Mixed magic as Te Atatū duo claim crown!

The 2025 Shade Systems Champion of Champions Mixed Pairs served up a thrilling finale to the season, with 22 top club pairs from across Auckland descending on Royal Oak Bowls for a weekend of high-stakes competition.

Emerging victorious were Adam Blucher and Marion Hakaraia from Te Atatū Peninsula, combining flair and finesse to claim the coveted title. Blucher’s bold shot-making and Hakaraia’s steady draw game proved the perfect mix, with a dramatic six-pointer in the final swinging the momentum in their favour. It was a third COC title for Blucher—and a very special first for Hakaraia after several near misses.

Alongside the bowls action, the Shade Systems Bowl-a-500 kept spirits high. While the target proved elusive, Ryan Bright of Maraetai Bowls walked away as the lucky prize draw winner!

Huge thanks to Royal Oak Bowls for hosting in style and to Shade Systems for their support across this series, on and off the green.

👉 Read the full event wrap here

1–5 Winter Quad – a showcase of future talent

This weekend marks an exciting milestone in the player development space as the inaugural 1–5 Year Winter Quad gets underway, bringing together emerging representative sides from Auckland, Counties Manukau, Waikato, and Thames Valley.

While there’s no silverware up for grabs, the true rewards lie in the experience gained, the pride of pulling on centre colours, and the connections forged on and off the green. For many players, this will be their first taste of representative bowls, a crucial stepping stone in their journey.

Selectors will be watching closely, with performances helping to shape future squads and identify those ready to take the next step.

Weather permitting, the Auckland side will hit the road for a rare away fixture, travelling to Cambridge Bowling Club — a return to intercentre travel not seen in recent years for the 1–5 group. Supporters making the day trip can expect passionate sideline energy, high-quality match play, and moments that remind us just how important grassroots development is to the game’s future.

A huge thank you to Bowls Waikato and Cambridge Bowling Club for hosting this fresh initiative. Bowls Auckland 1-5s are buzzing to travel and represent their centre with pride. Game on!

End of an era for Blue Waters Trust 

After almost 25 years of dedicated support to the bowls community, the Blue Waters Community Trust (BWCT) has officially closed. Since its establishment in 2001, the Trust has injected over $15 million in grants, with approximately $10 million directly benefiting bowls through clubs, Bowls Auckland and Bowls New Zealand.

BWCT's closure follows unsuccessful efforts to secure a new gaming venue, leading to the surrender of its Operator’s Licence. While the Trust will remain open temporarily under its charitable status to meet final obligations, it will no longer serve as a funding source for clubs or community groups.

We extend heartfelt thanks to the current trustees—John Slater, Allan Smith, Murray Lander, and Ben Marris—as well as past trustees and Marco Management for their years of service.

Bowls Auckland acknowledges the significant gap BWCT’s absence leaves and is actively working on alternative funding avenues to support clubs. 

👉 Read the full article

Winter Coaching Week One

Week one of the Winter Coaching programme is done and dusted—and what a strong start it’s been! Across all zones, there’s been great energy, strong engagement, and a clear commitment to learning from both players and coaches.

Despite a few weather interruptions, sessions struck a great balance between on-green skills and classroom learning while we waited for the showers to pass. It was especially pleasing to see both new and returning players embracing feedback, asking questions, and stepping outside their comfort zones.

Our coaches deserve huge credit for creating a positive, flexible, and focused learning environment, tailoring their approach to support both group and individual needs.

Looking ahead to week two, numbers will dip slightly due to the 1–5 rep match, giving newer players an excellent opportunity to get some quality one-on-one time with coaches and really sharpen their skills.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to such a successful opening week—the momentum is building, and we’re excited to keep it rolling!

More support, stronger delivery for 2025 season

Bowls Auckland is introducing several key updates to Centre Events in 2025, focused on enhancing the player experience and supporting our hardworking clubs.

Host clubs will receive increased green fees to help with rising costs, and umpire support is getting a boost, aimed at growing the network, improving event delivery, and speeding up Bowlshub results.

Third-place prize money is making a return across all Centre and 1–5 Year competitions, while national pathway subsidies will increase to $250 per player.

To support these improvements, entry fees will rise from $25 to $30 per player (the first increase in five years). Prize money for non-pathway Interclub events will be removed and redirected into areas that benefit more bowlers.

These changes reflect our ongoing commitment to sustainable, high-quality events that work better for everyone.

👉 Read the full update here

Matariki Fours

-- Marion Hakaraia

Te Atatū and New Lynn Bowling Clubs extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make the 2025 Matariki Open Fours Tournament another standout success.

More than just a competition, the event was a celebration of Matariki mā Puanga—a time to honour the past, reflect on the present, and plan for the year ahead. Players and supporters came together under sunny skies to share their love of the game, enjoy great food and laughter, and strengthen the bonds that bowls continues to build across our community.

Thank you for being part of the fun, friendship, and festive spirit. We look forward to seeing you next year!

Te Atatū and New Lynn Bowling Clubs extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make the 2025 Matariki Open Fours Tournament another standout success.

More than just a competition, the event was a celebration of Matariki mā Puanga—a time to honour the past, reflect on the present, and plan for the year ahead. Players and supporters came together under sunny skies to share their love of the game, enjoy great food and laughter, and strengthen the bonds that bowls continues to build across our community.

The 2025 Open Fours Winners were: David Motu, Taylor Horne, Ryan Hill & Steven Gaughan.

Thank you for being part of the fun, friendship, and festive spirit. We look forward to seeing you next year! Ngā mihi to our sponsors, our volunteers, supporters and players and to our Matua for opening and closing our tournament.