promoting and developing the sport, art-form, practice and spirit of Kung Fu/Wushu to and for all New Zealanders.
What is our official status?
Kung-Fu Wushu New Zealand achieved National Sport Organisation (NSO) recognition from Sport & Recreation NZ in 2007, Associate Member status with the New Zealand Olympic Committee in 2008, and NSO re-recognition from Sport NZ on 26 May 2025. The Society is the only New Zealand group recognised by the International Wushu Federation, Kung Fu Wushu Oceania, Sport New Zealand and the New Zealand Olympic Committee.
Similar sounding groups that are NOT the same as us!
Over the years several groups have formed that may have confused the public and external organisations due to having similar sounding names with the words "New Zealand" and "Wushu" in their title. These organisations include New Zealand Wushu Academy; New Zealand Wushu Development Trust; New Zealand Wushu Dragon & Lion Dance Federation; Plus, any group that attempts to use the Societies' former name of New Zealand Kung-Fu Wushu Federation. None of these organisations are officially recognised by Sport NZ as a National Sport Organisation (NSO) or can claim to be the Peak Governing Body for Kung-Fu Wushu in New Zealand. None are recognized by the International Wushu Federation, Kung Fu Wushu Oceania, or the New Zealand Olympic Committee.
What are we responsible for?
We are the sole organisation responsible for exercising governance, leadership and administrative control over Kung Fu/Wushu in New Zealand.
What do we cover?
We cover all forms of Kung Fu/Wushu in New Zealand, which includes all contemporary (sport) and traditional Chinese martial arts and their associated sports and art-forms; including Sport Wushu Taolu, Sport Wushu Sanda, Traditional Kung-Fu, Tai Chi Chuan, and health-related internal arts such as Qigong. Our Cultural Membership also covers Lion Dance, Dragon Dance, Kung-Fu Dance, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Healing Arts such as Acupuncture and Acupressure.
Who can be a member?
Constituent Members are clubs and organisations that teach and practice Kung Fu/Wushu, who have members able and willing to participate in Kung Fu/Wushu competitions and events. Only Constituent Members can vote at General meetings, where each has one vote.
Associate Members are clubs and organisations who are not eligible to become Constituent Members.
Individual Members are individual people.
Cultural Members are clubs and organisations who promote Chinese culture through activities such as Lion Dance, Dragon Dance, Kung-Fu Dance or Traditional Chinese Medicine and Healing Arts such as Acupuncture, Acupressure, and Qi-Gong.
Organisational Development and Founding Members
All the organisations mentioned below are in essence the same entity evolving and maturing over time and all were either founded or co-founded by Mr Glen KEITH, the current President of KWNZ over a span of 36 years since 1990.
1: The Wellington Chinese martial arts community worked with the New Zealand Hillary Commission to form the Wellington Chinese Martial Arts Assn Inc. (WCMAA), Incorporated on 23 Aug 1990. The WCMAA was recognised by the Hillary Commission, in the absence of a national body, as the sole representative group for Chinese martial arts in New Zealand.
2: The WCMAA was also recognised by the International Wushu Federation (IWUF) on 3 Oct 1990 as the official representative body for Kung Fu/Wushu in New Zealand. IWUF is the world leading governing body for all forms of sport and traditional Kung Fu/Wushu (Chinese martial arts).
3: The WCMAA Inc was dissolved and replaced with a national body named the New Zealand Chinese Martial Arts-International Wushu Council Inc. (NZCMA-IWC). The 15 Founding Members of NZCMA-IWC who attended its Inaugural Meeting on 11 Mar 1995 are copied on the last page of the KWNZ Constitution. The NZCMA-IWC became Incorporated on 18 Jul 1995.
4: The NZCMA-IWC was formerly renamed the New Zealand Kung-Fu Wushu Federation Inc. (NZKWF) and Incorporated on 18 May 2005.
5: The NZKWF was first recognised by Sport and Recreation New Zealand (SPARC) on 29 Oct 2007 as the National Sport Organisation (NSO) for sport Kung Fu/Wushu and was also recognised by the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) as an ‘Associate Member’ under Section 9 (9.9) of the NZOC Constitution on 18 Dec 2008.
6: The NZKWF has maintained its status as New Zealand’s sole official representative to the IWUF since 1990 and to the Oceania Kung-Fu Wushu Federation Limited (OKWF) since 1998. The OKWF changed its name to Kung Fu Wushu Oceania Incorporated (KWO) in Jan 2026.
7: The NZKWF was recognised / re-recognised by Sport NZ on 26 May 2025 as the sole National Sport Organisation (NSO) and therefore Peak Governing Body for sport Kung Fu/Wushu in New Zealand. This constitutes 26 continuous years of SPARC/Sport NZ NSO recognition.
8: Kung-Fu Wushu is defined in its constitution as "all contemporary (sport) and traditional Chinese martial arts and their associated sports and art-forms; including Sport Wushu Taolu, Sport Wushu Sanda, Traditional Kung-Fu, Tai Chi Chuan, and Health-Related Internal Arts such as Qigong." KWNZ has a also has a Cultural Membership category which covers Lion Dance, Dragon Dance, Kung-Fu Dance, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Healing Arts such as Acupuncture and Acupressure.
9: The NZKWF was renamed Kung-Fu Wushu New Zealand Inc. (KWNZ) “The Society", at its Annual General Meeting held 16 Dec 2025 and successfully re-registered under the Incorporated Societies’ Act 2022 on 3 Feb 2026.
10: KWNZ applied on 5 May 2026 for registration as a Charitable Entity under the Charities Act 2005. Discussion is ongoing with the Charities’ Commission.
11: KWNZ has hosted National Kung-Fu Wushu Championships every year since 1995 and Continental Kung-Fu Wushu Championships every four years. The Continental event alternates every two years between KWNZ and Kung-Fu Wushu Australia (KWA) and includes several Pacific Island Nations.
12: KWNZ in addition to running its own annual national event, has managed the selection of National Kung-Fu Wushu Teams to participate in international competitions and events every year, based on a revolving four-year programme of events run by IWUF as far back as 1995, some 30 plus years.
13: KWNZ has developed Athlete, Judge and Coach Development Pathways, from national through to international level and more recently, an Athlete Development Pathway to the Youth Olympic Games, with a New Zealand Wushu Athlete selected to participate in the inaugural Wushu Event at the Dakar Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Nov 2026.
14: KWNZ is part of a Commonwealth Wushu Group set up by the IWUF to promote Wushu’s entry into the next Commonwealth Games, which will be hosted by India in 2030. KWNZ is working with the Wushu Association of India (WAI) for the Inaugural Commonwealth Wushu Championships scheduled to be held in India in 2027. WAI will send a Wushu delegation to New Zealand to meet with KWNZ Executives in 2027.
15: KWNZ, through its Member Clubs, has extended its ‘grassroots’ reach into many Primary and Secondary Schools across New Zealand, to the point we now have a ‘Schools Group’ competition category in our National Kung-Fu Wushu Championships. Many elderly New Zealanders compete in the ‘Taichi Group’ Competition Category. Wushu competitors across all event categories range from 8yrs to 90yrs.
16: KWNZ has membership from the majority of sport and traditional kung-fu wushu clubs across New Zealand. It has strong relationships with other national sport codes, continental and international wushu organisations, government departments and agencies, and cultural and diplomatic groups such as the China Cultural Centre, the Embassy of the Peoples Republic of China and the China Consulate General. Over the course of the last 36 years KWNZ has firmly established itself as a credible NSO and peak governing body for sport Kung-Fu Wushu in New Zealand.
Founding Members from NZCMA-IWC Wellington Region Branch
- Glen Keith, representing Shaolin Fut-Gar Kung-Fu.
- Johnny Young, representing Shaolin Five Ancestor Kung-Fu.
- Bev Calvert, representing Shi Mei Lin International Wu-Shu Association.
- Raymond Poy, representing Qigong & Zheng-Zi - Yang Style Tai Chi.
- Tu-Ky Lam, representing Wellington Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan Academy.
- Chloe Saw, representing Qigong & Zheng Zi - Yang Style Tai Chi.
- John Young, representing Wellington Yang Style Tai Chi Club.
Founding Members from NZCMA-IWC Auckland Region Branch
- Peter Yu, representing Wing-Tsun Tam Hun-Fan International.
- Kenneth Liu, representing Pa-Kua Chang Kung-Fu.
- Jacky Luk, representing Monkey Style Kung-Fu and Sanshou.
- Mickey Lee, representing Ngai-Shing Bai-Mei Athletic Association.
- Jack Chan, representing Seven Star Praying Mantis Kung-Fu.
- Queenie Kwong, representing Auckland Chi Kung.
- Eva Wong, representing Seven Star Praying Mantis Kung-Fu.
- Lucy Chen, representing Auckland Chinese Wu-Shu.
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