Six teams of curlers, two of them from Brisbane, will compete in a full round-robin of matches before the best two progress to a final tomorrow afternoon.
The Otago Daily Times Transtasman Trophy will be contested by each team, regardless of nationality, because of the uneven representation.
Most curlers in the four New Zealand teams are from Central Otago, with others from Dunedin and the lower South Island.
Rink manager Fred Newman said the competition's focus was on fun.
Amateur curlers would be pitted against Olympians in the sport, although the sense of transtasman rivalry was always strong.
"The games are only as serious as they want them to be. There's no pressure on them for selection, or anything.
"It gives curlers a chance to play with who they want to, rather than within their elite classes," he said.
While most competitors this year are men, a women's team, Bridget's Bruisers, will participate alongside the other New Zealand teams, Central Otago, New Zealand Presidents and Dobbie's Mob.
Newman said, with a few exceptions, Bridget's Bruisers was the New Zealand women's team, and Central Otago the national men's team.
New Zealand Presidents members had been or were presidents "of something", he said.
Representing Australia are nine Brisbane men, making up the teams, Stonecutters and Honeymooners.
