New Zealand Curling Association president Darren Carson said seven men's and four women's teams comprising 46 players were competing for the trophy, and for places in top events both in New Zealand and internationally.
The competition includes round-robin games yesterday and today, with teams getting three games each.
The semifinals and finals will be played tomorrow.
Carson said the junior under-21s were also playing in the competition.
"It's a great chance for them to get out and play with the big guns and see where they are at," he said.
The championships are a family event, with the Becker family, in particular, well represented.
Peter Becker, wife Wendy, sons Sean and Scott, and daughter Bridget are all playing, as is daughter-in-law Cassie Becker.
Richie Morgan and son Elliot, Robbie Dobson and son Warren, John Campbell and daughter Natalie, and Murray Petherick and daughter Kylie are also keeping it in the family.
The Pacific Championships will be held at Naseby on October 31.
Teams for that event will be announced tomorrow evening, at the end of the champs.
Curling selectors Merv Jamieson from Naseby, John Allen from Auckland and Richard Morgan from Omakau are checking the form of players.
They are also watching senior players with an eye to picking teams to play at the World Championships in Dunedin next April.
