Canadian pop superstar Justin Bieber has reportedly been spotted playing golf on New Zealand’s spectacular north-eastern coastline, with sightings placing him around Tara Iti and Te Arai Links near Mangawhai.
Local reports and social-media discussion have linked Bieber with the ultra-private Tara Iti Golf Club, while separate accounts have suggested he may also have played at neighbouring Te Arai Links.
Neither property has publicly confirmed his visit, consistent with the discretion afforded to members and guests.
That means Bieber’s exact itinerary remains unclear, but the reports have created plenty of interest around one of New Zealand golf’s most celebrated destinations.
Bieber Fever Reaches Tara Iti
Tara Iti is one of the country’s most exclusive golf clubs.
The Tom Doak-designed coastal course sits among the dunes south of Mangawhai and was ranked No. 1 in NZ Golf Magazine’s Top 40 New Zealand courses.
Its members-only model and strong emphasis on privacy have also made it attractive to high-profile international visitors.
Jim Rohrstaff, managing partner of Te Arai Links and a Tara Iti board member, has previously made clear that celebrity visitors are not something the properties publicise.
“They come and enjoy their day just like you or I are today,” Rohrstaff said.
That discretion means confirmation of Bieber’s visit may never come directly from the club.
Tara Iti Or Te Arai Links?
Reports have differed over exactly where Bieber played.
OneRoof reported a purported sighting at Tara Iti, while other local discussion has placed him at Te Arai Links.
The neighbouring properties sit only a few kilometres apart, making it possible he experienced both during his stay, although that has not been confirmed.
Bieber has also been linked in unconfirmed reports with Tara Iti founder Ric Kayne, while speculation around a possible connection with TaylorMade has circulated online.
No commercial project involving Bieber and TaylorMade has been announced, so that remains speculation.
Bieber’s Growing Golf Connection
The reported New Zealand visit would not be Bieber’s first connection with the game.
He has previously shown an interest in golf and is among the celebrity investors associated with TGL, the technology-driven competition founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.
Bieber has also developed a friendship with Australian star Min Woo Lee, further strengthening his links with professional golf.
His apparent trip to Northland therefore fits with a growing interest in the sport rather than simply being a one-off celebrity appearance.
Viral Image Should Not Be Treated As Proof
One widely circulated image purporting to show Bieber playing at Tara Iti has been reported as artificially generated.
It should therefore not be used as evidence that he played the course.
That does not necessarily undermine the wider reports placing Bieber in the Mangawhai and Te Arai area, but it highlights the need to distinguish genuine sightings from synthetic social-media content.
With the clubs themselves maintaining their usual silence, much of the story remains based on local reports rather than official confirmation.
Another Famous Visitor To New Zealand Golf
Tara Iti and Te Arai have attracted an impressive list of international visitors over the years.
Former United States president Barack Obama played Tara Iti with Sir John Key in 2018, while Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy visited Tara Iti and both Te Arai Links courses in 2024.
Other prominent sporting and entertainment figures have also been associated with the properties.
The appeal is obvious: world-class golf, spectacular coastal scenery and a culture built around allowing high-profile guests to enjoy their visit privately.
Whether Bieber played Tara Iti, Te Arai Links or both, the latest reports have again put one of New Zealand golf’s most remarkable stretches of coastline in the international spotlight.
