Many minor sports in New Zealand enjoy a surge of popularity when national representatives are succeeding on the world stage. Squash is no exception, reaching its pinnacle in the 1980s, when Dame Susan Devoy seemed unstoppable in the international arena.

The glory days are over, but squash still remains relatively popular, with dozens of clubs around the country enjoying a healthy membership. The national body is Squash NZ (www.squashnz.co.nz; 09 815 0970), and there are 11 district associations. These administer the local club scene and are good places to find a club suited to your needs. Inter-club competitions cover juniors, social, masters and seniors.
Most people who play squash belong to a club, rather than hiring courts on a casual basis. Indeed, most squash clubs don’t hire their courts to casual players, but, if you have a friend who is member, they can sign you in for a game. If you just want to hire a court on a casual basis, some council-owned recreation and leisure centres have courts, as do some YMCAs.