Asylum Paintball
Asylum Paintball is a New Zealand paintball facility located at the former Kingseat Hospital complex in Karaka, south of Auckland. Opened in 2013 following development beginning in 2012, the venue combines indoor paintball within former hospital buildings with outdoor recreational fields and tournament facilities.[1][2]
Asylum has hosted competitions organised by the New Zealand Paintball Players League (NZPPL), South Auckland Paintball Club (SAPC) and other tournament organisers.[3][4] In 2014, it sponsored accommodation for the SAPC Open Series winners to attend 2014 Paintball World Cup Asia, complementing entry sponsored by the Paintball Asia League Series (PALS).[12][13]
History
[edit]Establishment
[edit]Development of Asylum Paintball began in 2012, when the operators leased part of the former Kingseat psychiatric hospital complex at 833 Kingseat Road.[1]
The site was converted into a commercial paintball venue, incorporating the hospital's former maximum-security buildings and surrounding grounds. A tournament field was constructed on the former hospital football pitch, alongside indoor and outdoor recreational playing areas.[1]
Asylum opened in 2013. The adaptation of former hospital buildings into paintball facilities was independently documented in March 2014.[2]
Management
[edit]Vitaly Miheev was involved in Asylum's establishment and early operation. In October 2015, paintball manufacturer DYE Precision published an account by Australian team Hard2Overcome identifying Miheev as the venue's owner and operator.[4]
Historical business records also identify Alex Diveg in sales and Anton Klimenko in accounting.[5]
Asylum operated separately from Lock N Load Paintball, an earlier Auckland paintball facility located near Auckland Airport. Contemporary industry directories recorded both businesses as distinct venues.[6]
Facilities
[edit]Asylum Paintball occupies part of the former Kingseat Hospital grounds, including buildings originally used by the psychiatric institution.[1][2]
Its playing facilities have included:
- Lockdown Ward: An indoor close-quarters field incorporating former hospital rooms and corridors.
- Tyre Mania: An outdoor recreational field using tyres and other constructed obstacles.
- Tournament fields: Outdoor competition fields equipped with inflatable Sup'Air bunkers.
- Recreational fields: Additional outdoor playing areas for private groups and scenario games.
Historical advertising described two dedicated tournament fields, alongside indoor playing areas and facilities for private bookings, corporate groups and recreational players.[1][6]
Tournament paintball
[edit]Asylum became a venue for organised competitive paintball in Auckland during the 2010s.[3][4]
New Zealand Paintball Players League
[edit]Asylum hosted events associated with the New Zealand Paintball Players League, including the final event of the 2013 season and competitions during 2014.[1]
The 2014 NZPPL Auckland events included Pro X-Ball and Division 1 competition, with teams from New Zealand, Australia and French Polynesia participating in the league's International Pacific Championship.[7]
South Auckland Paintball Club
[edit]Asylum served as a home venue for the South Auckland Paintball Club, which organised regular tournament competitions at the facility.[3]
The club's 2014 and 2015 Race Series included Open X-Ball and mechanical-pump divisions. Events were recorded through the PBLeagues tournament registration and results system.[3][8]
The 2014 series consisted of four events held between February and September. The 2015 series also featured four events, running from January to August.[8][14]
PALS and World Cup Asia support
[edit]SAPC's published 2014 series information recorded endorsement from the heads of PALS/APPBF and Millennium Series/EPBF. The club advertised Open competition using PALS Divisions 1–3 classifications and Novice competition using the Division 4 classification.[14]
On 26 January 2014, Michael Earley, publishing as MikeE, announced that the SAPC Open Series winners would receive free Division 2 entry to 2014 Paintball World Cup Asia in Langkawi, Malaysia. PALS sponsored the entry fee, while Asylum Paintball sponsored the team's accommodation.[12]
The announcement also stated that the 2013 World Cup Asia field layout would be available for training before the opening SAPC event.[12]
SAPC's end-of-season report reconfirmed the entry and accommodation sponsorship. The statement, signed by club president Vitaly V. Miheev on 27 September and published on 30 September 2014, also announced that the president would serve as an official tournament coordinator at World Cup Asia.[13]
These announcements document the sponsored pathway and intended participation rather than confirming the winning team's eventual attendance or results.[12][13]
Asylum Paintball Cup
[edit]The venue hosted the 2015 Asylum Paintball Cup on 26–27 September 2015.[4][9]
The competition attracted international participation, including Australian team Hard2Overcome and Phoenix Tahiti from French Polynesia.[4][9]
An October 2015 report published by DYE Precision described Hard2Overcome's participation and its experiences competing at Asylum.[4]
Other tournaments
[edit]Asylum also hosted the Auckland Paintball Cup in March 2015 and was associated with a further edition in April 2016.[9]
In September 2025, the venue advertised the fourth event of a three-man tournament series.[10]
Recreational and scenario paintball
[edit]In addition to tournament paintball, Asylum has operated recreational games, private group events and organised scenario activities.[1]
Its former hospital buildings provide enclosed playing environments, while outdoor areas accommodate recreational games.[1][2]
The venue has also been associated with the Armageddon scenario paintball series. In August 2026, Asylum advertised Armageddon XIV, scheduled for 14–15 November 2026, as a two-day event featuring daytime and night-time paintball.[11]
See also
[edit]- History of paintball in New Zealand
- Paintball in New Zealand
- South Auckland Paintball Club
- New Zealand Paintball Players League
- Paintball Asia League Series
- 2014 Paintball World Cup Asia
- 2015 Asylum Paintball Cup
- Lock N Load Paintball
- Vitaly Miheev
References
[edit]- Asylum Paintball, GrabOne New Zealand, historical business description and facility development.
- Kingseat Maximum Security, Haunted Auckland, 22 March 2014.
- SAPC July 2014 Race #3, PBLeagues, Asylum Paintball, 12–13 July 2014.
- Hard2Overcome Heads to New Zealand, DYE Precision, 13 October 2015.
- Asylum Paintball, Cylex New Zealand, historical business profile and management contacts.
- International Paintball Field Directory, WARPIG, listings for Asylum Paintball and Lock N Load Paintball.
- New Zealand Paintball Players League: 2014 Season Rankings, PBLeagues.
- South Auckland Paintball Club: 2015 Season Rankings, PBLeagues.
- ADHD: Tournament history, PBLeagues, 2014–2016.
- Three-Man Tournament Series Event 4, AllEvents, 20 September 2025.
- Asylum Paintball: Historical social-media updates, including the Armageddon XIV announcement of 31 August 2026.
- SAPC Inc – Sending Kiwis to Paintball World Cup Asia 2014, Michael Earley, published as MikeE, South Auckland Paintball Club Inc, 26 January 2014. PALS-sponsored entry, Asylum-sponsored accommodation and pre-season field layout.
- 2014 End of Season Round Up, South Auckland Paintball Club Inc, published 30 September 2014. Statement signed Vitaly V. Miheev, SAPC President, 27 September 2014.
- 2014 SAPC Open + Novice Series, South Auckland Paintball Club Inc, archived club website. Formats, classifications, endorsement, venue and series prizes.