The New Zealand Geographical Society, was founded in Wellington in August 1944, when the Canterbury and Wellington Geographical Associations joined to form the national body.  It was officially incorporated on 6 November 1944. Its aim is to promote and stimulate the study of Geography within New Zealand. 

NZGS is devoted to the growth of scientific and educational understanding of Geography. Until 2005 its membership has supported the publication of two journals: New Zealand Geographer and New Zealand Journal of Geography. The former has been a peer reviewed international journal for disseminating geographical knowledge relevant to New Zealand, Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. The latter has been devoted to the publication of geographical knowledge to the wider educational community of New Zealand. From 2005 these journals have been combined into one expanded journal published three times a year by Blackwell Publishing. The refreshed journal continues to be edited by the same editorial board, is published under the title New Zealand Geographer and reaches a wider readership than the previous format.

The holding of regular meetings in conjunction with the affiliated New Zealand Board of Geography Teachers (NZBoGT) facilitates the transmission of ideas and knowledge between geographers in the schools and universities. 

A close relationship is maintained with the Institute of Australian Geographers. Four joint conferences have been held: in Auckland in 1992, in Hobart, Tasmania in early 1997, in Dunedin, in 2001 and, most recently, as part of the IGU Regional Conference in Brisbane, Australia (July, 2006).   

NZ Geographical Society is a member of the International Geographical Union via its membership of The Royal Society of New Zealand.