Hall of Kiwi Legends 1957-1976 (part one)

Judo in New Zealand (according to the “Sporting Records of New Zealand” Compiled by Sydney Todd) p. 149–50. The book presents Judo as being introduced to New Zealand shortly after WWII by Dutch and English immigrants. The national Judo federation (NJF) was founded in 1956. At the time of writing the NJF could award up to 3rd dan. The highest graded Judoka in the country were 4th dan (awarded in Japan).
New Zealand Judoka competed in the first world Judo championships in Tokyo, 1957. At the time of writing their standing is 31st among the 67 member countries of the International Judo Federation.

OPEN BLACK BELT CHAMPION
1957. F. Sjoerds. Palmerston North
1958. F. Sjoerds. Palmerston North
1959. F. Sjoerds. Palmerston North
1960. P. Zeilman. Auckland
1961. F. Sjoerds. Auckland.
G. van Cuylenborg. Auckland.
1962. M. Kereama. Feilding.
1963. J. Burke. Auckland.
1964. J. Oosterman. Te Awamutu.
Discontinued after 1964.

SHODAN CHAMPION
(First grade black belt)
1959. M. Kereama. Fielding.
1960. R. Lonergan. Otago Uni.
1961. R. Lonergan. Otago Uni.
1962. H. Westerkamp. Auckland.
1963. B. McCoombe. Auckland.
1964. J. Oosterman. Te Awamutu.
1965. J. McPhee. Auckland.
Discontinued after 1964.

OPEN CHAMPION
(Any grade or weight)
1961. J. Oosterman. Te Awamutu.
1962. F. Sjoerds. Palmerston North.
1963. G. van Cuylenborg. Auckland.
1964. D. Delay. Auckland.
1965. J. Burke. Wellington.
1966. G. Roberts. Wellington.
1967. J. McPhee. Auckland.
1968. F. Best. Christchurch.
1969. G. van Cuylenborg. Auckland.
1970. J. Fisher. Auckland.
1971. G. Littlewood. Auckland.
1972. O. Boelee. Auckland.
1973. T. Fukui. Auckland.
1974. A. Matsuura. Auckland.
1975. G. Littlewood. Auckland.
1976. J. Fisher. Auckland.
1977.

WEIGHT CATEGORY CHAMPIONS
(introduced in 1966)

LIGHTWEIGHT
1966. J. Burke. Wellington.
1967. J. Bonniface. Christchurch.
1968. J. Bonniface. Christchurch.
1969. H. Kellens. Christchurch.
1970. H. Kellens. Christchurch.
1971. H. Kellens. Christchurch.
1972. T. Nakajima. Christchurch.
1973. R. Moran. Auckland
1974. K. Smith. Auckland.
1975. G. Culling. Auckland.
1976. R. Moran. Auckland.
1977.

LIGHT-MIDDLEWEIGHT
1967. G. Roberts. Wellington.
1968. G. Roberts. Wellington.
1969. G. Aspinall. Dunedin.
1970. K. Anderson. Auckland.
1971. E. Marsters. Hamilton.
1972. G. Roberts. Wellington.
1973. A. Matsuura. Auckland.
1974. A. Matsuura. Auckland.
1975. E. Marsters. Hamilton.
1976. R. Williams. Auckland.
1977.

MIDDLEWEIGHT
1966. P. Toner. Wellington.
1967. O. Dwyer. Auckland.
1968. J. Fisher. Auckland.
1969. J. Fisher. Auckland.
1970. J. Fisher. Auckland.
1971. J. Phillips. Auckland.
1972. J. Fisher. Auckland.
1973. G. Littlewood. Auckland.
1974. G. Littlewood. Auckland.
1975. G. Littlewood. Auckland.
1976. G. Littlewood. Auckland.
1977.

LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT
1967. D. McDonald. Inglewood.
1968. G. van Cuylenborg. Auckland.
1969. G. Littlewood. Auckland.
1970. D. McDonald. Inglewood.
1971. G. Littlewood. Auckland.
1972. J. van Duyn. Auckland.
1973. B. Madden. Whangarei.
1974. J. Fisher. Auckland.
1975. J. Fisher. Auckland.
1976. I. Endicott-Davies. Canterbury.
1977.

HEAVYWEIGHT
1966. W. Hiku. Otematata.
1967. O. Boelee. Auckland.
1968. O. Boelee. Auckland.
1969. O. Boelee. Auckland.
1970. R. Avery. Auckland.
1971. C. Edwards. Christchurch.
1972. O. Boelee. Auckland.
1973. O. Boelee. Auckland.
1974. J. van Duyn. Auckland.
1975. J. van Duyn. Auckland.
1976. J. van Duyn. Auckland.
1977.


WOMEN’S JUDO
OPEN CHAMPION
1968. E. Bryson. Christchurch.
1969. S. Lewis. Christchurch.
1970. D. Frame. Auckland.
1971. D. Frame. Auckland.
1972. D. Frame. Auckland.
1973. S. Manderson. Christchurch.
1974. S. Manderson. Christchurch.
1975. S. Manderson. Christchurch.
1976.
1977.

Part two coming soon.