Back in 2023, Christine Young wrote a feature for Channel Mag on Takapuna resident Julian Brown’s plans to bring the sport of ‘Padel’ to New Zealand. Two years on, those plans have firmly become a reality with the establishment of four brand new courts at Albany and the news that three courts will also be installed in central Takapuna in the next few months. Channel Mag’s Aidan Bennett went along to Albany during August and reckons he may have caught the ‘Padel bug’.

I have known Julian Brown for quite a few years as an identity on the North Shore. His career has included success in property investment and development, he did a great stint for the community as chair of the Takapuna Beach Business Association a few years ago, and I was aware that his new passion was padel and a related business he had set up with others, Pacific Padel. On the back of the news that they were setting up three courts in my 'hood, central Takapuna, I thought it was time to discover a bit more about the sport of padel, and Julian’s business, Pacific Padel.
The three Takapuna courts will be installed as part of the town square site next to the main Takapuna bus stop area and Cousin Scott’s family restaurant and sports bar.
“These three Takapuna courts will be installed before Christmas. We are aiming to have them in action during November,” says Julian, CEO, Pacific Padel. “They will be great for the community and add to the vibrancy of the area.
“Booking a court and playing will be very easily administered via an easy-to-use global app, called Playtomic, the same way players currently book at our site in Albany will be used for booking throughout New Zealand The Playtomic app will process the payment and also includes the facility for players of all levels to develop a ranking score, so they play against other similarly talented (or not) Padel players. So you will be able to book a court to play with friends or book a court to play with players of a similar level. It’s a very social game.”
On a Saturday afternoon in mid-August, I ventured north to Albany, near the Tennis Northern/Albany Tennis Centre complex and the BMX track on Oteha Valley Road, to meet with Julian and discover the new Pacific Padel courts. I was impressed! It was a cold winter's day, but the courts were all busy. There are currently four courts at Albany, with plans for up to eight on the site. Pacific Padel has exclusive distribution rights to these Padel Galis courts in New Zealand and the Pacific.
Julian says he first discovered the game of padel in Europe 20 years ago. He explains that Spain is the epicentre of the Padel phenomenon; apparently, it’s now their second biggest participant sport, behind football. He also played when living in London at courts at a local gym there, but reconnected with the game in South Africa after the pandemic.
“I was convinced to bring it to New Zealand after seeing how it was booming when I was visiting friends in South Africa. I got back to New Zealand, and there were no courts here. After about six months of waiting,I thought, ‘Right, I'd better do it myself.’ I had the padel bug!”
Padel was actually first developed in Mexico back in 1969 and is now very popular worldwide. Julian says it has developed substantially since the early days when he played in Spain on courts with concrete walls and floors, and the bats weren't as good as the solid carbon-fibre ones used now.
Padel is now played on a glass-and-cage enclosed court that’s about one-third the size of a tennis court, but with much the same relative dimensions. The rules are essentially the same as those in tennis, but the game is played with a shortened racket (38mm thick, with a polystyrene inside and coated with carbon-fibre), and a tennis ball that is nine percent softer than a regular ball. Serving is an underhand serve, which, along with the softer ball, slows the game down, resulting in longer rallies than in tennis. An added dimension to the game is that the ball can be played off the end glass walls as well, similar to squash.
I didn’t intend to play while I was there, but Julian introduced me to Jorge Goiko, a young Spanish lad who is one of his Pacific Padel certified coaches (and apparently a gun!), who encouraged me to have a hit with him. I’m glad I did. It’s a lot of fun; it was easy to see why it is becoming the game of choice for players of all ages and abilities. When there are three of these courts in Takapuna, I’m all in!
“It’s faster to pick up than any other racket sport,” explains Julian. “There’s less running, more hitting and longer rallies. The whole game is more suited to general enjoyment than tennis, and is great for racket players who think their playing days are over. That hasn’t stopped the development internationally of a couple of well-financed and highly competitive professional tournament circuits.
“Padel is mostly played as doubles and in New Zealand, through Pacific Padel. We’re setting up the whole environment and ecosystem around it – coaching, tournaments, pro-shop, merchandise and refreshments.”
Julian sees it as a privilege to introduce this totally new game to be enjoyed by a wide cross-section of people. He gets a buzz out of introducing people to padel, because he’s confident they’ll love it
As well as the three new courts in Takapuna, construction is underway on four new courts at Merton Road, Glen Innes, in Auckland, and four are also being built at Wilding Park in Christchurch.
The company aims to operate 50 courts across 12 to 14 clubs, with Julian Brown aiming for 100 courts nationwide eventually. He adds that Pacific Padel's Auckland club already has 500 members in its WhatsApp group, and people are loving it.
Pacific Padel’s community and club manager, Adam McDonald, has witnessed first-hand the impact that the new sport has made in a very short time.
"Padel is unlike any sport I’ve ever played – how addictive it is and how quickly you get hooked after your first try,” says Adam. “It’s growing fast all over the world for a reason. What I love is how simple it is to pick up. You can be laughing through rallies within minutes of stepping on court. Compared to tennis or other racket sports, it’s much easier to progress to higher levels with just a little practice and coaching.
“For us at Pacific Padel Albany, the best part has been watching a real community take shape. People come down to get active, but they end up making friends too, and you can see the positive impact that has on their wellbeing.
“It’s also been brilliant for corporate groups. Padel is easy for beginners, inclusive and just the right mix of fun and competitive. We’ve had teams turn up not knowing what to expect, and within an hour they’re high-fiving each other and already planning their rematch."
After my hit with Jorge in Albany, I’ve well and truly got the ‘padel bug’. And there’s soon to be three courts about 300 metres away from my front gate!
Check it out in Albany (325 Oteha Valley Road), keep an eye out for the courts opening in Takapuna, get the Playtomic app, or visit pacificpadel.co.nz for more information.

Visit: pacificpadel.com