Every four years, New Zealanders get a front-row seat to some of the quirkiest and most fascinating winter sports thanks to the Winter Olympics.
This morning, the action kicked off with mixed doubles curling - a sport with a small footprint here but a long history. It's been played in the South Island since the 1840s.
Now Auckland is about to get its own slice of curling history - a dedicated rink is opening in the city this year. Until now, if you wanted to play on ice made just for curling, you'd have had to head south to Dunedin, Alexandra or the tiny town of Naseby.
Lorne de Pape is an Auckland Curling life member and 2006 Winter Olympian. He talks to Mark Leishman about what this will mean for the sport in the north.
Baxter Cup 2017, curling in Naseby Photo: Lottie Hedley
