Feilding Paintball Club

Feilding Paintball Club Incorporated, also known as Feilding Paintball Club, was an incorporated sporting society based in Feilding, in the Manawatū region of New Zealand.

The club was established to support organised paintball participation and the development of local playing facilities.

During 2018 and 2019, the organisation received support from Sport Manawatū and was allocated NZ$14,412 in community development funding by the Manawatū District Council towards the construction of a paintball safety fence.

The club was also identified in the council's Kōwhai Park Reserve Management Plan as intending to establish a playing area for practice sessions and events.

Feilding Paintball Club Incorporated was formally dissolved in April 2021.

History

Establishment

Feilding Paintball Club was established in the Manawatū region of New Zealand during the late 2010s.

The organisation was registered as an incorporated society under the name Feilding Paintball Club Incorporated, registration number 2693732. [1]

A historical business-registration listing places the society's incorporation on 26 January 2018. [2]

The club sought to develop opportunities for organised paintball participation in Feilding, including access to suitable playing facilities.

Its development took place alongside the growth of competitive paintball in the region, which included New Zealand tournament teams such as Expendables Feilding.

The precise relationship between the incorporated society and local tournament teams has not been established.

Sport Manawatū support

During the 2018–2019 financial year, Feilding Paintball Club received support from Sport Manawatū, the regional organisation responsible for promoting participation in sport and active recreation.

A report presented to the Manawatū District Council recorded that Sport Manawatū was assisting Feilding Paintball Club with its establishment and the creation of programmes for the community. [3]

The activity formed part of Sport Manawatū's wider work to increase participation in organised sport and recreational activities.

The report provides contemporary evidence that the club was developing its organisational structure and community participation programmes during this period.

Facilities development

Proposed Kōwhai Park playing area

Feilding Paintball Club was identified in the Manawatū District Council's Kōwhai Park Reserve Management Plan as a prospective user of the public reserve.

The management plan described a proposal for the club to use a field in the southwestern part of Kōwhai Park for paintball practice sessions and events. [4]

The proposed playing area would be accessed from Rata Street.

The plan envisaged secure safety fencing being erected around the playing area when it was in use.

The proposed arrangement was intended to accommodate paintball alongside the park's existing sporting and recreational activities.

Kōwhai Park was already used for organised sports, including cricket, as well as public recreation.

The management plan demonstrates that paintball was being considered within the council's recreational facilities planning.

However, the available documentary evidence does not establish whether the proposed paintball playing area was subsequently constructed or brought into regular use.

Council funding, 2018–2019

The Manawatū District Council approved financial assistance for Feilding Paintball Club during the 2018–2019 financial year.

The council's Annual Report 2018–19 records an allocation of NZ$14,412 to the club through its Community Development Fund. [5]

The funding was approved towards the construction of a sport-specific paintball safety fence intended to enable the club to commence activities.

The Community Development Fund provided support to local organisations for community programmes, events and projects.

The allocation represented a documented investment in the development of organised paintball facilities in Feilding.

The published annual report confirms the funding approval but does not independently establish whether the entire grant was spent or the proposed fence completed.

The precise relationship between the proposed Kōwhai Park playing area and the funded fencing project has not been independently established.

Dissolution

Feilding Paintball Club Incorporated was formally dissolved on 8 April 2021.

The dissolution was recorded in the New Zealand Gazette under notice number 2021-is1244, titled "Dissolution of Incorporated Societies". [1]

The notice was issued by Helena Aperila, Assistant Registrar of Incorporated Societies.

The Registrar declared that the listed societies, including Feilding Paintball Club Incorporated, were no longer carrying on their operations and were therefore dissolved.

The notice identifies Feilding Paintball Club Incorporated by registration number 2693732.

The dissolution ended the club's registration as an incorporated society.

The available records do not establish the circumstances leading to the cessation of the club's activities.

Relationship with other Feilding paintball organisations

Expendables Feilding

Expendables Feilding is an internationally successful competitive paintball team founded by David Hopkins.

The team has competed in New Zealand, Australia, Asia, Europe and the United States, including the Millennium Series, NXL Europe and the Australian Super 7's Paintball Series.

Its international achievements include winning the 2017 Millennium Series Semi-Professional championship and the 2018 Australian Super 7's Professional season championship.

Expendables was active in international competition during the period in which Feilding Paintball Club Incorporated was registered.

However, no surviving source examined for this article establishes that Expendables and Feilding Paintball Club Incorporated were the same legal organisation.

The two should therefore be distinguished in historical records.

Manawatu Titans

Manawatu Titans is another competitive paintball team based in Feilding.

The team has competed in the American National Xball League, the Australian Super 7's Paintball Series and New Zealand tournaments.

Its major international achievements include winning the Semi-Pro X-Ball division at the 2022 NXL Golden State Open.

Manawatu Titans is associated with Arena Paintball, a commercial paintball and tournament facility in Feilding.

The available records do not establish a formal legal relationship between Manawatu Titans and the former Feilding Paintball Club Incorporated.

Arena Paintball

Arena Paintball operates a recreational and tournament paintball facility on Kimbolton Road in Feilding.

The venue hosts competitive paintball activities and has been associated with players from Manawatu Titans and Expendables.

Arena Paintball's own website identifies members of Manawatu Titans as involved in operating the facility. [6]

Although Arena Paintball and Feilding Paintball Club Incorporated were active within the same regional paintball community, the available sources do not establish that Arena Paintball was a direct successor to the incorporated club.

The relationship between the organisations remains unconfirmed.

Historical significance

Feilding Paintball Club Incorporated provides an example of efforts to establish community-based competitive paintball infrastructure in New Zealand during the late 2010s.

The organisation's history is documented through local government funding records, regional sport development reports and public reserve management planning.

Its proposed use of Kōwhai Park and the allocation of NZ$14,412 towards a purpose-built safety fence demonstrate attempts to develop facilities suitable for organised paintball participation.

The club's subsequent dissolution in 2021 is independently documented in the New Zealand Gazette.

The surviving records provide evidence of community-level paintball development in Feilding but do not establish a direct organisational succession between the club and later commercial or tournament paintball activities in the region.

References

New Zealand Gazette. "Dissolution of Incorporated Societies." Notice 2021-is1244, published 8 April 2021. Official dissolution notice identifying Feilding Paintball Club Incorporated, registration number 2693732.
InfoProff. New Zealand business-registration records, 26 January 2018. Secondary registry-data listing identifying Feilding Paintball Club Incorporated.
Sport Manawatū. Annual Report, 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019. Included in the Manawatū District Council meeting agenda of 21 May 2020. Records support for Feilding Paintball Club's establishment and community programmes.
Manawatū District Council. "Kōwhai Park Reserve Management Plan." Official management plan identifying the club's proposed use of a southwestern field for paintball practice and events, with temporary secure safety fencing.
Manawatū District Council. "Annual Report 2018–19," p. 146. Community Development Fund allocations, recording NZ$14,412 towards the construction of a paintball safety fence for Feilding Paintball Club.
Arena Paintball. "About Us." Current facility information and the venue's association with Manawatu Titans.

External links