The Bowls New Zealand co-ordinator for region six, Peter Thomson, said the national body recognised the sport needed to make changes to stop its decline.
"If clubs respond to change they will survive and thrive," he said.
"If not, their lights will go out."
The club assessment check list had been operating since 1997 but the gold and silver awards have only been in operation for the last 18 months and this was the first time the awards had been made.
"Only eight of the 610 clubs in New Zealand received the gold award," Thomson said.
"Taieri was one of the 15 clubs that received the silver award."
Bowls New Zealand wants to use these clubs as models to encourage other clubs to improve their status.
"This is the best practice model to have strong and sustainable clubs," Thomson said.
The award is not about performance on the greens but excellence in bowls administration. The club was independently assessed in terms of planning and management, people, the club and the game.
The club had to demonstrate its level of achievements over 24 criteria. The maximum score possible was 120 and to be awarded gold the club had to attain a score of 105 or better.
North East Valley scored 108 points.
North East Valley chairman Cyril Gilfedder said the award "was huge for our club.
"It is the recognition of the work put in by a lot of our members."
The award has nothing to do with how many internationals a club has or success on the green. It is a reward for sound club administration.
North East Valley has made its mark nationally, running the Speight's Invitation singles since 1990.
It introduced the Dunedin Casino-sponsored Women's Classic Pairs for the first time last season.
The club also won the Dunedin City Council's bowling club gardens award in December.
"We have operational and strategic plans but we had to demonstrate to the Bowls New Zealand assessors that they are working," Gilfedder said.
Taieri and North East Valley are the only bowling clubs in the Dunedin Centre that employ a fulltime green keeper-manager.
Life member Terry Scott fills that role for North East Valley.
"The award reflects the efforts put in by our executive and the club members as whole," Scott said.
"We have achieved it through all their support."
"It is an achievement we can be proud of and satisfied with," he said.
