Next Gen shines in Wellington

Some of Auckland’s young guns embraced the atmosphere and competition at the 2026 Kittyhawk Under 21 Singles over Easter weekend, gaining valuable experience against some of the country’s best emerging talent.

Up top, Dunedin’s Jacob Potiki-Tagg took out the Boys title and overall honours after a thrilling 21–18 win over Kyle Pinn (Gisborne), while Wellington’s Lily Signal was the top-performing female, reaching the semifinals and claiming the Girls trophy.

For Auckland, Adam Blucher delivered a admirable campaign to claim the Division 2 title with a commanding 21–6 win over Eden Murell-Manu (Marlborough). Hannah Dawson produced another credible tournament to reach the Division 2 quarter-final, while Christian-Ly Filipo embraced the opportunity, gaining invaluable experience and continuing her steady development on the national stage. Auckland can take plenty of encouragement from its next generation.

It’s exciting to see the depth of talent coming through, and events such as the Kittyhawk U21 Singles, St George National U26 Pairs and Burnside U26 Singles play an important role in providing pathways for next-gen bowlers to build experience and skill.

Thanks to Bowls Wellington for hosting a fantastic event and taking great care of the players.

Photo source: Bowls Wellington

1-5 Interclub ready to take off!

The 1–5 Interclub gets underway this weekend, with Auckland’s rising talent set to take centre stage in one of the season’s most competitive events.

With a coveted invitational spot at Northland’s prestigious Mercedes Cup up for grabs, all eyes will be on defending champions Mt Albert, who face strong challenges across multiple sections from in-form and emerging sides.

Clubs like Blockhouse Bay, Ōtāhuhu Railway, Royal Oak, and Howick headline a deep field, while several developing teams, including a returning Bucklands Beach lineup—add to the intrigue. With a mix of proven performers and exciting new names, the stage is set for high-quality, unpredictable bowls.

Despite a weather watch, play is currently scheduled to proceed as planned, with conditions likely to test adaptability and composure.

👉 Read our section-by-section breakdown.

CASS students rolling to new heights!

-- Hannah Neville

Rain couldn’t stop 30 students from Central Auckland Special School (CASS) from enjoying their recent All Abilities Day at New Lynn Bowling Club. From return players to first-timers, everyone had the chance to roll, compete, and cheer each other on.

Friendship, teamwork, and confidence were the winners of the day, with students stepping into coaching roles, making new friends, and feeling included every step of the way. As David from St Peter’s said, “You made us feel like we can do anything.”

This tournament wasn’t just about bowls - it was about belonging, growth, and celebrating the abilities of every student.

👉Read our full story

Auckland BC double up at National Interclub 7s

Auckland Bowling Club will be proudly represented by both its men’s and women’s teams at this season’s National 7s, running Thursday 9 to Sunday 12 April.

We wish both teams the very best for the tournament, good luck and good bowls!

Follow all the action
Held across clubs across Wellington, you can follow al the action:

• Results and event info 
• Four days of broadcast on Bowls NZ YouTube channel and Sky Sport NZ

100% success for new constitutions across our sport

It’s official…all 38 Bowls Auckland affiliated clubs have successfully had their constitutions accepted, contributing to a nationwide milestone of 490 clubs achieving full compliance. That’s 100% success!

This is no small feat. A huge amount of work has gone on behind the scenes, and it’s a credit to the dedicated mahi of club execs and members who stepped up and got it done.

A special shout out to Bowls New Zealand’s Martin MacKenzie, whose leadership played a key role in guiding and delivering this process, an incredible achievement.

That’s 100% success for our clubs.
100% for our community.
100% for bowls 🩵

Mt Albert Invitational delivers top-class bowls

-- Rang Haturini

The $30,000 Mt Albert Invitational Fours over Easter once again brought some of New Zealand’s best bowlers to the greens. With 25 ends of Fours, spectators were treated to world-class play from a stellar field including world number 9 Aiden Takarua, Tony Grantham, Taylor Horne, Jamie Hill, Dan Dickison, Lance Tasker, and Hamish Kelleher.

Mount Albert Bowling Club President Nathan “Rang” Haturini praised the effort behind the event, saying the club aimed to make it a premier, high-stakes tournament while offering a welcoming experience for players and supporters alike.

The format saw four sections of four teams, with three rounds of 25 ends narrowing the field to an eight-team Main Event and an eight-team Shoot-Out.

In Sunday’s Shoot-Out final, Adam Wishnoski’s team edged out Chris Lowe’s side in a 12-end thriller, taking home the $2,000 top prize, while runners-up claimed $1,000.

The Main Event semi-finals featured intense matchups. Local favourites Tony Grantham’s team beat Lance Tasker’s side 31-18, while Dan Dickison’s lead team narrowly overcame Aiden Takarua’s squad in a nail-biting finish that went down to the final bowl. Both losing semi-finalists earned $4,000 each.

The final was a showdown the crowd had been waiting for. With Grantham in devastating form, his team gradually pulled away over the last 5–6 ends to claim the title 25-18, pocketing the $12,000 first prize. Second place earned $7,000.

The club extended thanks to players, volunteers, and sponsors, with special recognition to Tony Grantham and Neven Grgicevich for helping run a seamless event. Rang added, “We’re excited to increase next year’s prize pool and showcase Mount Albert Bowling Club to all of next year’s visitors.”

A huge shoutout also to those keeping everyone well fed across the three days: Marisa Posa, Aggie Motu, Angela Beaumont, Linda Anderson, Helen Coyte, Glyn Beaumont, Miller Bell, and Helen Blick, among others.

The 2026 Mt Albert Invitational Fours has firmly cemented its place as one of the country’s top bowling events, with fans already looking forward to 2027.

Coaching Committee - Applications Now Open

Bowls Auckland is calling for expressions of interest to join its Coaches Committee – a key group helping shape and strengthen coaching across the region.

The Committee supports initiatives to attract, retain, develop, and promote coaches at both club and regional level, with a strong focus on engaging those new to the game. It also plays a leading role in delivering the Year 0–5 Winter Programme, including the development pathway and popular Campi, Canoe, and ABCA Cup events.

With five zone convenors (Central, East, South-East, South-West, and West) supported by the Bowls Auckland team, this is a great opportunity to grow your coaching capability while giving back to the sport.

If you’re keen to get involved, we encourage you to learn more and apply before 30 April.

👉 Read more and apply here