Te Kauwhata Bowling Club opened its 2025-26 season with a fresh new look not only on its bowling surface – the envy of other clubs – but also its revamped surrounds.
Anne Goodin, club patron and life member, sent down the first jack, with John Cunningham, Te Kauwhata Retirement Trust Board (Aparangi) chair delivering the first bowl on the new green.
Officially opening the new green, Waikato District Council Mayor Aksel Bech said it was a fine example of how many parts of the community worked together for a unique outcome that would benefit the wider community.
Noting his pleasure in his first official Mayoral duty since the election, he said his goal was to remove obstacles and red tape that create barriers for communities to thrive.
The new bowling green sports a woven green gauge carpet surface, from Scotland, putting it amongst the best in the country. Together with its free draining concrete base – only the third in the country- it creates a year-round bowling facility.
John Cunningham said whilst Aparangi was a major donor, the willingness of other local organisations and the community and Bowling Club itself to put in time, money and goods was outstanding.
“Small communities rely on many people to make things like this happen,” he said. “ We have major financial donors like the Trust Board and House of Treasures, fund-raising from the Bowling Club and some incredible donors such as Ward Quarries who donated all the metal, Game On Turf, Earthcare Services, TB Electrical, Haven Signs, Thorburn Builders, Keith Mahon Painters, NZ Signs Co, Laser Plumbing Te Kauwhata, Huntly Plumbers and AquaPave. We are incredibly grateful to them all for the generosity.”
The project took just on four months from start to finish. The 1,170sq m bowling green is on a base of metal, permeable concrete and underlay. According to Bowls NZ, this is next level, and the concrete base will provide an even longer-term quality surface.
The sprinkler system around the green has been totally replumbed, a new water tank installed, new porch concrete poured, and a new entranceway installed, which is mobility scooter friendly. The old punga shelters have been replaced with new shelters and parts of the old green donated to other clubs.
The green came from Game On Turf, the preferred supplier of artificial greens to clubs affiliated to Bowls New Zealand. The New Zealand Sports Turf Institute, a NZ organisation approved by World Bowls, will test the green after six months ensuring it meets standards set by World Bowls for artificial turf.
Martin McKenzie from Bowls NZ praised the Te Kauwhata Club for its foresight in developing the revolutionary new surface, saying Te Kauwhata was at the forefront of the concrete base option and club administrators around the country will be closely watching their progress.
“Bowls New Zealand is extremely proud of the work Te Kauwhata Bowling Club has done to install the new green and we look forward to seeing some real growth in the game in the Te Kauwhata community. We thank the club and all those involved in making this a reality and look forward to bowling a few bowls on the new green.”
Cr Marlene Raumati commented that the village was rich in good facilities, but that this investment was an outstanding example of a community coming together.
John Richardson, Te Kauwhata Bowling Club president, said the new green would enable year-round play and hoped it would encourage new bowlers to join and play on a world class facility.
“The club particularly welcomes new bowlers, who can turn up on club days (Tuesday and Saturday) any time after 9.30am and we will arrange to have someone provide bowls and guidance. The only thing they need is flat soled shoes.
He said the club was working with schools to offer bowls programmes, with the new green allowing greater flexibility for an extended season.
“We know our twilight bowls are very popular, and we welcome interest in the new year from businesses, community organisations keen to make up a team, along with individuals who can form a team.”
He noted the highly popular Twilight bowls tournament series would run again early in the new year; a hotly contested yet lighthearted event for teams comprising business or community organisations and groups of enthusiastic locals (contact the bowling club for information).
