Editing Paintball Direct NZ


'''Paintball Direct NZ''', also known as '''Paintball Direct''', is a New Zealand paintball equipment retailer based in [[Feilding]], [[Manawatū]]. The business supplies paintball markers, paintballs, protective equipment, accessories and tournament supplies through an online store and physical showroom.

Paintball Direct NZ Limited was incorporated in 2008 in [[Ōpunake]], [[Taranaki]], by [[Steve Corkill]] and Rosmarie Corkill. David Hopkins subsequently became the company's director in August 2021.

The retailer operates a showroom at [[Arena Paintball]] in Feilding and provides online registration and payment services for competitive paintball tournaments.

== History ==

=== Establishment in Ōpunake ===

Paintball Direct NZ Limited was incorporated in New Zealand on 21 May 2008.

The company was registered under company number 2134260 and New Zealand Business Number 9429032732566. [1]

Its founding directors were Stephen Thomas Corkill, commonly known as [[Steve Corkill]], and Rosmarie Corkill.

The company's original shareholding was divided equally between the two directors, with each holding 50 of the company's 100 shares.

Paintball Direct was based in Ōpunake, Taranaki, with its original registered office at 5 Tasman Street. [1]

The business developed as a specialist retailer supplying equipment for recreational and competitive paintball.

=== Retail operations under Steve Corkill ===

Under Steve Corkill's ownership, Paintball Direct operated a physical equipment shop and online retail business.

A historical business directory listing described the company as a specialist supplier to tournament paintball players. [2]

Its advertised products included:

* Planet Eclipse paintball markers and accessories
* DYE paintball equipment
* Virtue loaders and protective equipment
* Paintballs
* High-pressure air tanks and components
* Harnesses and paintball pods
* Marker maintenance equipment and spare parts
* Sup'Airball inflatable tournament bunkers

The business offered specialist equipment for competitive players as well as products for recreational paintball.

The historical business listing identified Paintball Direct as both a walk-in retail shop and a web-based supplier.

=== Local sponsorship and community involvement ===

Paintball Direct participated in local community sponsorship during its years in Taranaki.

The ''Ōpunake & Coastal News'' edition of 22 March 2012 identified Paintball Direct NZ among the businesses contributing prizes to a fundraising raffle supporting an Ōpunake High School student's rugby tour to Samoa.

The retailer donated a paintball-related T-shirt valued at NZ$50. [3]

The newspaper report provides contemporary documentation of the business's activities in the Ōpunake community.

=== Change of ownership ===

Paintball Direct NZ subsequently came under the ownership of David Hopkins, a New Zealand businessman associated with competitive paintball in Feilding.

New Zealand Companies Office records identify Hopkins as becoming a director of Paintball Direct NZ Limited on 5 August 2021.

The company's current registered shareholding identifies Hopkins as the sole shareholder, holding all 100 shares. [4]

The available records establish the change from the original Corkill ownership to Hopkins but do not identify the precise date or terms of the business transfer.

The company's registered office subsequently moved from Ōpunake to Feilding.

=== Operations in Feilding ===

Paintball Direct NZ operates from Feilding, in the Manawatū region.

The company's registered office is located at 18 Darragh Road, Feilding.

Its retail website advertises a showroom at 558 Kimbolton Road, at the [[Arena Paintball]] facility.

The showroom operates by appointment. [5]

The business continues operating an online retail store supplying paintball equipment throughout New Zealand.

== Business structure ==

=== Paintball Direct NZ Limited ===

Paintball Direct NZ Limited is a registered New Zealand limited company.

Its company registration details are:

* Registered company name: Paintball Direct NZ Limited
* Company number: 2134260
* NZBN: 9429032732566
* Incorporation date: 21 May 2008
* Current director: David Hopkins
* Current shareholder: David Hopkins
* Registered office: Feilding, New Zealand

The company's historical directors and shareholders included Steve Corkill and Rosmarie Corkill. [1][4]

=== Relationship with Custom Blinds Limited ===

New Zealand company records also identify Paintball Direct as a trading name associated with Custom Blinds Limited, a company directed by David Hopkins and Diane Karen Hopkins.

Custom Blinds Limited is separately registered under company number 1666073 and NZBN 9429034647400. [6]

Its registered trading names include Custom Blinds, Paintball Direct and Arena Paintball.

Paintball Direct NZ Limited and Custom Blinds Limited are distinct registered legal entities.

The public records establish the use of the Paintball Direct trading name and overlapping business interests but do not fully describe the operational arrangements between the two companies.

== Products and equipment ==

=== Paintball markers and accessories ===

Paintball Direct supplies equipment for recreational and tournament paintball.

Its online store has carried markers and accessories from manufacturers including:

* Planet Eclipse
* Field One
* DYE
* Shocker Paintball
* HK Army

The retailer stocks electronic and mechanical paintball markers, barrel systems, replacement parts and maintenance supplies. [5]

=== Protective equipment and playing gear ===

Paintball Direct also supplies protective equipment and accessories used by competitive players.

Its product categories include:

* Paintball goggles and replacement lenses
* Protective padding
* Playing jerseys and trousers
* Paintball harnesses and pods
* Electronic loaders
* Marker accessories and upgrades
* Equipment bags
* High-pressure air tanks and regulators

Brands represented in its online catalogue have included Virtue, JT Paintball, CRBN, HK Army, DYE and Planet Eclipse.

=== Paintballs and air systems ===

The retailer supplies paintballs for recreational and tournament use.

Its catalogue includes different grades of paintballs and products intended for tournament competition.

The company also sells compressed-air tanks, regulators and related accessories used with modern paintball markers.

=== Used equipment ===

Paintball Direct maintains a used-marker category within its online store.

The availability of previously owned equipment provides an alternative to purchasing new tournament markers.

== Tournament involvement ==

=== Paintball Direct and competitive paintball ===

Paintball Direct's business has included supplying products and services to competitive paintball players and tournament organisers.

Its historical product range included inflatable tournament bunkers, markers, loaders and other equipment used in speedball competitions.

More recently, the retailer has provided event registration, payment processing and equipment supply for tournaments held at Arena Paintball in Feilding.

=== Corkill Cup 2021 ===

Paintball Direct was associated with the Corkill Cup tournament held at Arena Paintball on 23 and 24 October 2021.

The event was named in recognition of [[Steve Corkill]] and his family's longstanding involvement in New Zealand paintball.

The official Arena Paintball event announcement described the competition as continuing an existing tournament tradition honouring Corkill and his sons. [7]

The 2021 tournament was advertised as a Paintball Direct annual event.

It used a five-player Race format and included dedicated refereeing personnel.

The published competition arrangements included:

* Five-player Race competition
* NXL ramping at 10.5 balls per second
* Hopper plus two pods of paintballs
* Round-robin preliminary games and finals
* Dedicated refereeing personnel
* Field-supplied tournament paintballs

The event took place shortly after David Hopkins became director of Paintball Direct NZ Limited.

The tournament's name recognised the previous owner's involvement in New Zealand paintball, although the precise date of the Corkill Cup's original establishment has not been confirmed.

=== Arena Paintball Race Series ===

Paintball Direct has provided tournament registration and payment facilities for the Arena Race Series held at [[Arena Paintball]].

The retailer's website lists entry packages for the 2026 Arena Five-Man Race Series, which scheduled three events:

* 4–5 April 2026
* 11–12 July 2026
* 24–25 October 2026

The competitions were advertised as five-player Race events using ten-minute games and a Mercy 4 scoring format. [8]

The event registration system allowed teams to enter individual rounds or purchase a discounted package covering the complete series.

The published competition arrangements included Cup and Plate finals, team prizes and individual player awards.

Paintball Direct also supplied paintballs for the tournaments, with discounted prices advertised for teams entering all three events.

=== Arena Paintball annual passes ===

Paintball Direct also provides online sales of annual playing passes for Arena Paintball.

The 2026 programme offered field and compressed-air access during designated open days and training sessions, along with discounted paintballs and an introductory benefit for new players. [9]

The programme demonstrates the retailer's involvement in supporting regular recreational and competitive participation at Arena Paintball.

== Relationship with Arena Paintball ==

[[Arena Paintball]] is a recreational and competitive paintball venue located at 558 Kimbolton Road in Feilding.

The venue operates outdoor playing fields used for recreational games, competitive training and organised tournaments.

Paintball Direct operates a showroom at the same address and provides retail services associated with the venue.

The two businesses share documented management connections through David Hopkins and the trading names registered to Custom Blinds Limited. [6]

Arena Paintball has hosted national and international tournament events since at least 2021.

Paintball Direct's online registration and equipment supply services support these activities.

== See also ==

* [[Steve Corkill]]
* [[Arena Paintball]]
* [[Paintball in New Zealand]]
* [[New Zealand Paintball Players League]]

== References ==

# [https://www.nzlbusiness.com/company/registered/Paintball-Direct-Nz-Limited New Zealand Business Directory. "Paintball Direct NZ Limited."] Historical company record identifying incorporation on 21 May 2008, original directors Steve and Rosmarie Corkill, and their equal shareholdings.
# [https://yellow.co.nz/y/paintball-direct-nz-tasman Yellow New Zealand. "Paintball Direct NZ."] Historical business listing describing the Ōpunake retailer, its physical and online stores, and its equipment range.
# [https://www.opunakecoastalnews.co.nz/pdfarchives/March%2022%202012.pdf Ōpunake & Coastal News. 22 March 2012.] Local community fundraising report listing a donation from Paintball Direct NZ.
# [https://www.companyhub.nz/companyDetails.cfm?nzbn=9429032732566 Company Hub. "Paintball Direct NZ Limited."] Companies Office-derived record identifying David Hopkins as director from 5 August 2021 and current sole shareholder.
# [https://www.paintballdirectnz.co.nz/ Paintball Direct NZ. Official online store.] Current product range and Feilding showroom details.
# [https://www.companyhub.nz/companyDetails.cfm?nzbn=9429034647400 Company Hub. "Custom Blinds Limited."] Company records identifying David and Diane Hopkins and the registered trading names Paintball Direct and Arena Paintball.
# [https://www.arenapaintball.co.nz/events Arena Paintball. "Events."] Official tournament listings, including the 23–24 October 2021 Corkill Cup and its historical tribute to Steve Corkill and his family.
# [https://www.paintballdirectnz.co.nz/2026-race-events/ Paintball Direct NZ. "2026 Race Events."] Arena Paintball tournament registration, dates, format, prices and conditions.
# [https://www.paintballdirectnz.co.nz/arena-paintball-annual-pass-2026/ Paintball Direct NZ. "Arena Paintball Annual Pass 2026."] Field access and participation programme.

== External links ==

* [https://www.paintballdirectnz.co.nz/ Paintball Direct NZ official website]
* [https://www.facebook.com/p/Paintball-Direct-NZ-100057214100073/ Paintball Direct NZ on Facebook]
* [https://www.arenapaintball.co.nz/ Arena Paintball]
* [https://www.companyhub.nz/companyDetails.cfm?nzbn=9429032732566 Paintball Direct NZ Limited company information]

[[Category:Paintball retailers]]
[[Category:Paintball in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Sporting goods retailers in New Zealand]]