New Zealand Paintball Nationals: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 12:21, 25 October 2026

New Zealand Paintball Nationals, commonly called the Nationals, is a name associated with New Zealand's Labour Weekend paintball tournaments. Documented examples include the competitions hosted by Actions Paintball from 1997 to 2001 and the final round of the New Zealand Paintball Players League in 2013.[1][2][3][4][5][7][8]

Name and tradition

The Nationals has traditionally been associated with Labour Weekend and the conclusion of the tournament season. The name spans different league structures and tournament formats rather than identifying a single continuously administered competition. Its historical use should be distinguished from formal designation or sanction as a national championship.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

The relationship between the tournament and the season championship also varied. In 2013, the NZPPL promoted its final Super 5 Man round as the Nationals, but the tournament winner and overall series champion were different teams.[7][8]

Labour Weekend finales have also appeared under other names. In March 2014, the NZPPL's forthcoming International Pacific Championship on 25–26 October was advertised as the final event of that season.[8]

History

League context

According to the historical account published by Mercenaries Star, the Nationals was already established when the original National Paintball League began in 1997. The league incorporated the Nationals, Queen's Birthday tournament and Northland Open into its First Division calendar. That league structure operated until 1999, while its constituent tournaments continued.[6]

The 1997 and 1998 Nationals took place at Actions Paintball in Te Atatū. The 1998 competition was the final event before that field closed for relocation. The 1999 and 2000 reports place those editions in Helensville and Swanson respectively.[1][2][3][4]

1997

Main article: 1997 New Zealand Paintball Nationals

The tournament took place on 25–26 October at Actions Paintball Sports Arena in Te Atatū, following a change from a planned Māngere venue. Dave Pellet organised the event. Eleven teams competed in five-player centre-flag games lasting ten minutes, using a bush field and a constructed barricade field.[1]

Katipo One won with 1,008 points. Kamo Karzi finished third overall and won Division Two. Its divisional tournament victory was separate from its season-long NPL Division Two title. Published scores included 100-point byes following Gothique's withdrawal from the draw.[1]

1998

Main article: 1998 New Zealand Paintball Nationals

Fourteen teams competed on 24–25 October at Actions Paintball in Te Atatū. Kyn Jackson organised the tournament.[2]

Saints Gold won with 1,290 points from a possible 1,300, followed by Paint Contractors and Saints Grey. Black Dragon finished fifth overall and won Division Two.[2]

1999

Main article: 1999 New Zealand Paintball Nationals

The tournament took place on 23–24 October at Actions Paintball Sports Arena in Helensville. Thirteen teams played five-player centre-flag games with an eight-minute time limit on the Bunker and Speedball fields.[3]

Paint Contractors won with 1,045 points, ahead of Saints Gold on 1,025 and Phantom 5 Purple on 820. Kamo Karzi supplied most of the referees rather than entering the playing competition.[3]

2000

Main article: 2000 New Zealand Paintball Nationals

The 21–22 October tournament at Actions Paintball in Swanson attracted sixteen teams. Games used seven players per side and two flags. Preliminary competition on two fields determined four finalists in each division.[4]

Saints won Division One, while Tag n' Release won Division Two. Tag n' Release's contemporary team profile records 655 preliminary points and 235 points in the divisional final round.[4][9]

2001

Main article: 2001 New Zealand Paintball Nationals

Eighteen teams competed at Actions Paintball over the Saturday and Sunday of Labour Weekend. Seven-player, two-flag games were played across three fields, with the top four teams in each division advancing to finals on the Sup'Air field.[5]

Saints won Division One with 225 final-round points. Katipo finished second on 165, ahead of the Australian Jetts on 160. Jetts initially received the second-place trophy, but a countback established Katipo's five-point advantage and the trophies were exchanged.[5]

Tag and Training won Division Two with 180 points. The report described it as Tag n' Release's amateur team; the two competed as separate entries.[5]

2013

Main article: 2013 NZPPL Super 5 Man Event 3

The NZPPL promoted its third Super 5 Man event as the New Zealand Nationals. It took place on 26–27 October at Asylum Paintball in Kingseat, Auckland, concluding the series.[7][8]

KC Damage won the tournament, followed by Wellington Vendetta and X-Fighter$ Fracture. X-Fighter$ Fracture won the season championship after winning the opening two rounds and finishing third at the Nationals.[8]

Selected results

These are individual tournament placings, not season standings. Overall and divisional classifications are shown separately.

Year	Classification	First	Second	Third	Fourth
1997	Overall	Katipo One	Saints Black	Kamo Karzi	Paint Contractors
1997	Division Two	Kamo Karzi	Team Raven	Katipo Two	Flashpoint
1998	Overall	Saints Gold	Paint Contractors	Saints Grey	House Steiner
1999	Overall	Paint Contractors	Saints Gold	Phantom 5 Purple	Katipo One
2000	Division One	Saints	Grey	Katipo	Crisis
2000	Division Two	Tag n' Release	Phoenix	Solidaire	Fusion
2001	Division One	Saints	Katipo	Jetts	Flashpoint
2001	Division Two	Tag and Training	Damn Natives	Fusion	Damage
2013	NZPPL Super 5 Man Event 3	KC Damage	Wellington Vendetta	X-Fighter$ Fracture	—

Sources: contemporary tournament reports and the 2013 event report.[1][2][3][4][5][8]

Black Dragon's 1998 Division Two victory is documented, but the report does not provide a complete separate divisional table.[2]

References

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''New Zealand Paintball Nationals''', also known as the '''New Zealand Nationals''', was a paintball tournament held in Auckland, New Zealand. Contemporary reports document championships from 1997 to 2001, including changes from five-player centre-flag competition to seven-player tournaments with separate divisional finals.[2][3][4][5][6]
+'''New Zealand Paintball Nationals''', commonly called the '''Nationals''', is a name associated with New Zealand's Labour Weekend paintball tournaments. Documented examples include the competitions hosted by [[Actions Paintball]] from 1997 to 2001 and the final round of the [[New Zealand Paintball Players League]] in 2013.[1][2][3][4][5][7][8]
-The tournament was associated with [[Actions Paintball]] and organiser [[Kyn Jackson]]. It attracted teams from throughout New Zealand and, in 2001, an Australian entry.[2][6]
+== Name and tradition ==
+The Nationals has traditionally been associated with Labour Weekend and the conclusion of the tournament season. The name spans different league structures and tournament formats rather than identifying a single continuously administered competition. Its historical use should be distinguished from formal designation or sanction as a national championship.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
+The relationship between the tournament and the season championship also varied. In 2013, the NZPPL promoted its final Super 5 Man round as the Nationals, but the tournament winner and overall series champion were different teams.[7][8]
+Labour Weekend finales have also appeared under other names. In March 2014, the NZPPL's forthcoming International Pacific Championship on 25–26 October was advertised as the final event of that season.[8]
 == History ==
-The Nationals was already an established event when the original [[National Paintball League (New Zealand)|National Paintball League]] began in 1997. The league incorporated the Nationals, Queen's Birthday tournament and [[Northland Open]] into its First Division calendar. The original league structure operated until 1999, while the constituent tournaments continued.[1]
+=== League context ===
-The 1997 and 1998 Nationals took place at Actions Paintball in Te Atatū. The 1998 report described the tournament as the final event before that field closed for relocation. Subsequent reports place the 1999 championship in Helensville and the 2000 championship in Swanson.[2][3][4][5]
+According to the historical account published by [[Mercenaries Star]], the Nationals was already established when the original [[National Paintball League (New Zealand)|National Paintball League]] began in 1997. The league incorporated the Nationals, Queen's Birthday tournament and [[Northland Open]] into its First Division calendar. That league structure operated until 1999, while its constituent tournaments continued.[6]
-== Championship history ==
+The 1997 and 1998 Nationals took place at Actions Paintball in Te Atatū. The 1998 competition was the final event before that field closed for relocation. The 1999 and 2000 reports place those editions in Helensville and Swanson respectively.[1][2][3][4]
 === 1997 ===
-The 1997 championship was held on '''25–26 October''' at Actions Paintball Sports Arena in Te Atatū, following a change from a planned Māngere venue. Eleven teams competed in five-player centre-flag games lasting ten minutes, across a bush field and a constructed barricade field.[2]
+''Main article: [[1997 New Zealand Paintball Nationals]]''
-[[Katipo Paintball Team|Katipo One]] won overall with '''1,008 points''', ahead of Saints Black and [[Kamo Karzi]]. Kamo Karzi also won the tournament's Second Division, a separate achievement from its season-long NPL Division Two league title.[2]
-Gothique did not attend, and its scheduled opponents received 100-point byes. The published totals therefore include points awarded for unplayed fixtures.[2]
+The tournament took place on 25–26 October at Actions Paintball Sports Arena in Te Atatū, following a change from a planned Māngere venue. [[Dave Pellet]] organised the event. Eleven teams competed in five-player centre-flag games lasting ten minutes, using a bush field and a constructed barricade field.[1]
-The report identifies '''Jo Pitts''' as Saints Black captain, '''Reg Lowe''' as Katipo One captain and '''Allan Gatland''' as Kamo Karzi captain. [[Dave Pellet]] organised the tournament, with Kyn Jackson operating the venue.[2]
+[[Katipo Paintball Team|Katipo One]] won with 1,008 points. [[Kamo Karzi]] finished third overall and won Division Two. Its divisional tournament victory was separate from its season-long NPL Division Two title. Published scores included 100-point byes following Gothique's withdrawal from the draw.[1]
 === 1998 ===
-The 1998 championship took place on '''24–25 October''' at Actions Paintball in Te Atatū, with fourteen teams.[3]
+''Main article: [[1998 New Zealand Paintball Nationals]]''
-Saints Gold won with '''1,290 points''' from a possible 1,300. Paint Contractors finished second with 1,008 points and Saints Grey third with 970. Black Dragon finished fifth overall and won the Second Division.[3]
+Fourteen teams competed on 24–25 October at Actions Paintball in Te Atatū. [[Kyn Jackson]] organised the tournament.[2]
-'''Mike Sawyer''' was head marshal, assisted by '''Aaron Jay'''. The report identifies '''Rik Goldsworthy''' as Saints Gold captain and names Black Stallion energy drinks as a prize sponsor.[3]
+[[Saints (New Zealand paintball team)|Saints Gold]] won with 1,290 points from a possible 1,300, followed by Paint Contractors and Saints Grey. Black Dragon finished fifth overall and won Division Two.[2]
 === 1999 ===
-The 1999 championship was held on '''23–24 October''' at Actions Paintball Sports Arena in Helensville. Thirteen teams played five-player, eight-minute centre-flag games on fields named Bunker and Speedball.[4]
+''Main article: [[1999 New Zealand Paintball Nationals]]''
-Paint Contractors won with '''1,045 points''', ahead of Saints Gold on 1,025 and Phantom 5 Purple on 820.[4]
+The tournament took place on 23–24 October at Actions Paintball Sports Arena in Helensville. Thirteen teams played five-player centre-flag games with an eight-minute time limit on the Bunker and Speedball fields.[3]
-Kamo Karzi supplied most of the referees, with '''Marty Kinny''' as head marshal. Its members' refereeing participation was separate from the thirteen playing entries.[4]
+Paint Contractors won with 1,045 points, ahead of Saints Gold on 1,025 and Phantom 5 Purple on 820. Kamo Karzi supplied most of the referees rather than entering the playing competition.[3]
 === 2000 ===
-The 2000 championship was held on '''21–22 October''' at Actions Paintball in Swanson. Sixteen teams competed in seven-player, two-flag games across the Symetrical and Minefield fields. Preliminary competition determined four finalists in each division.[5]
+''Main article: [[2000 New Zealand Paintball Nationals]]''
-The contemporary report names '''Saints''' as First Division winner, followed by Grey, Katipo and Crisis. [[Tag n' Release]] won the Second Division ahead of [[Wellington Phoenix (paintball team)|Phoenix]], Solidaire and Fusion.[5]
+The 21–22 October tournament at Actions Paintball in Swanson attracted sixteen teams. Games used seven players per side and two flags. Preliminary competition on two fields determined four finalists in each division.[4]
-Tag n' Release's separate team profile records 655 preliminary points and 235 points in the Second Division final round.[7]
+Saints won Division One, while [[Tag n' Release]] won Division Two. Tag n' Release's contemporary team profile records 655 preliminary points and 235 points in the divisional final round.[4][9]
 === 2001 ===
-The 2001 championship was held at Actions Paintball over the Saturday and Sunday of Labour Weekend. Eighteen teams competed in seven-player, two-flag games across three fields. The top four teams in each division advanced to finals.[6]
+''Main article: [[2001 New Zealand Paintball Nationals]]''
+Eighteen teams competed at Actions Paintball over the Saturday and Sunday of Labour Weekend. Seven-player, two-flag games were played across three fields, with the top four teams in each division advancing to finals on the Sup'Air field.[5]
+Saints won Division One with 225 final-round points. Katipo finished second on 165, ahead of the Australian Jetts on 160. Jetts initially received the second-place trophy, but a countback established Katipo's five-point advantage and the trophies were exchanged.[5]
+[[Tag and Training]] won Division Two with 180 points. The report described it as Tag n' Release's amateur team; the two competed as separate entries.[5]
-Saints won the First Division with '''225 final-round points'''. Katipo finished second on 165, Jetts third on 160 and Flashpoint fourth on 30.[6]
+=== 2013 ===
-Jetts initially received the second-place trophy, but a subsequent countback established that Katipo was five points, equivalent to one elimination, ahead. The trophies were exchanged following the correction.[6]
+''Main article: [[2013 NZPPL Super 5 Man Event 3]]''
-Tag and Training won the Second Division with '''180 final-round points''', followed by Damn Natives on 130, Fusion on 120 and Damage on 117. The report describes Tag and Training as Tag n' Release's amateur team; the two competed as separate entries.[6]
+The NZPPL promoted its third Super 5 Man event as the New Zealand Nationals. It took place on 26–27 October at Asylum Paintball in Kingseat, Auckland, concluding the series.[7][8]
-The Australian Jetts supplemented their squad with unnamed Black Dragon players after the collapse of Ansett disrupted travel for some Australian team members. Kyn Jackson organised the event and also played for Jetts.[6]
+[[KC Damage]] won the tournament, followed by [[Wellington Vendetta]] and [[X-Fighter$ Fracture]]. X-Fighter$ Fracture won the season championship after winning the opening two rounds and finishing third at the Nationals.[8]
-== Selected championship results ==
+== Selected results ==
-The table distinguishes overall placings from divisional placings. Scores from preliminary rounds and final rounds are not interchangeable.
+These are individual tournament placings, not season standings. Overall and divisional classifications are shown separately.
 {| class="wikitable"
 ! Year
 ! Classification
-! Winner
+! First
-! Runner-up
+! Second
 ! Third
 ! Fourth
@@ Line 71: / Line 81: @@
 | 1997
 | Overall
-| Katipo One
+| [[Katipo Paintball Team|Katipo One]]
-| Saints Black
+| [[Saints (New Zealand paintball team)|Saints Black]]
-| Kamo Karzi
+| [[Kamo Karzi]]
 | Paint Contractors
 |-
 | 1997
 | Division Two
-| Kamo Karzi
+| [[Kamo Karzi]]
 | Team Raven
-| Katipo Two
+| [[Katipo Paintball Team|Katipo Two]]
-| Flashpoint
+| [[Flashpoint (New Zealand)|Flashpoint]]
 |-
 | 1998
 | Overall
-| Saints Gold
+| [[Saints (New Zealand paintball team)|Saints Gold]]
 | Paint Contractors
-| Saints Grey
+| [[Saints (New Zealand paintball team)|Saints Grey]]
-| House Steiner
+| [[House Steiner]]
 |-
 | 1999
 | Overall
 | Paint Contractors
-| Saints Gold
+| [[Saints (New Zealand paintball team)|Saints Gold]]
 | Phantom 5 Purple
-| Katipo One
+| [[Katipo Paintball Team|Katipo One]]
 |-
 | 2000
-| First Division
+| Division One
-| Saints
+| [[Saints (New Zealand paintball team)|Saints]]
 | Grey
-| Katipo
+| [[Katipo Paintball Team|Katipo]]
 | Crisis
 |-
 | 2000
-| Second Division
+| Division Two
-| Tag n' Release
+| [[Tag n' Release]]
-| Phoenix
+| [[Wellington Phoenix (paintball team)|Phoenix]]
 | Solidaire
 | Fusion
 |-
 | 2001
-| First Division
+| Division One
-| Saints
+| [[Saints (New Zealand paintball team)|Saints]]
-| Katipo
+| [[Katipo Paintball Team|Katipo]]
 | Jetts
-| Flashpoint
+| [[Flashpoint (New Zealand)|Flashpoint]]
 |-
 | 2001
-| Second Division
+| Division Two
-| Tag and Training
+| [[Tag and Training]]
 | Damn Natives
 | Fusion
-| Damage
+| [[KC Damage|Damage]]
+|-
+| 2013
+| NZPPL Super 5 Man Event 3
+| [[KC Damage]]
+| [[Wellington Vendetta]]
+| [[X-Fighter$ Fracture]]
+| —
 |}
-Sources: contemporary tournament reports by Rob Maddox.[2][3][4][5][6]
+Sources: contemporary tournament reports and the 2013 event report.[1][2][3][4][5][8]
-Black Dragon's 1998 Second Division victory is explicitly recorded, but the report does not provide a complete separate divisional table.[3]
-== Historical records ==
-Contemporary reports published by [[Paintball.co.nz]] preserve tournament formats, participating teams, results and organisational details. [[Mercenaries Star]] also preserved team profiles and tournament data.[2][3][4][5][6][7]
-The [[Valhalla National Rankings]] used tournament results to calculate annual team rankings. Those calculated rankings are distinct from individual Nationals championship placings.[8]
-The surviving reports document particular editions and do not establish the tournament's complete operational history.
+Black Dragon's 1998 Division Two victory is documented, but the report does not provide a complete separate divisional table.[2]
 == See also ==
@@ Line 142: / Line 151: @@
 * [[Paintball in New Zealand]]
 * [[National Paintball League (New Zealand)]]
-* [[Actions Paintball]]
+* [[New Zealand Paintball Players League]]
-* [[Northland Open]]
+* [[2014 NZPPL International Pacific Championship]]
 * [[Valhalla National Rankings]]
-* [[Mercenaries Star]]
 == References ==
-# [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/Rules/Leagues/NPLIntro.htm Mercenaries Star — The Rise and Fall of the New Zealand National Paintball League.]
+# [https://web.archive.org/web/20010114121800/http://www.paintball.co.nz/nats97.htm Rob Maddox, The 1997 Two Day NZ National “SplatMan” Tournament, Paintball.co.nz. Archived 14 January 2001.]
-# [https://web.archive.org/web/20020613133123/http://www.paintball.co.nz/nats97.htm Rob Maddox, The 1997 Two Day NZ National “SplatMan” Tournament, Paintball.co.nz. Archived 13 June 2002.]
+# [https://web.archive.org/web/20010114123900/http://www.paintball.co.nz/nats98.htm Rob Maddox, The 1998 Two Day NZ Nationals Tournament, Paintball.co.nz. Archived 14 January 2001.]
-# [https://web.archive.org/web/20020817071008/http://www.paintball.co.nz/nats98.htm Rob Maddox, The 1998 Two Day NZ Nationals Tournament, Paintball.co.nz. Archived 17 August 2002.]
+# [https://web.archive.org/web/20041204181559/http://www.paintball.co.nz/articles/1999/nats99.htm Rob Maddox, The 1999 Two Day NZ Nationals Tournament, Paintball.co.nz. Archived 4 December 2004.]
-# [https://web.archive.org/web/20020817070413/http://www.paintball.co.nz/nats99/ Rob Maddox, The 1999 Two Day NZ Nationals Tournament, Paintball.co.nz. Archived 17 August 2002.]
 # [https://web.archive.org/web/20020613133336/http://www.paintball.co.nz/nats00.htm Rob Maddox, The 2000 Two Day NZ Nationals Tournament, Paintball.co.nz. Archived 13 June 2002.]
 # [https://web.archive.org/web/20020806192513/http://www.paintball.co.nz/nats01.htm Rob Maddox, The 2001 Two Day NZ Nationals Tournament, Paintball.co.nz. Archived 6 August 2002.]
-# [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/Links/TagNRelease.htm Mercenaries Star — Tag n' Release team profile, contributed by Russell Clement, April 2001.]
+# [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/Rules/Leagues/NPLIntro.htm The Rise and Fall of the New Zealand National Paintball League, Mercenaries Star. Preserved by OoCities.]
-# [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/VALHALLA/RankIndex.htm Mercenaries Star — Valhalla ranking methodology.]
+# [https://web.archive.org/web/20131028130016/http://nzppl.com/2013-event3.html NZPPL, Super 5 Man — Event 3, official Nationals announcement and programme. Archived 28 October 2013.]
+# [https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1403/S00280/blacksheep-media-release-2013-nzppl-video.htm Blacksheep Communications, Blacksheep Media Release 2013 NZPPL Video, Scoop, 16 March 2014.]
-== External links ==
+# [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/Links/TagNRelease.htm Tag n' Release team profile, Mercenaries Star, contributed by Russell Clement, April 2001. Preserved by OoCities.]
-* [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/ Mercenaries Star archived website]
 [[Category:Paintball tournaments in New Zealand]]
 [[Category:New Zealand paintball history]]
-[[Category:1990s in paintball]]
+[[Category:1990s in New Zealand paintball]]
-[[Category:2000s in paintball]]
+[[Category:2000s in New Zealand paintball]]
+[[Category:2010s in New Zealand paintball]]

Admin (talk | contribs)