Paintball Coming of Age after Three Decades of Controversy

Paintball Coming of Age after Three Decades of Controversy in New Zealand

In the middle of March around 200 people will descend upon McLeans Island, Christchurch, for a two day event celebrating 30 years of Paintball in New Zealand. Paintball has received a mixed reception in our land. An adventure sport where people fire paint-filled pallets at each other, Paintball’s short history in this country has been varied and at times controversial. Though typically associated with bachelor parties, birthdays and other casual events, many Kiwis believe that it is starting to come of age, slowly emerging as a legitimate sport.

This is what makes the event over the weekend of March 14-15 significant. This group of around 200 people - adults and children, men and women from all walks of life - are celebrating the growth of the sport in New Zealand by participating in one of the largest Paintball battles the country has seen. The event will be large enough to require a makeshift camping site to accommodate those coming from out of town. Players will start gathering at 9am Saturday with a game brief at 10.15am. A variety of games will be played over the course of the weekend, some involving all of the approximately 200 attendees and covering around eight fields. Gaming will continue into the night on specially lit fields.

Not too many people are aware of the shaky beginnings of Paintball in New Zealand. Stephen Constable has spent the past 30 years working to establish Paintball here, first bringing the sport to the country in 1985. He opened New Zealand’s first Paintball field, The Ultimate Game, which continues to operate in McLeans Island, Christchurch. Recounting those early years Stephen states “It was negative to start with. The Mountain Safety group went to court to get Paintball closed down, but the case was thrown out. Why? Because Paintball markers are not made to kill or maim. In fact, they were classified as cattle markers.”

Shortly after this Stephen’s Paintball field was featured on the evening news, resulting with a huge amount of interest across the country. The demand was so high that he had to fly to the States to acquire more equipment, and there were a number of Aussies that would fly over to play on the weekends.

It may come as a surprise to learn that Paintball has a serious side. Many will suspect that the only ones taking Paintball seriously are gun enthusiasts or testosterone filled guys desperate to ‘play war.’ Ric Johnson, who has been developing Paintball in Canterbury for many years, says that it has exploded as a sport in New Zealand over the last four years. Increasing numbers are getting involved in clubs, large organised events and competitive tournaments across the country. He says that the South Island is a bit slower and hasn’t kept up with the North Island, but teams travel from the south to the north for competitions and events.

Ric believes that Paintball in Canterbury has the potential to grow into a fast paced, exciting sport. He operates the Rebel Paintball Group Inc., which aims to promote the sport, help grow new comers and mentor young players. The group will be organising workshops and training days where experienced tournament players will pass on skills and wisdom to the next generation of players.

The event on March 14-15 represents Paintball coming of age in New Zealand. Escaping the controversy of the past, Paintball is emerging as a legitimate sport that is worth taking seriously.

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