Editing Paintball Direct NZ (section)

== History ==

=== Establishment in Ōpunake ===

Paintball Direct NZ Limited was incorporated in New Zealand on 21 May 2008.

The company was registered under company number 2134260 and New Zealand Business Number 9429032732566. [1]

Its founding directors were Stephen Thomas Corkill, commonly known as [[Steve Corkill]], and Rosmarie Corkill.

The company's original shareholding was divided equally between the two directors, with each holding 50 of the company's 100 shares.

Paintball Direct was based in Ōpunake, Taranaki, with its original registered office at 5 Tasman Street. [1]

The business developed as a specialist retailer supplying equipment for recreational and competitive paintball.

=== Retail operations under Steve Corkill ===

Under Steve Corkill's ownership, Paintball Direct operated a physical equipment shop and online retail business.

A historical business directory listing described the company as a specialist supplier to tournament paintball players. [2]

Its advertised products included:

* Planet Eclipse paintball markers and accessories
* DYE paintball equipment
* Virtue loaders and protective equipment
* Paintballs
* High-pressure air tanks and components
* Harnesses and paintball pods
* Marker maintenance equipment and spare parts
* Sup'Airball inflatable tournament bunkers

The business offered specialist equipment for competitive players as well as products for recreational paintball.

The historical business listing identified Paintball Direct as both a walk-in retail shop and a web-based supplier.

=== Local sponsorship and community involvement ===

Paintball Direct participated in local community sponsorship during its years in Taranaki.

The ''Ōpunake & Coastal News'' edition of 22 March 2012 identified Paintball Direct NZ among the businesses contributing prizes to a fundraising raffle supporting an Ōpunake High School student's rugby tour to Samoa.

The retailer donated a paintball-related T-shirt valued at NZ$50. [3]

The newspaper report provides contemporary documentation of the business's activities in the Ōpunake community.

=== Change of ownership ===

Paintball Direct NZ subsequently came under the ownership of David Hopkins, a New Zealand businessman associated with competitive paintball in Feilding.

New Zealand Companies Office records identify Hopkins as becoming a director of Paintball Direct NZ Limited on 5 August 2021.

The company's current registered shareholding identifies Hopkins as the sole shareholder, holding all 100 shares. [4]

The available records establish the change from the original Corkill ownership to Hopkins but do not identify the precise date or terms of the business transfer.

The company's registered office subsequently moved from Ōpunake to Feilding.

=== Operations in Feilding ===

Paintball Direct NZ operates from Feilding, in the Manawatū region.

The company's registered office is located at 18 Darragh Road, Feilding.

Its retail website advertises a showroom at 558 Kimbolton Road, at the [[Arena Paintball]] facility.

The showroom operates by appointment. [5]

The business continues operating an online retail store supplying paintball equipment throughout New Zealand.