The 44th Aotearoa Maori National Bowls Tournament was held in Rotorua a few weeks ago.

The National Championship Men's Winners from Whanganui A Tara - Wainuiomata BC
From left : Dean Stratford., Richard Nixon, Merv Jakeman and Ray Lovie

Headquartered at the Rotorua Bowling Club at the picturesque Government Gardens (pictured above),  the other Rotorua clubs - Arawa, Ngongotaha and Rotorua East - were also used for the tournament which attracted 78 fours teams  - 42 men's and 36 women's.

Five games of one hour fifteen minutes were played on the Saturday - and depending on those results all teams then qualified on Sunday for either the National Championship (the top sixteen teams) or Flights One or Two.

Sunday's play comprised three games of one hour fifteen minutes prior to lunch, with section winners qualifying for the semifinals of the National Championship and the finals of the Flight event. Finals were ten ends with no time limit.

The National Championship Women's Winners
From left : Gaylene Harvey, Tanya Wheeler, Natarsha Grimshaw and Kaaren Guilford

Both finals produced great bowls watched by a large number of spectators around the green.

The men's final was won by Whanganui A Tara represented by Wainuiomata's Ray Lovie (skip), Dean Stratford (three), Merv Jakeman (two) and Richard Nixon (lead). Runners up were from Te Maunga Maori Bowls Taranaki skipped by Wayne Te Huki with Kelly Hill (three), Kevin Sellars (two) and Rangi Komene (lead).  

The women's final was another enthralling affair with Papakura's Gaylene Harvey (skip), Natarsha Grimshaw (three), along with Wellington's Tanya Wheeler (two) and Kaaren Guildford (lead) defeating the 2016 and 2017 winners Johnsonville's Paula Meredith (skip),  Merani Davis (three), Janet Nehemia (two), and Lil George (lead).