In 1946 Zena Gay became the President of the New Zealand Women’s Indoor Basketball Association, only one year after the Association’s inception. She continued this role through to 1972, when the Association was merged with the New Zealand Men’s Basketball Association. She was the inaugural Vice President of the newly formed New Zealand Basketball Federation and served a further six years on the executive committee. She managed the 1958, 1960 and 1964 New Zealand Women’s Basketball teams. In 1970 she received the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to community, especially for women’s basketball. Her contribution is also recognised through the Basketball New Zealand award that is named after her, which recognises notable contribution to women’s basketball.
