Red Alert Paintball Games
Red Alert Paintball Games was a New Zealand paintball field established by Lance Potter on Totara Road, Ararimu, Auckland. Potter's contemporary account describes developing the business during 1996 and opening the field the following February.[1]
History
[edit]Establishment
[edit]Potter traced the project to January 1996, after attending a workplace social paintball game in Penrose. He subsequently advertised for land to lease in South Auckland and selected a property in Ararimu.[1]
His account described approximately 7.5 acres of playing area with space for off-road parking. Youngs Airgun Centre directed him to Paintball Express and its operator, Lukas Kruesi, for equipment and advice.[1]
Resource consent and opening
[edit]According to Potter, preparations for a resource-consent application to Franklin Council began in June 1996. Supporting material included planning, noise and vehicle-access information.[1]
His account records a council hearing on 16 December and notification of consent approval on 20 December. Following the appeal period, the field opened on 22 February. The article's chronology places the opening in 1997.[1]
Potter reported that consent conditions included road-access improvements, roadside planting, a portable toilet and limits of 20 players per game and three games daily between 8 am and 6 pm. He estimated the total establishment cost at approximately NZ$30,000.[1]
Playing facilities
[edit]The contemporary New Zealand Paintball field directory described Red Alert as an approximately ten-acre field with hilly terrain, scrub cover, surrounding paddocks and a small creek. Artificial cover and sandbags were being added to open areas.[2]
The directory listed capacity for 20 players and Equalizer semi-automatic rental markers. It named Lance and Michelle Potter as contacts.[2]
The directory's approximate ten-acre description differs from the 7.5-acre playing area described in Potter's establishment account.[1][2]
Operation
[edit]Potter's contemporary player profile identifies him as Red Alert's owner and field operator. He described establishing the field as his principal paintball achievement.[3]
References
[edit]- Lance Potter — “Opening a New Paintball Field in New Zealand”. New Zealand Paintball website. First-person account of establishing Red Alert Paintball Games; Internet Archive capture dated 4 February 1998.
- New Zealand Paintball — Fields, Clubs and Stores. Red Alert Paintball Games listing describing the Ararimu field, capacity, equipment and contacts. Internet Archive capture dated 4 February 1998.
- New Zealand Paintball — Who's Who: Lance Potter. Contemporary profile identifying Potter as Red Alert's owner and field operator; preserved in a February 1998 Internet Archive capture.