Although a few clubs applied for inclusion in the first year, the 1901 championships were held under the auspices of the New Zealand Rifle Association. Later in the year the Army took over the NZRA which was renamed the New Zealand Defence Forces Rifle Association. For the purposes of the association civilian members were classed as auxiliaries of the Defence Forces. The NZDFRA was fully sponsored and financed by the Government and the military authorities supplied rifles, made free issues of ammunition to rifle clubs, and prescribed mimimum qualifying standards for membership. The Annual National Championship meetings at Trentham were inaugurated in 1902, and events were conducted under service conditions. At the 1905 meetings, a long-range (1,000 yards) shooting event was introduced and in 1906 a “running man” competition was added. Direct Army control ceased about 1909, when the NZDFRA became the National Rifle Association. The Government, however, continued to make an annual grant (£5,000) and to supply free ammunition. Since the Second World War Government support has been gradually withdrawn and the association is now nearly self-supporting. In 1952 the annual grant of £5,000 and free ammunition was replaced by an annual subsidy of £1,000 and the right to buy ammunition at reduced prices. In 1962 the annual subsidy was abolished but the concession for the purchase of ammunition was retained. The Army continues to assist with the running of the annual national meeting, but these arrangements are to be reviewed in 1967.

In 1952, following the termination of the annual Government grants, the National Rifle Association was reconstituted as the National Rifle Association of New Zealand and registered, as an independent body, under the Incorporated Societies' Act of 1908.