An Islamic women's netball tournament is telling fathers to enter their daughters in other tournaments, if they want to see them play.

A father has complained to the Herald that he is unable to watch his daughters play in today's privately organised event, at Zayed College for Girls in Auckland.

The Islamic Women's Council media spokesperson Anjum Rahman says he doesn't have to enter his daughters if he doesn't want them to participate in something he can't be present at.

"He's quite welcome to, if he wants to have his daughter playing in a tournament where he can watch her play, to enter her in another tournament."

The Muslim father, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Herald it was discrimination and it needs to be acknowledged as this.

"When segregation and separation happens based on gender only - and where there is no cultural or religious reason to support it, it needs to be stopped by identifying it for what it is."

The tournament has been running for the last 15 years or so and has always excluded men from the event. The referees and coaches at the tournament are also required to be female.