Community collaboration delivers covered bowls green

-- Eastern Times

There was a sense of irony when Howick Bowling Club held its official opening for the super structure canopy now covering one of its greens, enabling play in all weather.

For it rained heavily last Saturday morning, the very reason why it’s been constructed, and every one present to celebrate a grand construction job done very well were bone dry and smiling.

It’s been a major building project undertaken by the club, and the volunteers who guided its creation can stand back and proudly say they did that.

President Brian Jago described it a “special day in the long history of the Howick Bowling Club”.

“This day marks the culmination of eight years of hard work, setbacks and frustration.

👉 Read full Eastern Times article

Triples thrills as new Champs emerge

The Shade Systems Champ of Champs Triples produced another weekend full of surprises and standout performances, with new champions crowned after some thrilling contests.

Few would have predicted New Lynn’s men to lift the trophy, but they pieced together a remarkable campaign, knocking off several highly fancied opponents before holding their nerve in a gripping final. Their resilience and ability to deliver under pressure was a highlight.

The women’s title went to the experienced Carlton Cornwall combination, who delivered quality bowls throughout the knockout rounds. After weathering a spirited fightback in the final, they found another gear to claim a convincing victory and add another Champ of Champs title to the club’s impressive record.

There were also milestone moments along the way, with Maraetai celebrating its first-ever Champ of Champs win in any discipline and Kohimarama enjoying one of the club’s strongest COC performances in recent years by reaching the semi-finals.

Now, all eyes turn to the final event of the 2026 Shade Systems Champ of Champs Series, with the ever-popular Mixed Pairs set to bring the curtain down on what has been an unforgettable competition.

👉 Read the full recap

Family Roll Up Day a Winner at Royal Oak

If fun and laughter is the measure of success, then Royal Oak Bowls had it in buckets on Saturday.

While Auckland's best club champs battled it out in the Shade Systems Champ of Champs Triples, some 80 local youngsters and families rolled through the club for our Family Roll Up Day, and they certainly kept the club buzzing.

It was hard to pick the crowd favourite. Was it the incredible face painting? The kids having their first go at bowls? The giveaway drink bottles? Or perhaps the dads enjoying the club refreshments!

Royal Oak's Lynette Dixon said the day was a tremendous success. "Many visitors from our local community came through our doors to try bowls, enjoy the activities, and experience everything our club has to offer. It was a wonderful opportunity to showcase both our sport and our club while hosting the Auckland Champ of Champs Triples, allowing visitors to witness some of the very best bowls being played in the region."

For event umpire Janine Young, one moment stood above the rest. "A highlight on Saturday was having a three-year-old escape from inside and kick a rubber bowl through the rinks being played on! A very exciting men's final topped off a lovely weekend."

A huge thank you to Royal Oak Bowls and their amazing volunteers, who even hit the neighbourhood letterboxes to help spread the word. Their efforts created a fantastic day for the club and for bowls.

The Family Roll Up fun heads to New Lynn this Saturday. Bring the kids, round up the whānau, and come along. We'd love to see you there!

Final COC Series Showdown at Mixed Pairs

The 2026 Shade Systems Champ of Champs Series reaches its exciting conclusion this weekend as the Mixed Pairs takes centre stage at New Lynn.

Now in just its third year, the event has quickly become a fan favourite, bringing a unique dynamic to the greens and showcasing the strength of mixed-gender combinations from clubs across Auckland.

The draw is packed with quality pairings, including defending champions Adam Blucher and Marion Hakaraia, former winners Davey and Aggie Motu, and several in-form combinations ready to challenge for the title. With so much talent on display, another weekend of thrilling bowls is on the cards.

Off the green, there's plenty happening too, with the return of Bowl-a-500, another Family Day Roll Up activation, plus the kitchen and bar open throughout the weekend, making New Lynn the place to be.

Who will write the final chapter of the 2026 Champ of Champs Series? 

👉 Read our key storyline

Across the Ditch and Into the Knockouts!

The 2026 Australian Open is well underway on Queensland’s Gold Coast, and while many of the world’s best bowlers are in action, it’s fantastic to see a strong Auckland presence making waves on the international stage.

Joining a star-studded Kiwi contingent that includes Blackjacks such as Ali Forsyth, Shannon McIlroy, Tayla Bruce and Selina Goddard, several Auckland bowlers have battled their way through to the knockout rounds.

Keep an eye on these campaigns:

• Men’s Fours: Aiden Takarua, Tony Garelja and Neil Fisher fly the Auckland flag today in the Fours competition.
• Men’s Singles: Aiden Takarua, Dean Edge and Petar Sain continue their title quests on Saturday 13 June.
• Men’s Pairs: Petar Sain partners with Gary Lawson on Monday 15 June.
• Women’s Pairs: Sarah Childs teams up with Rachel Wolfenden (SA) in their knockout match on Tuesday 16 June.

It’s always great to see our local talent testing themselves against some of the best in the world. We wish all our Auckland bowlers, along with the wider Kiwi contingent, the very best as they continue their Australian Open campaigns.

👉Follow all the results here

Rolling into schools with Tuia Waitākere

-- Hannah Neville

Connecting young people with bowls is at the heart of our school engagement programme, so it was a real privilege to be invited to present at Tuia Waitākere’s Healthy Active Learning (HAL) wānanga for West Auckland teachers.

The afternoon was all about sharing practical, inclusive ways to keep tamariki active and engaged, and I loved introducing our Rookie Rollers as a fun and accessible way for students to experience bowls. It was fantastic to see teachers getting hands-on, trying new activities, and exploring how games can be adapted so every child can take part.

Opportunities like this help build strong connections with educators and create even more pathways for young people to discover and enjoy our sport. A huge thank you to the Tuia Waitākere team for the invitation. We’re excited to continue working together to bring bowls into more schools across West Auckland and the wider Auckland community.

Shape the future of Bowls: PPC Applications Open

Want to help shape the future of bowls in Auckland? Applications are now open for the 2026-2027 Playing Programme Committee (PPC).

Representing players, umpires and the wider bowling community, the Committee plays a key role in developing the Centre’s tournament programme and Conditions of Play. It's an opportunity to contribute your ideas, share your experience, and help ensure Auckland bowls continues to evolve with the needs of the game.

If you're passionate about the sport and keen to make a difference beyond the green, we'd love to hear from you. Applications close 30 June 2026.

👉Read more and how to apply