Wellington’s Naenae Bowling Club will host the 2024 Trans-Tasman, as we see the return of this event to New Zealand shores after a seven-year absence.  

Bowls New Zealand CEO, Mark Cameron is excited at the prospect of New Zealand hosting, saying ‘We haven’t hosted a Trans-Tasman during my time at the helm and it’s great to have this opportunity to showcase our world class team, at a world class facility, taking on a world class bowling nation.’ 

International bowls followers will recognise Naenae as being the hosts of the 2022 World Champion of Champions Singles event. Naenae boasts state of the art bowling facilities (including a covered green) and was originally in line to host the 2023 edition of the World Champion of Champions Singles.

With that event now being held in Australia, all eyes at Naenae now turn to the second, third and fourth of February 2024, when they will host the Trans-Tasman.  

First played in 1979 when it was known as the ‘inter-dominion’, the Trans-Tasman event has always been hotly contested between New Zealand and our cousins across the ditch. In recent years, Australia has dominated on their home turf with ‘Advance Australia Fair’ echoing across the greens upon the conclusion of the event more often than ‘God Defend New Zealand’. 

The format for the 2024 Trans-Tasman will be an exciting one. The New Zealand BlackJacks and Australian Jackaroos will have both an open Men’s and Women’s team selected, and a para component with a B1-B3 Mixed Pair and a B6-B8 Women’s and Men’s Pair. Additionally, a men’s and women’s development team will also be selected to compete.  

This will be a golden opportunity for our talented developing bowlers to show that they’ve got what it takes to push for a spot in the open BlackJacks team. 

Head Coach Mike Kernaghan said, ‘Adding a development component to the 2024 Trans-Tasman can only be good for our players and will showcase the depth that we have within Lawn Bowls in New Zealand’. 

As is the case with all national events, Bowls New Zealand will be broadcasting the Trans-Tasman on the Bowls New Zealand YouTube channel showcasing the best bowlers in Australasia as they battle for Trans-Tasman supremacy. 

More details will be made available via the Bowls New Zealand website and social media channels as the event approaches. 

AT A GLANCE

Trans-Tasman International
New Zealand vs Australia
2-4 February 2024
Naenae Bowling Club, Wellington

Open Men’s and Women’s disciplines – Singles, Pairs, Triples, Fours
Para Men’s and Women’s Pairs (B6-B8 classification)
Vision Impaired Mixed Pair (B1-B3 classification)