Following a thorough consultation process involving player surveys, the Club Delegates Forum, Bowls New Zealand, and discussions with other centres, we are delighted to present the Bowls Auckland Calendar of Events for 2026-2027.

A special thank you goes to the Playing Programme Committee (PPC), a committee made up of bowlers from across the region who are tasked with considering feedback from a variety of stakeholders and developing the annual playing programme.

While many aspects of the calendar remain familiar, several exciting developments are set to enhance the season ahead.

Rapid Roll

• Rapid Roll will continue as Bowls Auckland’s dedicated midweek competition.
• Two tournaments will be scheduled, with a pre-Christmas Pairs competition followed by a post-Christmas Pennants-style format.

1–5 Year Programme

• Further integration with the Winter Development Programme has helped shape an exciting calendar for new and emerging bowlers.
• Seven dedicated events will be offered throughout the season.
• A new Any Combination Open Fours tournament will be introduced, welcoming entries from across New Zealand. Replacing the previous Centre Triples and Fours events, the tournament aims to become the largest 1–5 Year competition in the country.

Centre Events

• To create a better flow throughout the season, the Centre Singles, Pairs and Fours will now be completed before Christmas and ahead of their respective national events.
• This change creates additional space later in the season, particularly during April and over ANZAC Weekend, giving clubs greater opportunity to complete club championships before the commencement of the Centre Champion of Champions programme.

In addition, Bowls New Zealand has made several adjustments to the national calendar, including extending the National Fours and National Mixed Pairs to five-day events.

For those planning their season, the National Mixed Pairs will conclude on Friday 26 February. Bowls New Zealand has confirmed that only the Final will be played on the Friday, allowing most participants the flexibility to travel on either Thursday or Friday ahead of the commencement of the Pathway 7s and Auckland Cup competitions.

View full calendar here

The next step in the process is the review, confirmation and publication of the Conditions of Play for all events. These documents will include details such as formats, qualification criteria, game lengths and other competition requirements.

This stage will also provide an opportunity for feedback gathered through the Player Survey to be further considered and, where appropriate, incorporated into event formats and playing conditions.

All Conditions of Play will be published before entries open, so keep an eye on Bowls Auckland communications for further updates.