Asylum Paintball: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 16:33, 2 November 2026

Asylum Paintball is a New Zealand paintball facility located at the former Kingseat Hospital complex in Karaka, south of Auckland. Opened in 2013 following development beginning in 2012, the venue combines indoor paintball within former hospital buildings with outdoor recreational fields and tournament facilities.[1][2]

Asylum has hosted competitions organised by the New Zealand Paintball Players League (NZPPL), South Auckland Paintball Club (SAPC) and other tournament organisers.[3][4] In 2014, it sponsored accommodation for the SAPC Open Series winners to attend 2014 Paintball World Cup Asia, complementing entry sponsored by the Paintball Asia League Series (PALS).[12][13]

History

Establishment

Development of Asylum Paintball began in 2012, when the operators leased part of the former Kingseat psychiatric hospital complex at 833 Kingseat Road.[1]

The site was converted into a commercial paintball venue, incorporating the hospital's former maximum-security buildings and surrounding grounds. A tournament field was constructed on the former hospital football pitch, alongside indoor and outdoor recreational playing areas.[1]

Asylum opened in 2013. The adaptation of former hospital buildings into paintball facilities was independently documented in March 2014.[2]

Management

Vitaly Miheev was involved in Asylum's establishment and early operation. In October 2015, paintball manufacturer DYE Precision published an account by Australian team Hard2Overcome identifying Miheev as the venue's owner and operator.[4]

Historical business records also identify Alex Diveg in sales and Anton Klimenko in accounting.[5]

Asylum operated separately from Lock N Load Paintball, an earlier Auckland paintball facility located near Auckland Airport. Contemporary industry directories recorded both businesses as distinct venues.[6]

Facilities

Asylum Paintball occupies part of the former Kingseat Hospital grounds, including buildings originally used by the psychiatric institution.[1][2]

Its playing facilities have included:

Lockdown Ward: An indoor close-quarters field incorporating former hospital rooms and corridors.
Tyre Mania: An outdoor recreational field using tyres and other constructed obstacles.
Tournament fields: Outdoor competition fields equipped with inflatable Sup'Air bunkers.
Recreational fields: Additional outdoor playing areas for private groups and scenario games.

Historical advertising described two dedicated tournament fields, alongside indoor playing areas and facilities for private bookings, corporate groups and recreational players.[1][6]

Tournament paintball

Asylum became a venue for organised competitive paintball in Auckland during the 2010s.[3][4]

New Zealand Paintball Players League

Asylum hosted events associated with the New Zealand Paintball Players League, including the final event of the 2013 season and competitions during 2014.[1]

The 2014 NZPPL Auckland events included Pro X-Ball and Division 1 competition, with teams from New Zealand, Australia and French Polynesia participating in the league's International Pacific Championship.[7]

South Auckland Paintball Club

Asylum served as a home venue for the South Auckland Paintball Club, which organised regular tournament competitions at the facility.[3]

The club's 2014 and 2015 Race Series included Open X-Ball and mechanical-pump divisions. Events were recorded through the PBLeagues tournament registration and results system.[3][8]

The 2014 series consisted of four events held between February and September. The 2015 series also featured four events, running from January to August.[8][14]

PALS and World Cup Asia support

SAPC's published 2014 series information recorded endorsement from the heads of PALS/APPBF and Millennium Series/EPBF. The club advertised Open competition using PALS Divisions 1–3 classifications and Novice competition using the Division 4 classification.[14]

On 26 January 2014, Michael Earley, publishing as MikeE, announced that the SAPC Open Series winners would receive free Division 2 entry to 2014 Paintball World Cup Asia in Langkawi, Malaysia. PALS sponsored the entry fee, while Asylum Paintball sponsored the team's accommodation.[12]

The announcement also stated that the 2013 World Cup Asia field layout would be available for training before the opening SAPC event.[12]

SAPC's end-of-season report reconfirmed the entry and accommodation sponsorship. The statement, signed by club president Vitaly V. Miheev on 27 September and published on 30 September 2014, also announced that the president would serve as an official tournament coordinator at World Cup Asia.[13]

These announcements document the sponsored pathway and intended participation rather than confirming the winning team's eventual attendance or results.[12][13]

Asylum Paintball Cup

The venue hosted the 2015 Asylum Paintball Cup on 26–27 September 2015.[4][9]

The competition attracted international participation, including Australian team Hard2Overcome and Phoenix Tahiti from French Polynesia.[4][9]

An October 2015 report published by DYE Precision described Hard2Overcome's participation and its experiences competing at Asylum.[4]

Other tournaments

Asylum also hosted the Auckland Paintball Cup in March 2015 and was associated with a further edition in April 2016.[9]

In September 2025, the venue advertised the fourth event of a three-man tournament series.[10]

Recreational and scenario paintball

In addition to tournament paintball, Asylum has operated recreational games, private group events and organised scenario activities.[1]

Its former hospital buildings provide enclosed playing environments, while outdoor areas accommodate recreational games.[1][2]

The venue has also been associated with the Armageddon scenario paintball series. In August 2026, Asylum advertised Armageddon XIV, scheduled for 14–15 November 2026, as a two-day event featuring daytime and night-time paintball.[11]

References

Asylum Paintball, GrabOne New Zealand, historical business description and facility development.
Kingseat Maximum Security, Haunted Auckland, 22 March 2014.
SAPC July 2014 Race #3, PBLeagues, Asylum Paintball, 12–13 July 2014.
Hard2Overcome Heads to New Zealand, DYE Precision, 13 October 2015.
Asylum Paintball, Cylex New Zealand, historical business profile and management contacts.
International Paintball Field Directory, WARPIG, listings for Asylum Paintball and Lock N Load Paintball.
New Zealand Paintball Players League: 2014 Season Rankings, PBLeagues.
South Auckland Paintball Club: 2015 Season Rankings, PBLeagues.
ADHD: Tournament history, PBLeagues, 2014–2016.
Three-Man Tournament Series Event 4, AllEvents, 20 September 2025.
Asylum Paintball: Historical social-media updates, including the Armageddon XIV announcement of 31 August 2026.
SAPC Inc – Sending Kiwis to Paintball World Cup Asia 2014, Michael Earley, published as MikeE, South Auckland Paintball Club Inc, 26 January 2014. PALS-sponsored entry, Asylum-sponsored accommodation and pre-season field layout.
2014 End of Season Round Up, South Auckland Paintball Club Inc, published 30 September 2014. Statement signed Vitaly V. Miheev, SAPC President, 27 September 2014.
2014 SAPC Open + Novice Series, South Auckland Paintball Club Inc, archived club website. Formats, classifications, endorsement, venue and series prizes.

External links

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+'''Asylum Paintball''' is a New Zealand [[paintball]] facility located at the former [[Kingseat Hospital]] complex in Karaka, south of Auckland. Opened in 2013 following development beginning in 2012, the venue combines indoor paintball within former hospital buildings with outdoor recreational fields and tournament facilities.[1][2]
-'''Asylum Paintball''' is a paintball venue located at the former [[Kingseat Hospital]] in [[Karaka, New Zealand|Karaka]], south of [[Auckland]], New Zealand. Established in the early 2010s, the facility occupies part of the former psychiatric hospital grounds at 833 Kingseat Road and offers recreational, scenario and tournament paintball.
+Asylum has hosted competitions organised by the [[New Zealand Paintball Players League]] (NZPPL), [[South Auckland Paintball Club]] (SAPC) and other tournament organisers.[3][4] In 2014, it sponsored accommodation for the SAPC Open Series winners to attend [[2014 Paintball World Cup Asia]], complementing entry sponsored by the [[Paintball Asia League Series]] (PALS).[12][13]
-Asylum has hosted events associated with the [[New Zealand Paintball Players League]] (NZPPL), [[South Auckland Paintball Club]] (SAPC) and other domestic competitions. Its facilities include indoor playing areas within former hospital buildings and outdoor tournament fields using inflatable bunkers.
 == History ==
@@ Line 8: / Line 7: @@
 === Establishment ===
-Asylum Paintball was developed at the former Kingseat Hospital, a psychiatric institution that operated from 1932 until 1999. The complex's former maximum-security buildings provided an unusual setting for an indoor paintball facility.
+Development of Asylum Paintball began in 2012, when the operators leased part of the former Kingseat psychiatric hospital complex at 833 Kingseat Road.[1]
+The site was converted into a commercial paintball venue, incorporating the hospital's former maximum-security buildings and surrounding grounds. A tournament field was constructed on the former hospital football pitch, alongside indoor and outdoor recreational playing areas.[1]
-According to a historical business description, Asylum took over a lease at Kingseat in 2012 and began developing the grounds for paintball. The initial development included a tournament field on a former sports pitch and indoor and outdoor recreational playing areas.<ref name="GrabOne">[https://new.grabone.co.nz/activities-events-outdoors/paintball/p/asylum-paintball-27 "Asylum Paintball"], ''GrabOne New Zealand''. Historical business and facility description.</ref>
+Asylum opened in 2013. The adaptation of former hospital buildings into paintball facilities was independently documented in March 2014.[2]
-A 2014 account by the paranormal investigation group Haunted Auckland described Asylum as the new leaseholder of the former maximum-security building, documenting the reuse of part of the former hospital complex.<ref>[https://hauntedauckland.com/maximum-security-kingseat-hospital/ "Kingseat Maximum Security"], ''Haunted Auckland'', 22 March 2014.</ref>
+=== Management ===
-The company's LinkedIn profile gives 2013 as its founding year. This differs from the reported 2012 lease commencement and may reflect the beginning of commercial operations rather than the initial development of the site.<ref>[https://nz.linkedin.com/company/asylum-paintball "Asylum Paintball"], ''LinkedIn''.</ref>
+[[Vitaly Miheev]] was involved in Asylum's establishment and early operation. In October 2015, paintball manufacturer [[DYE Precision]] published an account by Australian team Hard2Overcome identifying Miheev as the venue's owner and operator.[4]
-=== Management ===
+Historical business records also identify Alex Diveg in sales and Anton Klimenko in accounting.[5]
-[[Vitaly Miheev]] was associated with the establishment and operation of Asylum Paintball. A 2015 account published by paintball equipment manufacturer [[DYE Precision|DYE Paintball]] identified Miheev as the owner and operator of the venue.<ref>[https://shop.dyepaintball.com/blogs/news/70494659-hard2overcome-heads-to-new-zealand "Hard2Overcome Heads to New Zealand"], ''DYE Paintball'', 2015.</ref>
+Asylum operated separately from [[Lock N Load Paintball]], an earlier Auckland paintball facility located near Auckland Airport. Contemporary industry directories recorded both businesses as distinct venues.[6]
-[[Michael Earley]] was also involved in the business during its early years. A March 2014 press release concerning the New Zealand Paintball Players League identified Earley as a spokesperson for Asylum Paintball.<ref name="Scoop2014">Blacksheep Communications (16 March 2014). [https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1403/S00280/blacksheep-media-release-2013-nzppl-video.htm "Blacksheep Media Release 2013 NZPPL Video"]. ''Scoop Independent News''.</ref>
+== Facilities ==
-=== Development ===
+Asylum Paintball occupies part of the former Kingseat Hospital grounds, including buildings originally used by the psychiatric institution.[1][2]
-Asylum developed a combination of indoor and outdoor playing facilities, including tournament fields, themed recreational arenas and close-quarters environments inside the former hospital buildings.
+Its playing facilities have included:
-The venue's recreational fields included the ''Lockdown Ward'', located within the former hospital facilities, and ''Tyre Mania'', an outdoor field incorporating vehicle tyres and other obstacles. Separate tournament fields used inflatable bunkers associated with competitive paintball.<ref name="GrabOne"/>
+* '''Lockdown Ward:''' An indoor close-quarters field incorporating former hospital rooms and corridors.
+* '''Tyre Mania:''' An outdoor recreational field using tyres and other constructed obstacles.
+* '''Tournament fields:''' Outdoor competition fields equipped with inflatable Sup'Air bunkers.
+* '''Recreational fields:''' Additional outdoor playing areas for private groups and scenario games.
-The business subsequently advertised two dedicated Sup'Air tournament fields, indoor close-quarters areas and facilities for social games, corporate events and private functions.<ref>[https://nz.linkedin.com/company/asylum-paintball "Asylum Paintball"], ''LinkedIn'', company description.</ref>
+Historical advertising described two dedicated tournament fields, alongside indoor playing areas and facilities for private bookings, corporate groups and recreational players.[1][6]
 == Tournament paintball ==
-Asylum became a venue for competitive paintball in the Auckland region during the 2010s, hosting tournaments and providing training facilities for local teams.
+Asylum became a venue for organised competitive paintball in Auckland during the 2010s.[3][4]
-=== 2013 NZPPL season ===
+=== New Zealand Paintball Players League ===
-The final event of the 2013 New Zealand Paintball Players League season was held at Asylum Paintball.
+Asylum hosted events associated with the [[New Zealand Paintball Players League]], including the final event of the 2013 season and competitions during 2014.[1]
-The tournament was won by '''KC Damage''', with '''Wellington Vendetta''' finishing second and '''X-Fighter$ Fracture''' third. '''X-Fighter$''' won the overall season championship, having recorded two event victories and a third-place finish during the series.<ref name="Scoop2014"/>
+The 2014 NZPPL Auckland events included Pro X-Ball and Division 1 competition, with teams from New Zealand, Australia and French Polynesia participating in the league's International Pacific Championship.[7]
-The event was filmed by Blacksheep Media, a New Zealand paintball photography and videography group led by Tony Dickson. Footage of the tournament was released in March 2014.<ref name="Scoop2014"/>
+=== South Auckland Paintball Club ===
-=== 2014 competitions ===
+Asylum served as a home venue for the [[South Auckland Paintball Club]], which organised regular tournament competitions at the facility.[3]
-Asylum hosted events associated with the South Auckland Paintball Club and New Zealand Paintball Players League during 2014.
+The club's 2014 and 2015 Race Series included Open X-Ball and mechanical-pump divisions. Events were recorded through the PBLeagues tournament registration and results system.[3][8]
-The NZPPL's published schedule included Auckland events at Asylum on 30–31 August and the International Pacific Championship on 25–26 October 2014.<ref name="Scoop2014"/>
+The 2014 series consisted of four events held between February and September. The 2015 series also featured four events, running from January to August.[8][14]
-The International Pacific Championship brought together New Zealand and overseas teams, including competitors from French Polynesia. Contemporary results and season standings are preserved in the PBLeagues database.<ref>[https://pbleagues.com/league/267/seasonRankings/2014 "NZPPL 2014 Season Rankings"], ''PBLeagues''.</ref>
+==== PALS and World Cup Asia support ====
-=== 2015 competitions ===
+SAPC's published 2014 series information recorded endorsement from the heads of PALS/APPBF and Millennium Series/EPBF. The club advertised Open competition using PALS Divisions 1–3 classifications and Novice competition using the Division 4 classification.[14]
-Asylum continued hosting tournament paintball during 2015, including events in the South Auckland Paintball Club series and the Asylum Paintball Cup.
+On 26 January 2014, [[Michael Earley]], publishing as MikeE, announced that the SAPC Open Series winners would receive free Division 2 entry to [[2014 Paintball World Cup Asia]] in Langkawi, Malaysia. PALS sponsored the entry fee, while Asylum Paintball sponsored the team's accommodation.[12]
-The PBLeagues results database records SAPC Open X-Ball and Mechanical Pump Division 4 competitions during the season.<ref>[https://pbleagues.com/league/262/seasonRankings/2015 "SAPC 2015 Season Rankings"], ''PBLeagues''.</ref>
+The announcement also stated that the 2013 World Cup Asia field layout would be available for training before the opening SAPC event.[12]
-The venue hosted the Auckland Paintball Cup on 7–8 March 2015 and the Asylum Paintball Cup on 26–27 September 2015. Both events appear in the competition histories of participating teams.<ref>[https://pbleagues.com/team/OsP8T5RKxmUCKT9A "ADHD Team Results"], ''PBLeagues''.</ref>
+SAPC's end-of-season report reconfirmed the entry and accommodation sponsorship. The statement, signed by club president [[Vitaly Miheev|Vitaly V. Miheev]] on 27 September and published on 30 September 2014, also announced that the president would serve as an official tournament coordinator at World Cup Asia.[13]
-=== Later events ===
+These announcements document the sponsored pathway and intended participation rather than confirming the winning team's eventual attendance or results.[12][13]
-Asylum remained involved in tournament paintball beyond the mid-2010s. In September 2025, the venue advertised the fourth event of a local three-man tournament series.<ref>[https://allevents.in/drury/3-man-tournament-series-event-4/200028624044252 "3 Man Tournament Series Event #4"], ''AllEvents'', 20 September 2025.</ref>
+=== Asylum Paintball Cup ===
-The facility has also hosted recreational scenario events, including the multi-day ''Armageddon'' series.<ref>[https://www.localgymsandfitness.com/NZ/Auckland/397859053674117/Asylum-Paintball "Asylum Paintball"], ''LocalGymsAndFitness'', archived business social-media updates.</ref>
+The venue hosted the [[2015 Asylum Paintball Cup]] on 26–27 September 2015.[4][9]
-== Facilities ==
+The competition attracted international participation, including Australian team Hard2Overcome and [[Phoenix Tahiti]] from French Polynesia.[4][9]
-Asylum Paintball operates at villas 10 and 16 of the former Kingseat Hospital complex, at 833 Kingseat Road, Karaka.
+An October 2015 report published by DYE Precision described Hard2Overcome's participation and its experiences competing at Asylum.[4]
-Its principal playing environments include:
+=== Other tournaments ===
-* '''Lockdown Ward''' – an indoor close-quarters playing area within former hospital buildings.
+Asylum also hosted the Auckland Paintball Cup in March 2015 and was associated with a further edition in April 2016.[9]
-* '''Tyre Mania''' – an outdoor arena incorporating tyres and other obstacles.
-* '''Tournament fields''' – outdoor fields using inflatable bunkers for competitive paintball.
-* '''Other themed recreational areas''' – spaces developed for private games and group bookings.
-The use of both existing buildings and outdoor playing fields allows the venue to offer several different forms of paintball at the same site.<ref>[https://www.newzealand.com/us/plan/business/asylum-paintball-new-zealand-premier-paintball-park-1/ "Asylum Paintball"], ''Tourism New Zealand''.</ref>
+In September 2025, the venue advertised the fourth event of a three-man tournament series.[10]
-The facility is also associated with the South Auckland Paintball Club. The Citizens Advice Bureau directory identifies Asylum as the club's home venue.<ref>[https://www.cab.org.nz/community-directory/KB00003429 "Asylum Paintball – Kingseat"], ''Citizens Advice Bureau'', checked 29 April 2026.</ref>
+== Recreational and scenario paintball ==
-== Location ==
+In addition to tournament paintball, Asylum has operated recreational games, private group events and organised scenario activities.[1]
-Asylum Paintball is located at 833 Kingseat Road in Kingseat, Karaka, approximately 35 minutes by road from central Auckland. Its facilities occupy part of the former Kingseat psychiatric hospital, near the Spookers haunted attraction.
+Its former hospital buildings provide enclosed playing environments, while outdoor areas accommodate recreational games.[1][2]
-The original hospital setting has been a central element of the paintball venue's identity since its establishment.
+The venue has also been associated with the '''Armageddon''' scenario paintball series. In August 2026, Asylum advertised '''Armageddon XIV''', scheduled for 14–15 November 2026, as a two-day event featuring daytime and night-time paintball.[11]
 == See also ==
+* [[History of paintball in New Zealand]]
 * [[Paintball in New Zealand]]
-* [[History of paintball in New Zealand]]
 * [[South Auckland Paintball Club]]
 * [[New Zealand Paintball Players League]]
+* [[Paintball Asia League Series]]
+* [[2014 Paintball World Cup Asia]]
+* [[2015 Asylum Paintball Cup]]
+* [[Lock N Load Paintball]]
 * [[Vitaly Miheev]]
-* [[Michael Earley]]
-* [[Kingseat Hospital]]
 == References ==
-<references />
+# [https://new.grabone.co.nz/activities-events-outdoors/paintball/p/asylum-paintball-27 Asylum Paintball], GrabOne New Zealand, historical business description and facility development.
+# [https://hauntedauckland.com/maximum-security-kingseat-hospital/ Kingseat Maximum Security], Haunted Auckland, 22 March 2014.
+# [https://pbleagues.com/event/3574/info SAPC July 2014 Race #3], PBLeagues, Asylum Paintball, 12–13 July 2014.
+# [https://shop.dyepaintball.com/blogs/news/70494659-hard2overcome-heads-to-new-zealand Hard2Overcome Heads to New Zealand], DYE Precision, 13 October 2015.
+# [https://www.cylex.co.nz/company/asylum%20paintball-18135556.html Asylum Paintball], Cylex New Zealand, historical business profile and management contacts.
+# [https://www.warpig.com/forums/fields/index/pg_Other.shtml International Paintball Field Directory], WARPIG, listings for Asylum Paintball and Lock N Load Paintball.
+# [https://pbleagues.com/league/267/seasonRankings/2014 New Zealand Paintball Players League: 2014 Season Rankings], PBLeagues.
+# [https://pbleagues.com/league/262/seasonRankings/2015 South Auckland Paintball Club: 2015 Season Rankings], PBLeagues.
+# [https://pbleagues.com/team/OsP8T5RKxmUCKT9A ADHD: Tournament history], PBLeagues, 2014–2016.
+# [https://allevents.in/drury/3-man-tournament-series-event-4/200028624044252 Three-Man Tournament Series Event 4], AllEvents, 20 September 2025.
+# [https://www.localgymsandfitness.com/NZ/Auckland/397859053674117/Asylum-Paintball Asylum Paintball: Historical social-media updates], including the Armageddon XIV announcement of 31 August 2026.
+# [https://web.archive.org/web/20150301000000/http://southaucklandpaintballclub.com/2014/01/26/sapc-inc-sending-kiwis-to-paintball-world-cup-asia-2014/ SAPC Inc – Sending Kiwis to Paintball World Cup Asia 2014], Michael Earley, published as MikeE, South Auckland Paintball Club Inc, 26 January 2014. PALS-sponsored entry, Asylum-sponsored accommodation and pre-season field layout.
+# [https://web.archive.org/web/20150301000000/http://southaucklandpaintballclub.com/2014/09/30/2014-end-of-season-round-up/ 2014 End of Season Round Up], South Auckland Paintball Club Inc, published 30 September 2014. Statement signed Vitaly V. Miheev, SAPC President, 27 September 2014.
+# [https://web.archive.org/web/20150301000000/http://southaucklandpaintballclub.com/2014-sapc-open-novice-series/ 2014 SAPC Open + Novice Series], South Auckland Paintball Club Inc, archived club website. Formats, classifications, endorsement, venue and series prizes.
 == External links ==
-* [https://www.asylumpaintball.co.nz/ Official website]
+* [https://www.asylumpaintball.co.nz/ Asylum Paintball official website]
-* [https://www.facebook.com/AsylumPaintballPark Official Facebook page]
+* [https://www.facebook.com/AsylumPaintball Asylum Paintball on Facebook]
-* [https://www.instagram.com/asylumpaintballnz/ Official Instagram account]
+* [https://pbleagues.com/league/262/ South Auckland Paintball Club results archive]
-* [https://twitter.com/asylumpbnz Historical Twitter/X account]
-* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykou3SjP0vQ Video of the 2013 NZPPL final, Blacksheep Media]
-* [https://www.newzealand.com/us/plan/business/asylum-paintball-new-zealand-premier-paintball-park-1/ Tourism New Zealand listing]
 [[Category:Paintball fields in New Zealand]]

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