Former All Black and new Papakura Local Board member Keven Mealamu turned his attention from rugby to bowls recently, moving the motion that saw the Papakura Bowling Club granted a new 33-year lease on its Green Street site.
“My competitive rugby days are behind me, but I might want to take up bowls one day,” he said.
“This is a club that’s been at the centre of the community for a long time and it will be good to guarantee its long-term future.”
The Papakura Bowling Club entered into a lease with the former Papakura District Council back in 1986, with the new lease not now expiring until 2052.
The lease was granted subject to conditions that include a review of the club’s performance to ensure all lease conditions are being met, to determine there is a need for the club, and that the organisation is financially sustainable
The bowling club has more than a century of history, dating back to 1905. It has about 100 members who compete at the local, regional and national levels. The club also encourages local schools to include bowls in their programmes and hosts regular summer social events open to the public to encourage people to try the sport
