Gates offer the promise of greener pastures - and Dennis Bulloch hopes people will think the same of gateball.
Gateball was invented in 1947 by Japanese man Suzuki Kazunobu - now there are 11 million players worldwide. It has some similarities to croquet and Suzuki invented it as a game to be played by children.
Dennis is keen to set up a gateball club in Palmerston North and has access to spare lawns at the Hokowhitu Bowling Club. He held two gateball sessions during Sport Manawatū's Have a Go Week last week.
He's played the strategic team game in Germany, Switzerland, England and France.
"It's growing in Europe but it's huge in Asia and South America," says Dennis.