ABOUT SOUTHERN DRAGONS DRAGON BOAT CLUB

Southern Dragons was founded in 2001 by brothers Mike and Steve Brown. The team paddled competitively for several years before taking a break from the sport. Fast forward to 2018 — with his competitive nature and coaching ability, Mike Brown reignited Southern Dragons, building a new crew of paddlers with no prior experience.

 

Many of them were his own whānau, encouraged to “get off the couch” and embrace the challenge. Under Mike’s leadership, the team quickly found success.

 

In 2021, Mike passed the torch to his nephew, Shaun Brown, whose love for paddling and fierce competitive spirit mirror his uncle’s. Shaun’s commitment to the sport has since been recognised at the highest level — selected to coach the New Zealand Black Dragons for the 2025 World Championships in Germany.

 

Today, Southern Dragons is home to more than 40 paddlers who train locally and compete nationally. We welcome new paddlers of all experience levels — no background needed, just a willingness to learn. For many of us, Southern is more than a team: it’s a safe place to escape the pressures of everyday life, where the feeling after training is unbeatable.