Ringing in the Year of the Snake! 

Lunar New Year festivities are lighting up towns and cities across Aotearoa as we welcome the Year of the Snake!

Symbolising wisdom, intuition, and transformation, the Snake represents a year of personal growth and determination. Those born in 2025 are said to be resourceful, self-reliant, and tenacious—watch out for some future trailblazers!

From dazzling lantern displays to cultural performances and mouthwatering feasts, Tāmaki Makaurau offers a multitude of events to help you celebrate. 📣 Find out what's happening near you

新年快乐! Happy New Year! 🧧 🏮🎊 ✨

Men’s squads named for Octagonal Challenge!

The countdown is on! Bowls Auckland is proud to announce the Men’s Premier and Development teams set to compete in the Octagonal Challenge on 15 & 16 February.

🔹 Premier Challenge – Browns Bay BC
🔹 Development Challenge – Howick BC

They’ll be up against top competitors from seven other regions, and we can’t wait to see them in action!  Congrats and best of luck to all selected players.

📣 Women’s squads to be announced next week—watch this space!

The 2025 Trans-Tasman is underway at Naenae Bowling Club! From 31 January to 2 February, you can watch our NZ BlackJacks take on Australia in this epic battle!

Good luck to our NZ Blackjacks! You can catch all the action LIVE – three games per day on Bowls NZ's YouTube channel and Sky Sport.

👉 View the full playing and broadcast schedule here.

Aucklanders pursuing titles in Taranaki Fours

Seventeen Auckland men’s teams made the journey down State Highway 3 for the country’s biggest fours event, the Taranaki Open Fours. With 180 teams competing—including six from Australia, one from the USA, and a Para Bowls NZ wildcard side—the competition was fierce! The format demanded six wins from eight rounds to qualify for post-section play, with teams battling through 25-end games under the hot and windy Taranaki skies.

Auckland teams put up a strong showing, with three teams reaching the final eight and another three making the last 16. The Steve Fisher-led team fell to Dickinson’s side in the quarterfinals after a tough encounter with bowls legend Peter Belliss, describing their performance in that match as “their worst bowls.”

The Pt Chevalier team of John Petelo, Steve Hoeft, Tony Marumaru, and Phil Aitken had a stellar run, winning seven straight section games before falling to two-time champions Craig Defaira and his West End team in the first post-section round. Meanwhile, Neville Hill’s squad and Rob Ashton’s team advanced to the quarterfinals, showcasing Auckland’s depth of talent.

In the women’s event, three Auckland teams—Robyn Reihana-skipped side, Blockhouse Bay’s Colleen Short-led team, and a Carlton Cornwall composite team—competed valiantly but missed out on post-section play.

Despite not claiming the title, Auckland’s strong presence and deep runs highlighted the region’s talent and competitive spirit. 

👉 Full results and event news: Taranaki Open Fours

Avondale Cup - a weekend to remember!

-- Aggie Motu

New Lynn Bowling Club came alive last weekend, hosting the revived Avondale Cup Tournament in honour of the former Avondale Bowling Club. With 19 teams battling it out, the competition was fierce—some matches were decided on the very last bowl!
After the qualifying rounds, the top 10 teams advanced to the Cup event, while the rest fought it out in the Plate event. But the action wasn’t just on the green! AJ Hill Solo Artist set the mood on Saturday night with classic old-school and RNB hits, and Sunday turned into a full-blown celebration—dancing, laughter, and bowls banter well into the night.

A huge congrats to Hill, Botica & Hall, the only team to go unbeaten on Day Two, claiming the Avondale Cup! And a big shoutout to Gojko Bulog, who took home the Plate title.

During the trophy presentation, Club President Taffy Hope thanked the Avondale Fund for supporting the event and reflected on Avondale Bowling Club’s legacy. Established in 1916, the club was a cornerstone of the community before closing in 2019. Hope also acknowledged Avondale’s rich player history, including the achievements of Hill and Brassey, whose success spanned club and national titles—Hill even representing New Zealand at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

The Avondale Cup is back—and if this year is anything to go by, its future looks bright!

👉 Click here to find out more about the Avondale Fund 

Les Dunn Memorial a weekend to remember!

-- Darren Schroeder

The inaugural Les Dunn Memorial ACT Tournament at Glen Eden Bowling Club was a fantastic tribute to a beloved bowler. The event with 22 teams from across Auckland was held over Auckland’s Anniversary Weekend.

As the first day progressed, the weather took a turn. Sunday’s conditions remained unpredictable, forcing a delayed start and an early finish. The tournament committee made the call to determine results based on Saturday’s play and the first game on Sunday.

Despite the weather challenges, the competition was fierce, with four teams finishing with four wins. However, Colin Boyle, Rosary Sellick, and Liz Rereiti from Carlton Cornwall claimed victory with the best differential.

A huge thank you to our sponsors, Edmonton Meadows Care Home, and to Lyn Job, Yvonne & Peter Lipsham for sponsoring the trophy. Appreciation also goes to the dedicated volunteers who kept the event running smoothly—both on the greens and behind the scenes.

Thank you to all the players and supporters who made the first Les Dunn Memorial Tournament a success. We can’t wait to see you again next year!

👉 Read the full story and view all the photos here.

A new era for U26 bowlers!

The National Under 26 Pairs set for 29-30 March 2025, is designed to give rising stars a platform to compete, connect, and shine.

With youth participation in bowls growing rapidly—last year’s Auckland Secondary School Pairs saw a 39% increase in entries—it’s clear that young players are hungry for more opportunities. The U26 Pairs is our way of ensuring they have a clear pathway beyond school competition, just like other major youth events such as Burnside and Kittyhawks.

An ‘Open’ tournament, the U26 Pairs welcomes entries from across Aotearoa and beyond, promising a weekend of high-quality competition, camaraderie, and epic bowls action.

Enter today, start training, start planning, and get ready to make your mark!

👉 Register your entry here