The original Paraparaumu Beach Tennis Club was voluntarily wound up early in 1950. A new club was formed and opened on 6 November, 1955 at its original location on Ocean Road. The club moved to its current site, Te Atiawa, in May 1982.

Here's how the 'Kapiti Observer' reported the formation of the new club in its 25 August, 1955 issue; the opening of the club in its 17 November, 1955 issue, and; the official opening of the Te Atiawa courts in its 5 May,1982 edition.Click Here

In 2009, Mike Ratcliffe, whilst 'rummaging around',  unearthed the following gem on the history of the club. A "carbon copy on flimsy paper, unheaded, unsigned, undated but obviously pretty old",  states;"The Paraparaumu Beach Tennis Club was founded in 1927 on it's present site in Bluegum Road initially with two courts to which an additional two were established in 1933.  These courts were in use for a number of years before the first clubhouse was erected, consisting of a 9 x 9 corrugated shed for which most of the material was supplied free and labour given voluntarily by various well known identities.Although membership was not large the general public made full use of the courts for a fee of sixpence per player per half hour.However, during the years of the depression the Club, with very few members to support it was forced into recess and it was not until 1946 that the Club was re-formed and steady progress saw a new clubhouse which was officially opened in 1962.  The membership grew and at present stands at 51 Seniors and 70 Juniors.President        Mr B Francis        70 Aorangi Road      Phone 5340Club Captain    Mr R Harris            9 Moana Road        Phone 5911Secretary        Mrs A Bishop        32 Kiwi Road          Phone 4511"So it appears we date back to 1927! Any advances on 1927?

The story continues courtesy of Bruce Sutherland , who adds:-

Ocean Road courts

Tennis at the courts in Ocean Road continued on into the mid-seventies with night  tennis, Sunday club days and inter club teams being well supported. However, a court problem was eventuating with poplar tree roots from the neighbour’s trees coming up through the courts and having to be repaired each season. With this becoming an ongoing problem a solution needed to be sought as lifting and replacing the courts was financially impractical for the club resources.

Following an approach from Council Parks and Reserves, a suggestion being made to provide a multiple code court facility at Te Atiawa Park to be shared with Netball and Tennis, was discussed and seen as a potential to overcome a long term and expensive problem at Ocean Road courts. Netball at the time was using college courts which were inadequate for their numbers

After discussions with Council and Netball, a feasibility proposal was put together to provide a 10 court complex, provision for club rooms and parking. Discussions also started about establishing a combined body with netball to run such a complex.

To progress this proposal it meant the Tennis club had to decide what to do for it’s future at Ocean Road courts. This was discussed at a lengthy Special Meeting in 1980 of all members where the proposal was considered along with the decision to sell Ocean Road to provide Tennis’ share of funds for the new club house and fencing the complex. Council to provide the courts, parking and grounds. The proposal was approved.

Te Atiawa Courts

Then came the establishment in June 1981 of Te Atiawa Courts Centre Inc., the body to control the building and future of the complex. The constitution drawn up consisting of 4 members from each code and funding shared equally. This concept, with only minor changes, continues today, over 40 years later.

Tenders for the sale of Ocean Road were called with the Crippled Children Society successful for $22,000, The contract for building the club house was let to Franson builders for $64,000 and fencing the courts for $22,000. Council had laid the courts and parking area parallel to Percival Road. The newer parks closer to the pavilion were created later following the removal of a number of large pine trees and ground levelling again done by Council.

This meant the last season at Ocean Road courts since the mid 50’s was 1981, with the new Te Atiawa courts complex being opened by the Mayor, June Oakley on 2 May 1982

The Veterans Tournament.

With 10 courts now in use it meant that we could run tournaments. With a large number of “mature” members already playing masters tennis, we decided to run a masters/Vets tournament. We manged to get a Labour weekend date on the NZ

Veterans calendar which meant better possible entries from a much wider community than just local members. A sub committee of 5 of us ran the first Vets tournament on October 1984 with over 100 entries and good sponsorships from local businesses. The same committee of 5 ran this tournament for 11 years raising over $22,000 for the club through entries, sponsorships, food and beverage sales and funding raising at the events. Regrettably the event died through lack of entries due to the unpopularity of our court surface. Laykold, astroturf and other smooth surfaces had become prevalent surfaces and more popular. Also westerly winds had become an issue with little protection on the courts. A wind protection netting was erected on the west fence but during a storm the netting bent over a metre into the courts so Council provided railway iron to straighten the netting and secure it.

Night Tennis

With the change to Te Atiawa and bringing the lights from Ocean Road with us, it enabled, what had been a long running social night tennis to continue with an ‘interclub” with Pukerua Bay, Waikanae, Paekakariki and Te Horo continuing on from Ocean Road times through until interest from some clubs waned. This interclub ceased in 1986.

Business House

Since the move to Te Atiawa membership had declined a little so it needed a boost. I had previously played business house at other centres so decided to try and start one in the hope it would encourage new members. After help from the Kapiti Promotion Council, I wrote to all Kapiti businesses to see if there was local interest. It eventuated that in 1985 we stared the first business house tournament with 22 teams entered and was played under lights, pre Christmas with Cappers Transport the first winners of the trophy presented by the then Promotion Council CEO. All of the business House tournaments have been sponsored by local businesses with the first one by Jack Motors. This tournament still runs today, as at 2022, 37 years later and now runs two tournaments each season before and following Christmas with 2 grades of players for each competition. As a result of this tournament, membership did increase and funds for the club have been raised at each tournament

Senior Interclub

Over the 80’s to mid 2000’s senior interclub teams have been quite successful. In the early 80’s ladies and men’s A teams both progressed through Kapi Mana A grade interclub into Wellington Regional 4 then on up to Regional 2. The Ladies team where the first to progress to Regional 1 with the men’s team later. From the late 90’s the club had a successful Regional Masters team and this combined with the regional teams results, won the best performing club in Regional tennis a number of times.

Juniors

Junior tennis, teams and individuals have also been successful and achieved excellent results with a few individual junior members achieving National rankings and overseas scholarships. Over the years junior ranks have swelled up to 130 in a season but numbers have varied each year. The most consistent aspect for junior tennis has been the coaching by both club members and professional coaches. Junior tournaments have been held, for club, Association rankings, Kapi Mana Juniors and championships. The club has also supported NZ Tennis programme of “Love Tennis” to encourage children to take up tennis and encourage new membership

Life Members

One of the professional coaches was the late Arthur Foote who later became a Life member and Patron following a very long serving patron and an original member, the late Betty Carrol. Arthur preceded Des Patterson and current Patron and Life Member, Bruce Sutherland. Other current Life members are Mary McElligott and Bob Cowper and since the clubs establishment there have been 11 other life members.

Club Courts

Tennis had become a year round sport which meant a problem sharing Courts with Netball for 6 months each year had to be solved. Following discussions with KCD Council in 1991 and with their help, 3 tennis only courts were eventually established with a synpave surface and were opened by the Mayor Ivor Pask in 1992. Additional parking for the courts was also added.

In 2002 these courts were resurfaced and again later but with water seeping and cracks appearing it was decided to raise sufficient funds through club members, club funds and sponsors for the courts to be re-laid in Astroturf and was completed in 2021 along with new and strengthened netting.

With the club pavilion being separate from the club courts it was decided to build a smaller pavilion at the new courts. Initially a building was to be donated but one was finally built in 1993 and opened by the then Patron, Betty Carroll.

With this facility being used year round, it was decided to deck the grassed area in front of the pavilion and this was completed in 2013

The 10 asphalt courts had been resurfaced and later to be surfaced in Plexipave but again cracks and water seepage had created problems. Council agreed to replace the whole surface by relaying the complete structure, laying the courts again and renewing the netting as well.

​​​​​​​Updated to August 2022
Bruce Sutherland