Newsletter August 2025
Board Update
Thank you for the service of our 2024-2025 board members who have stepped down from their positions:
Trevor Cowan (president); Alister Watson, Ric Hunt,
Continuing board; John Lochhead (president); Peter Dunne (vicepresident) Margaret O'Connor; John Knapp
New board Members; Maria Wallis; Allan Rickard; Barbara H Wilson
Also welcome Terry Scott Convenor of Men's Selectors replacing Ric Hunt
Also thankyou to Pauline Seaton our centre administrator for her past and ongoing work. Pauline has many hats in the wider bowling community. Included in these: Pauline is an ITO (International Technical Officer) and holds a postion on the NZ Umpires Committee. She has umpired at the World Bowls Championships. Pauline bowls out of Waipiata.
Places for this coaching programme are filling up fast.
Celebrating our clubs recent success at the New Zealand Champion of Champions.
How are We Doing ?
Mens Singles; Shaun Scott, Bannockburn BC. Semi finalist
Womens Singles: Pip Kiddey, Wanaka. Won one, close losses.
Mens Fours: Peter Bain, Peter Dunne , Grant Hammond, Trevor Tomlins - Arrowtown BC. Won two. Missed out by one shot on an extra end to win the third match to qualify.
Womens Fours: Jane Anderson, Andrea Dowman, Margaret O'Connor, Kathleen Mann - Queenstown BC. Semi Finalist
Still to come
Pairs: Mens 8 to 10 August at Hamilton
Shaun Scott, Terry Scott - Bannockburn BC
Pairs: Womens 15 to 17 August at New Lynn Auckland
Jo-Anne Stock, Kim Tilly - Wanaka BC
Triples: 22 to 24 August at New Lynn & Royal Oak Auckland
Trish Harris, Nikki Milne, Angela Wilson - Omakau BC
Bill Clements, Ray Leeden, Len Lynskey - Alexandra BC
Mixed Pairs: 29-31 August at Tauranga
Trevor Drake , Nikki Milne - Omakau BC
Trevor and Nikki's game scheduled for 2.30pm on Friday 29th August will be screened Live on You Tube
Focus on Para Bowls
This is a branch of bowls where bowlers can compete with others who have physical disabilities. For the most part they compete in clubs, club pennants and centre events with fully abled people in order to get practise..
There are specific tournaments dedicated to para bowlers as well a section in the 2026 SUMMERSET NATIONALS 2-9 January in Christchurch where serious para bowlers can compete in singles and pairs events. The Para Bowls Nationals will be held in Mount Maunganui 10-13 November 2025. NZ will also be represented in the para category at the 2025 World Cup, to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 4-9 November and 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
To determine a physically impaired athlete class, classifiers observe athletes as they perform a range of movements. They test for muscle power, coordination and range of movement.
The classification process is thorough. There is a medical classifier and a technical classifier. Bruce Walker - Dunedin has just received his International technical certification.
Contact the secretary Pam Walker and she will send out two forms to any prospective para bowler.
1: Medical form to be completed by the GP and sent to the Medical classifier.
2: Membership form to be completed and returned to the secretary. A Sub of $40 is to be paid.
Once the medical classifier has received the form from the GP she then will then decide on eligibility. Most will then need to be classified face to face by the medical and technical classifier. Para bowls are classifying 10 new bowlers at Mount Maunganui in November, the day before the Nationals start.
Both Bruce and Margaret (medical) live in Dunedin so quite handy to be done locally.
email the secretary pamandbruce@gmail.com
Click for Para Bowls New Zealand
Click for Facebook Para Bowls NZ
Greenkeepers Conference
A successful South Island Greenkeepers conference was held at the ADC rooms on 21&22 July.
The Bowls NZ Competency and Training Package for Bowls Greenkeeping has continued to gain momentum as it is exposed to Clubs during conferences. Thanks to Prebble Seeds, NZSTI, and Bowls NZ for the enormous contributions all these corporates make to Greenkeeping in New Zealand.
Ric Hunt Commented:
First time I have been to a Green Keeper's Conference was blown away from the experience would recommend every bowler takes the opportunity to attend at least one. The insight and the hard work green keeper's put in shouldn't be underestimated their knowledge about their own green is for our benefit as bowlers. Central Otago did well for presenting a great Conference and Robbie Gibson M.C.d this event job well done. The presentations from the guest speakers was enlightening and everyone should have got something out of it.
Nelson next year.
Thanks John & John and Team outstanding
Murray Wilson Commented:
Great event, well run, lots of info gained. Venue was perfect.
Query over the method used to host for Central Otago Champ of Champs
As documented in AGM minutes 15 June 2025
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Singles and Pairs: Men and Women at same 2 green club over same weekend - Saturday Singles and Sunday Pairs. Alphabetically rostered – Alexandra, Clyde, Queenstown, Roxburgh. Clubs host once every 4 years. 2025: Alexandra hosted Men & Women Singles & Pairs 2026: Clyde to host Men & Women Singles & Pairs
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Triples and Fours: Men and Women at separate single green clubs over same weekend – Saturday Triples and Sunday Fours. Alphabetically rostered – ADC, Arrowtown, Bannockburn, Cromwell, Hawea, Middlemarch, Naseby, Omakau, Patearoa, Ranfurly, Waipiata, Wanaka. Clubs host either Men or Women once every 6 years. 2025: Arrowtown hosted Men’s Triples and Fours Patearoa hosted Women’s Triples and Fours 2026: Bannockburn to host Men’s Triples and Fours Ranfurly to host Women’s Triples and Fours
Bowls NZ asking for submissions on the online Casino Bill
Letter has been shortened:
For us (the bowls community), ‘the pokies’ have funded greenkeeping, artificial greens, new club roofs, new shelters, the new lawn mower ... and much more.
If the government passes this new law, that allows online casino’s to operate in NZ (and not distribute monies to communities) then very quickly the money available from the likes of NZCT, Lion etc will disappear. As evidenced by Lotto and the TAB; consumers increasingly prefer to gamble online than visit Lotto or TAB outlets.
How you can help! Here is how you (clubs and centres) can help.
Go to this link: Complete the submission
In your own words (either as a club, centre or individual)
Your fear that community grants will decline/disappear when ‘the pokies’ go online (and online revenues are not distributed to NZ communities)
When it comes to the recommendation section, copy this statement : We want government to embed into this new Bill the same principle from the Gambling Act 2003 (and the 1977 Gaming and Lotteries Act before it); that being “Gambling should benefit the community.” Government can carry this out by requiring that revenue from online casino gambling is shared with the community, especially sport.
If we don’t do anything then that new carpet green or roof or .... is going to be that much harder to fundraise for.
The deadline for submissions is 17th August.
Ngā mihi / Kind regards
Mark Cameron
CEO, Bowls New Zealand
