Curling: 'Tremendous' venue puts Maniototo on the map

The Maniototo Curling International rink is world-class and was given the seal of approval by competitors at the just-completed Pacific championships.

The most important backing came from World Curling Federation director of competitions Keith Wendorf, who rated the rink one of the best curling facilities in the world.

"This is a tremendous curling club," Wendorf told the Otago Daily Times. "I'm so pleased and happy to be here."

Wendorf and his wife, Susan, an international umpire, ran clinics on the outdoor rinks in the town in the early 1990s.

"We were on the outdoor rinks and exposed to the elements," Wendorf said. "If it rained we were in trouble.

"We are pleased to see this development from a personal and from a World Curling Federation perspective."

He also rates the facility at the Dunedin Ice Stadium and believes it will better when the glassed-in heated viewing area is completed.

The Pacific championships has been a significant event for people of the Maniototo.

"I'm very proud of what we have done here," New Zealand Curling Association life member and former international Stewart McKnight said.

McKnight was one of a group of Maniototo people who planned and organised the project, which has put Naseby and the Maniototo on the world map. It cost $1.5 million to build the facility, and additional voluntary work is estimated to have saved $400,000.

The curling rink has made Naseby the curling capital of New Zealand. When it was completed three years ago, the Naseby rink was New Zealand's first international- and Olympic-standard indoor curling rink.

It was the only dedicated indoor curling rink in the southern hemisphere. There is a now a second international curling facility at the Dunedin Ice Stadium.

The Naseby rink is an all-weather indoor curling facility which includes a lounge bar, conference venue, viewing area, kitchen, changing rooms and amenities.