Editing Bay of Plenty Paintball Club


'''Bay of Plenty Paintball Club Incorporated''', commonly known as '''Bay of Plenty Paintball Club''' or '''BOP Paintball Club''', is an incorporated [[paintball]] club based in the [[Bay of Plenty]] region of [[New Zealand]]. Established in 2014, the organisation operates a dedicated paintball facility at [[TECT All Terrain Park]], between Tauranga and Rotorua.

The club provides recreational paintball, bushball, competitive speedball, training sessions and organised tournaments. Its facilities include a grass speedball field equipped with inflatable Sup'Air bunkers.

Bay of Plenty Paintball Club began developing its TECT Park facilities in 2017 and commenced regular activities at the site in June 2019. The project received financial support from TECT and One Foundation.

The club has participated in New Zealand tournament competitions, including the New Zealand League Series (NZLS), and has hosted events such as the East Coast Paintball League and Bay of Plenty Paintball Triples.

== History ==

=== Establishment ===

Bay of Plenty Paintball Club was established in 2014 to develop organised paintball participation in the Bay of Plenty region.

The organisation was registered as an incorporated society on 30 July 2014, under registration number 2610936 and New Zealand Business Number 9429043285440. [1]

The club was formed to provide opportunities for recreational and competitive paintball players, including those without access to suitable tournament training facilities.

Before establishing a permanent home, members relied on borrowed land and temporary playing areas.

The organisation attracted players from Tauranga, Rotorua and surrounding communities, with members also travelling from the Waikato region.

=== Development of TECT Park facilities ===

In 2017, Bay of Plenty Paintball Club began developing a dedicated playing facility at [[TECT All Terrain Park]], near Ngawaro, between Tauranga and Rotorua.

The project involved converting an undeveloped area of bush and uneven ground into facilities suitable for organised paintball.

According to the club's historical records, members spent approximately two and a half years fundraising and undertaking construction work before the site opened. [2]

Development included earthworks, clearing and levelling the playing area, establishing grass playing surfaces, and installing safety netting and supporting infrastructure.

A permanent playing area allowed the club to conduct regular training and recreational activities without relying on temporary or borrowed facilities.

=== TECT funding ===

The development of the club's facilities received financial assistance from TECT, a Bay of Plenty community funding organisation.

TECT's 2017–2018 Annual Report records an approved grant of '''NZ$52,808''' to Bay of Plenty Paintball Club for site development at TECT Park. [3]

In a September 2020 report on TECT Park, TECT identified the club as one of the park's established user groups.

The report confirmed that its funding had supported the clearing and levelling of the playing area and the installation of infrastructure, including:

* Safety netting and support poles
* A water tank
* A generator
* Trailer-mounted toilets
* Supporting facilities for the playing fields

At the time, club treasurer River Jermyn described access to the land at TECT Park as important to the organisation's development and its ability to host visiting teams. [4]

The club's official website also acknowledges One Foundation as a major contributor to the development of its facilities. [5]

=== Opening in June 2019 ===

On 22 May 2019, Bay of Plenty Paintball Club announced that its new TECT Park playing facilities were ready to open to members.

The club scheduled its first official club day for '''9 June 2019''', beginning at 10:00 am. [2]

The opening followed approximately two and a half years of fundraising and construction.

The new site provided facilities for existing competitive players and people seeking an introduction to paintball.

The club subsequently established regular monthly club days and training sessions.

== TECT All Terrain Park ==

=== Location ===

Bay of Plenty Paintball Club operates its playing facilities at TECT All Terrain Park, located near Ngawaro on State Highway 36 between Tauranga and Rotorua.

TECT Park is a large public recreation area developed as a joint venture between Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council.

The park accommodates numerous outdoor recreation and sporting organisations, including motorsport, shooting sports and paintball. [6]

Bay of Plenty Paintball Club is recognised by TECT Park as one of its organised user groups.

=== Speedball field ===

The club operates a dedicated speedball playing field equipped with inflatable Sup'Air bunkers.

The field is used for competitive training, organised tournaments and recreational speedball sessions.

Its grass playing surface was established during the original site development.

A January 2020 club report documented maintenance of the playing surface, noting that the grass had been established approximately one year earlier. [7]

The facility has hosted three-player speedball events and other organised tournament formats.

=== Recreational playing areas ===

The club also provides facilities for recreational paintball and bushball.

These activities allow participants to play in a less formal environment than competitive speedball.

The club caters to both experienced players using their own equipment and newer participants requiring rental equipment.

A June 2026 newspaper report described the site's development from an undeveloped bush and valley area into facilities incorporating both recreational and competitive paintball playing areas. [8]

=== Equipment and air supply ===

The club provides rental paintball markers and protective masks for introductory participants.

The site also provides compressed-air filling facilities for players using high-pressure air systems.

Its published information identifies high-pressure air fills up to approximately 4,200 psi. [5]

Paintballs of different grades are available to members and casual players.

The club requires markers to be chronographed and players to use suitable protective equipment and approved compressed-air systems.

Games are supervised by referees, and the organisation publishes rules intended to maintain safe playing conditions.

== Membership and participation ==

Bay of Plenty Paintball Club operates as a membership-based sporting organisation.

Membership provides opportunities to attend club days, participate in training and access club facilities.

The club also offers casual participation for non-members.

Its activities accommodate different experience levels, from people trying paintball for the first time to players participating in organised speedball tournaments.

The organisation accepts participants aged 13 years and older, according to its published membership information. [9]

The club's activities attract players from Tauranga, Rotorua, Hamilton, Auckland and surrounding areas.

In June 2026, club president Phil Stokes reported approximately 25 registered members, in addition to casual participants. [8]

=== Equipment suppliers ===

Bay of Plenty Paintball Club has established relationships with paintball equipment suppliers that provide benefits to club members.

Its membership information identifies [[Paintball Direct NZ]] as a supplier of paintball equipment packages and accessories.

The club also lists Airtanks.co.nz as a supplier offering discounts on high-pressure air equipment. [10]

== Competitive paintball ==

=== New Zealand League Series 2018 ===

Bay of Plenty Paintball Club participated in the 2018 New Zealand League Series (NZLS).

The club entered two teams in the final North Island round, held at Asylum Paintball in Auckland.

According to the club's report published on 14 November 2018, its leading team finished second at the event.

The team also secured '''second place overall in the 2018 North Island series'''. [11]

The result was achieved while the club was still completing construction of its permanent training facilities at TECT Park.

=== East Coast Paintball League 2020 ===

In 2020, Bay of Plenty Paintball Club hosted events in the newly established East Coast Paintball League (ECPL).

The series was developed to provide an accessible introduction to competitive paintball, allowing newer players to participate alongside experienced competitors.

The opening round was held at the club's TECT Park facilities in early March 2020.

The event attracted both established and developing teams. [12]

==== Third round ====

The third round took place on 26 July 2020 at TECT Park.

It was among the first organised competition opportunities for some participants following the COVID-19 lockdown period.

Two Bay of Plenty Paintball Club teams finished first and fourth at the event.

Following the round, the club reported that its two entries also occupied first and fourth positions in the provisional overall series standings.

Two further rounds remained at that stage. [13]

=== Bay of Plenty Paintball Triples ===

The Bay of Plenty Paintball Triples is a regional three-player speedball competition associated with Bay of Plenty Paintball Club.

The club identified plans to reintroduce the event in January 2020, describing it as an opportunity for developing players to gain tournament experience before entering open-class competitions. [7]

The tournament returned to the club's public event programme in 2026.

==== 2026 event ====

Bay of Plenty Paintball Club announced a Bay of Plenty Paintball Triples competition scheduled for 7 June 2026 at TECT All Terrain Park.

The event received coverage in the regional newspaper ''SunLive'' on 6 June 2026. [8]

Club president Phil Stokes described the tournament as an opportunity to showcase competitive speedball to the wider public.

The competition was organised as a three-player event using inflatable bunkers.

The published event format involved teams attempting to eliminate their opponents or capture and return a central flag.

Teams were expected to travel from Auckland, Waikato, Hawke's Bay, Manawatū and other parts of the Bay of Plenty.

An all-female team was also identified among the expected participants.

The tournament was advertised with free spectator admission.

The final standings and complete team roster have not yet been established from publicly accessible results.

== Club officials ==

Bay of Plenty Paintball Club is administered by a committee responsible for the organisation's facilities, membership and activities.

The club's official website identifies the following officers:

{| class="wikitable"
! Position
! Name
|-
| President
| Phil Stokes
|-
| Secretary
| Vince Knipmeijer
|-
| Treasurer
| Edwin Sullivan
|}

The listed positions are based on the club's published information available in October 2026. [9]

River Jermyn was identified as the club's treasurer in TECT's September 2020 report. [4]

Other documented club participants include Ron Knipmeijer, who appeared alongside Phil Stokes and Edwin Sullivan in a June 2026 regional newspaper report. [8]

== Development of paintball in the Bay of Plenty ==

Bay of Plenty Paintball Club has contributed to organised recreational and competitive paintball in the region through the establishment of dedicated facilities at TECT All Terrain Park.

The 2017–2019 construction project provided a permanent location for speedball training, club sessions and regional tournaments.

The club's activities have included entry-level development competitions, interregional tournament participation and events attracting teams from throughout the North Island.

The availability of both recreational playing areas and an inflatable-bunker speedball field enables the organisation to accommodate different forms of paintball.

Its continuing activities have been documented through its own publications, local media coverage, TECT funding records and regional sports directories.

== See also ==

* [[Paintball in New Zealand]]
* [[East Coast Paintball League]]
* [[Bay of Plenty Paintball Triples]]
* [[New Zealand League Series]]
* [[Paintball Direct NZ]]

== References ==

# [https://www.bizdb.co.nz/company/9429043285440/ BizDb. "Bay of Plenty Paintball Club Incorporated."] Incorporated-society registration details, including incorporation on 30 July 2014, registration number 2610936 and NZBN 9429043285440.
# [https://www.bayofplentypaintball.co.nz/post/new-bay-of-plenty-paintball-speed-ball-field-is-the-first-club-owned-field-in-nz Bay of Plenty Paintball Club. "New Bay of Plenty paintball speed ball field is the first club owned field in NZ!" 22 May 2019.] Announcement of the completed facility and opening club day scheduled for 9 June 2019.
# [https://laura-thomsonbache.rocketspark.co.nz/site_files/20903/upload_files/2865_TECT_Annual_Report_2018_Low_Res.pdf?dl=1 TECT. "Annual Report 2017/2018."] Community Amenities grants table recording NZ$52,808 approved for Bay of Plenty Paintball Club site development at TECT Park.
# [https://www.tect.org.nz/blog/post/57689/tect-park/ TECT. "TECT Park." 21 September 2020.] Report documenting the club's facilities, funding, infrastructure development and comments from then-treasurer River Jermyn.
# [https://www.bayofplentypaintball.co.nz/tauranga-rotorua-paintball Bay of Plenty Paintball Club. "About Us."] Club history, monthly activities, facilities, safety rules and acknowledgements of TECT and One Foundation funding.
# [https://www.tectpark.co.nz/ TECT All Terrain Park. Official website.] Park location, management and recreational facilities.
# [https://www.bayofplentypaintball.co.nz/post/ready-to-go-for-the-2020-season Bay of Plenty Paintball Club. "Ready to go for the 2020 season." 11 January 2020.] Field maintenance and plans to reintroduce the Bay of Plenty Paintball Triples.
# [https://www.sunlive.co.nz/news/381863-paintball-players-set-to-battle-at-tect-park.html Liddle Crawford, Rosalie. "Paintball players set to battle at TECT Park." SunLive, 6 June 2026.] Interview with club president Phil Stokes covering club development, membership, facilities and the 2026 Bay of Plenty Paintball Triples.
# [https://www.bayofplentypaintball.co.nz/ Bay of Plenty Paintball Club. Official website.] Club purpose, participation requirements and committee officers.
# [https://www.bayofplentypaintball.co.nz/boppaintball-prices Bay of Plenty Paintball Club. "Membership Fees and Pricing."] Membership information and identified equipment suppliers.
# [https://www.bayofplentypaintball.co.nz/post/nzls-2018-season-ending-on-a-high Bay of Plenty Paintball Club. "NZLS 2018 season ending on a high." 14 November 2018.] Report confirming second place in the final North Island round and second overall in the 2018 series.
# [https://www.bayofplentypaintball.co.nz/post/first-round-of-ecpl-a-success Bay of Plenty Paintball Club. "First round of ECPL a success." 16 March 2020.] Report on the establishment and opening round of the East Coast Paintball League.
# [https://www.bayofplentypaintball.co.nz/post/ecpl-paintball-series-bop-team-hold-their-own Bay of Plenty Paintball Club. "ECPL Series: BOP teams hold their own." 20 September 2020.] Results from the third round held on 26 July 2020.

== External links ==

* [https://www.bayofplentypaintball.co.nz/ Bay of Plenty Paintball Club official website]
* [https://www.facebook.com/boppaintball Bay of Plenty Paintball Club on Facebook]
* [https://www.tectpark.co.nz/ TECT All Terrain Park]
* [https://www.sportbop.co.nz/active-directory/bay-of-plenty-paintball-club/ Sport Bay of Plenty club directory]

[[Category:New Zealand paintball organisations]]
[[Category:Paintball clubs]]
[[Category:Paintball in New Zealand]]