Teams from the 26 Provincial Unions have to qualify to attend at the National Event in Queenstown.

Teams that were placed in the top eight, after round robin play the previous year, have automatic right of entry into the following years event. The host union also has a right of entry. If the host union has won its right to attend by being with the top eight then their entry position will go to the winner of the bowl the previous year.

Various other equations come to effect as well.

The Provincial Unions are split into Northern, Central and Southern Zones. A Ratio of 6,5,5 establishes a way for those teams, that have not qualified, to enter through the regions ratio. For example if we take the Central Region of which there are Nine Unions to fill 5 positions. Bearing in mind that at least two of the positions will be filled by Unions that have already qualified by how they were placed the previous year, we then have 7 Unions vying for 3 positions. Each region has a Tournament which doubles as a qualifying round to identify Unions for those last positions.

In some occasions all is not lost for Unions that fail to make their regions ratio. They may be granted a wildcard entry if some other region ratio is not filled by the respective Unions. This may be due to various reasons.

2012 TEAM POOLS
A
Auckland
Manawatu
Hawke’s Bay
Mid Canterbury

B
Taranaki
Horowhenua Kapiti
Southland
Otago

C
Waikato
Counties Manukau
Northland
Wellington


D
Bay of Plenty
North Harbour
Tasman
Canterbury