In 1840 the first thoroughbred mare arrived in New Zealand and then a Captain Hunter purchased an Arab mare at a dispersal sale. Named Medora, she was probably the first Arabian to reach New Zealand.
Around the same date, the famous and colourful George Moore arrived in New Zealand and set about establishing the 100,000 acre Glenmark Station. His partiality for Arabians had come from his time in India and it was from there that he purchased and later imported Sultan.
After him came Hadji Baba (to Canterbury in 1875), Crusader (to Gisborne in 1888) and Arab Child to Hawkes Bay around 1878.
Whilst the influences of these importations were no doubt felt 'on the day', their historical influence is today, nothing short of that, with none of these early Arabians appearing in modern pedigrees.

A man who was to have considerable later influence on the New Zealand Arabian scene was already making his presence felt in Australia. Mr Jos L Jelbart founded the famous 'Stony Creek Park' in 1844 and in 1936 was prompted to write....
'The enquirv for Arab blood in Australia has increased greatly. There is now a definite effort being made by the few breeders of pure Arabs to organise their business, and it may be said that the Arab has never been advertised before in this country to anything like the extent he has seen during the past two years. This has had a wonderful result, and breeders are being overwhelmed with enquiries from all parts of the States and from .New Zealand, and indeed as far away as the remote Chatham Islands in the Southern Pacific....' - Journal of the Arab Horse Society 1936

From the Jelbart stud came two particular mares (imported to New Zealand) who were later to begin their own dynasties. The mare Gypsy Maid (Sirdar/Salome) went to the Waimeha Stud of the late Allan Sisam and Sons in Taneatua, and Semna (Kataf/Caswa) to Mrs R Mitchell of Inglewood.
Other importations followed. Mrs Mitchell then imported Meladdin (Alladin/Melika), a grey colt. later bred to Semna.
J.G.H. Wilson imported the magnificent English mare Nurmana (Manak/Nuhra), Nuhra being bred in the State of Bahrein and presented to the Countess of Athlone by its ruler.

Another English import was the Grey Owl/Risira filly Ghanimeh who was later acquired by the late Lester Marshall of Holly Farm Arabian Stud in Christchurch to found her own family there.
Later importations read like a veritable who's who of Arabian breeding.

From Lady Wentworth's Crabbet Stud in England came the Oran son Silver Sparkle, later exported by his last New Zealand owner, the late Lester Marshall to America; to Hawkes Bay came the two Silver Moonlight fillies Silver Dawn and Silver Moonbeam. Long time New Zealand Arab Breeders Society President A.A. Ayliffe arrived from England with four Arabians as 'passenger baggage'.
The Arabian scene in New Zealand was up and running...... and looking good.

Up until 1970. the New Zealand bred Arabians were registered either with the Australian or English breed society. However, a meeting on September 16, 1970 changed all that and on that date the New Zealand Arabian Breeders Society was born.


Courtesy of Jacquie Webby.
Acknowledgements:

The Classic Arabian Horse - Forbis
Arabian Horse in Australia Today 1.