New Zealand National Congress 2026

This year's National Congress will be taking place in Palmerston North from Saturday 7th to Saturday 14th November.

Events and Timetable

The full programme is available on the NZBridge website here.

Results

All Congress results are available here.

Bulletins

The daily Congress Bulletins may be found here.

Bulletin 1

Melbourne Cup Day

On Monday 2nd October we celebrated Melbourne Cup Day, in conjunction with our monthly afternoon tea.

This year, in addition to the traditional sweepstake (thanks to Steve Ricketts), we ran a "Best Hat" competition with prizes for best lady and gentleman. 

The competition was judged by Alice Henke, as the senior member present.  

The winners were:

• Gentlemen - Chris Simons
• Ladies - Marg Gott

Thank you to all those who entered into the spirit of the occasion!

Junior Pairs Tournament

We hosted a very successful Junior Pairs event on Sunday 1st November to complete our 2026 tournament schedule.

26 pairs took part, from as far afield as Picton and Palmerston North as well as clubs across the Wellington region.

The winners were:

The winning pairs

1st - Baubre Murray and Kath Jones (Kairangi)
2nd - CJ Marland and Darien Fenaughty (Victoria)
3rd - Jo Anson and Steph Cheeseman (Waikanae)

Session prizes went to:

Morning - David Smith and Andrew Booker (Paraparaumu)
Afternoon - Lori Diane Fernando and Peter Roscoe (Kapi Mana)

Many congratulations to them all.

I would like to thank:

• Charlie Goodyer, Property Brokers - the tournament sponsor
• Anne Ricketts for directing in her characteristically relaxed manner
• Murray Lobb for both organising the event and acting as Scorer (not to mention sorting out a number of technical issues during the day)
• Di Andrews and Alison Hall for stepping in as a replacement pair at very short notice when one visiting pair didn't arrive
• Roz King and helpers (Alison Hall, Vicky Young, and Pip Waldegrave) in the kitchen
• Steve Ricketts and Marg Gott for running the bar

and all the other helpers (set-up, dealing, etc) along with those Waikanae members who brought a plate for morning tea.

A very enjoyable and well-supported day.

Community Facilities Network Approach

Kapiti Coast District Council (KCDC) is developing a Community Facilities Network Approach (CFNA) to support future planning for community buildings and indoor spaces across the district.

Rather than considering individual facilities in isolation, CFNA looks at the wider network of community spaces available to residents, including Council facilities, community-owned facilities, clubs, churches, schools and other providers. The goal is to ensure communities have access to the right spaces, in the right places, in a way that is sustainable and provides value for money.

KCDC recognises that many of the district's most important community facilities are owned and operated by community organisations. This project is not about Council looking to takeover community facilities. Instead, KCDC is seeking to better understand the full network of facilities, how they are used, what role they play in supporting community outcomes, and how different providers collectively contribute to the district.

Community surveys will open on 27 October and run through to 29 November. 

KCDC will also be undertaking a separate survey specifically for community facility providers. This will give organisations like us an opportunity to share information about the Club, how it operates, the services it provides, and any opportunities or challenges we see for the future.

Further information is available on the KCDC website here.

Haere Ra - Jeanne Wardill

Jeanne Wardill is leaving the club and moving to Tauranga to be nearer to her family.

A very well-attended farewell gathering for Jeanne was held on Thursday 29th October. In keeping with Jeanne's wishes, it was a "low key" event, featuring a glass of bubbles and a Marg Gott cake. On behalf of the Club I presented Jeanne with a pair of wine glasses engraved with the club logo, accompanied by a card, and Vicky Young presented a bouquet of flowers prepared by Ann Verboeket. Graham Cheater and I both spoke briefly.

Jeanne - you leave as not only one of our very best and most successful players, but with the love and best wishes of all of us who have had the privilege of knowing you.  You will be much missed. 

“From the Chair”

The latest newsletter from Peter Newell (Chair, NZBridge) is available here.

Recent Results

Wellington Labour Day MP Swiss Pairs 26th October

Congratulations to Graeme Norman and John Donbavand who (with their non-Waikanae partners) finished 4th and 5th respectively in this event.

Otaki Open Swiss Pairs 18th October

John Donbavand and his partner placed 8th and Pryor Rowland and Graham Cheater were 11th.

KHAP Round 8

In the latest round of the Kapiti/Horowhenua Area Pairs, Sue Legat and Ady Dale were 2nd, Murray Lobb and Rae Lutman 3rd, Naciye Bagci and Anthea Black 4th, and Ernie Davis and Marg Gott 5th.

Palmerston North Open Swiss Pairs 11th October

Well done to John Donbavand and Graham Cheater, who placed 5th.

Paraparaumu Multigrade Pairs 11th October

Session Results

In the morning session Ryan Crowley and his partner were 1st N/S, and Nicky Bradley and Suzanne Duncan were 4th N/S.  In the afternoon session Anthea Black and Naciye Bagci were 1st N/S, Stella Jury and Ann Verboeket were 5th N/S, John Donbavand and his partner were 1st E/W, Vicki Boffa and Rachel Patrick were 3rd E/W and Ady Dale and her partner were 4th E/W.

Overall:

Open/Open - 

John Donbavand and partner 4th

Anthea Black and Naciye Bagci 5th

Open/Intermediate - 

Ady Dale and partner 1st

Stella Jury and Ann Verboeket 3rd

Rae Lutman and partner 4th

Intermediate/Intermediate - 

Nicky Bradley and Suzanne Duncan 3rd

Vicki Boffa and Rachel Patrick 5th

Congratulations to all, but especially Ady on achieving 1st place in the Open/Intermediate category.

Kapi-Mana Multigrade Pairs 4th October

(Photo: Kapi-Mana Bridge Club)

Congratulations to Graeme Norman and Murray Lobb who finished 3rd with a score of 56.76%.  

Well done also to both John Donbavand and his partner and Karen Eriksen and Jude Lucas who recorded top 10 finishes in a field of 38 pairs.

Contribution to Wellington Region Bridge Newsletter

In response to their request to clubs for contributions to the Wellington Region Bridge November newsletter, Rae Lutman and I have prepared the following article and forwarded it for consideration:

Melbourne Cup Day - Monday 2nd November

On Monday week we celebrate Melbourne Cup Day, which coincides once again with our monthly afternoon tea.

This year we will be restricting the dressing up to a "Best Hat" competition with prizes for best female and male winners.

You may like to place some $2.00 bets on the horses, prior to the start of bridge.  Information on the runners and riders is available here.

Please come along and join in the fun!

Wellington Region Bridge Committee

Following the call for nominations which closed on 30 September 2026, the composition of the Wellington Region Committee (WRC) for the coming term has been confirmed.  John Donbavand remains on the Committee, and two new members - Joe Stewart (Kairangi) and Derek Moore (South Wairarapa) - have joined.

Claudia Duncan resigned as Secretary in September and Jill Herman will stand down at the end of this year. As a recent WRC email records: "Both have gone above and beyond to establish the Wellington Region Committee as a positive, efficient, and effective presence within NZ Bridge and among other regions". 

At the committee meeting held on 21st October, the following officer roles were confirmed:

Chair: Alan Grant
Email: chair@wellingtonregionbridge.nz

Treasurer: Margaret Robertson
Email: treasurer@wellingtonregionbridge.nz

Secretary: Carol Cornelius (new appointment)
Email: secretary@wellingtonregionbridge.nz
Phone: 020 4015 6039

National Congress 2026

Even at this late stage it's not too late to register for this year's National Congress - check here for all the information.

Additional Tournament Grades & Ranks effective 1st January 2027

Please see the following notice from NZBridge for important information regarding forthcoming changes:

Membership Satisfaction Survey Results: Part 2

This report provides additional feedback from the membership survey conducted earlier this year.

Overall, the text responses reflect a highly positive sentiment toward the management and the social atmosphere of the Club, mirroring the responses previously summarised in Part 1.

“JUNIORS ONLY” COMPETITION

Based on the survey results, there was a high degree of support for trialling a "Juniors and Novices Only" session, with many respondents expressing enthusiasm for the idea. Unsurprisingly, support was strongest among the Novice and Junior grades.

It is right to note that a minority did not support the trial. These members generally believe that the best way for juniors to improve is by playing with and against more experienced players who can offer advice and demonstrate higher standards of play.

Approximately 70% of those who answered the question were in favour.

OTHER ISSUES

Beyond the proposal for a juniors-only competition, members suggested several key areas for improvement ranging from facilities and session management to education and social integration.  Suggestions included:

Facilities and Logistics

• a kitchen upgrade, including the installation of a dishwasher
• improvements to heating and ventilation
• better organising the noticeboards to make information easier to find.

Session Management

• ensuring that sessions start on time
• consistent use of the timer clock
• firmer management of noise levels and "slow play"
• a focus on etiquette and ethics for learners
• moving Tuesday evening sessions to the afternoon

Partnering and Membership Support

• better systems for finding partners, such as a "matchmaker" who knows players' levels, a dedicated noticeboard, or a mechanism to see who is seeking a partner for an upcoming series
• displaying a list of members with grades on the notice board [this has been done]
• a "photo board" defining roles and responsibilities of the committee and volunteers

Education and Competitive Play

• a winter series of improver sessions on Saturday afternoons
• 1-1 coaching for those unable to attend evening lessons, and more "repeated lessons" on how to improve
• more teams events
• an expansion of local interclub competitions
• the introduction of an annual Club Championship [under action]
• "refresher for directors" sessions

Administration and Finance

• direct debit for session charges
• clearer explanations regarding membership cost increases rather than just annual adjustments
• listing members' first names before their surnames in the programme book

NZ-Wide Pairs

The NZ-Wide Pairs were contested on the evening of Friday 16th October in 53 clubs around the country (4 more clubs than last year). A total of 795 pairs took part. The event raises money for New Zealand Bridge Foundation in its support for bridge in New Zealand, especially in the development of young players.

The final results nationwide show Waikanae's Graeme Norman and Carol Hogan in 12th place overall and 1st in the Open/Intermediate category, and John Donbavand and Pryor Rowland in 20th position - two great results: congratulations!

The Waikanae-only results were:

N/S 

1st - Graeme Norman and Carol Hogan

2nd - Ann Edwards and Vicky Young

3rd - Jeanne Wardill and Graham Cheater

E/W 

1st - John Donbavand and Pryor Rowland

2nd - Miriam Lewin and Rae Lutman

3rd - Murray Lobb and Viv Gray

A very generous finger food supper was well attended before play - thank you to everyone who contributed. Many thanks also to Chris Farrow who not only organised the evening for us, but also directed.  

NZBridge - Complaints Officer

 

Farewell to Jeanne Wardill

As many of you will already know, Jeanne Wardill is leaving the club and moving to Tauranga to be nearer to her family.

We're planning a farewell gathering for Jeanne, which will take place on Thursday 29th October, commencing at 4.30pm following play.  In keeping with Jeanne's wishes, this will be a "low key" event, with a free glass of bubbles, and speech making kept to a minimum.

All members of the club are warmly invited to come along to say goodbye to not only one of our very best and most successful players but also one of the nicest people any of us could have ever hoped to know.

31 Years

Before play began on the evening of  Tuesday 13th October we marked 31 years of the bridge partnership of Jeanne Wardill and Graham Cheater.  

As a pair, Jeanne and Graham have won the Tuesday Pairs alone on more than 18 occasions, plus countless other events, and have been perhaps the dominant partnership in the club over many years - a remarkable achievement, not least because they’re still speaking to each other!

Many congratulations to them both on a great milestone.

Tournament Regulations

Graham Cheater has kindly contributed the following synopsis of practical guidelines from the new Tournament Regulations, which as of 1st October have superseded the NZBridge Manual published in 2022.

The Regulations are not available in written form but may be found on the NZBridge website here.

Graham writes:

There have not been any significant changes that will impact regular club bridge sessions and most tournaments.

It is however an opportunity to identify a number of issues of which players can be reminded.

1.  A call is not complete until the full bid has been written.  If, for example, a player wishes to make a bid at the 1 level they must write ‘1’ immediately followed by the appropriate symbol viz :

11.3 Players must decide their call before commencing to write (on the bidding pad). Any vacillation among calls may convey unauthorised information and restrict partner’s actions according to Laws 16B1 and 73C.1

2.  If a player holds a hand of undisclosed strength ( i.e. not a passed hand ) and makes a bid that is non-forcing but would, in most natural systems, be considered forcing then that bid must be alerted viz :

11.3.2 Alertable calls over an opponent’s takeout double:

(a) Any bid in a new suit which is non-forcing (except by a passed hand)

(b) Conventional fit-showing jumps

11.3.3 Alertable calls over an opponent’s suit overcall:

(a) Any bid in a new suit which is non-forcing (except by a passed hand)

b) Any natural NT bid which does not promise a stopper in the opponent’s suit

(c) Lebensohl type responses after interference over your 1NT

Slow play

Players are reminded that slow play can adversely affect the concentration and enjoyment for players. Directors, in the interest of harmony, are reluctant to impose penalties but if necessary the recommended procedure dealing with slow play is as follows:

• 1st infringement: a warning is given
• 2nd and all subsequent infringements: a penalty of 25% of the available matchpoints for that board can be applied.

Multi 2 diamonds

This convention is not permitted to be used in tournaments restricted to Novice and Junior players.

5-Year Strategic Finance Plan

At its meeting on 12th October the Committee approved a 5-Year Strategic Finance Plan for the club:

The document is also available here.

The Committee will be holding a special budget planning meeting in November to discuss the implementation of the Plan and the financial forecast.

"Juniors only" Initiatives

At its meeting on 12th October the Committee unanimously decided to cancel the Friday evening "Juniors only" session with immediate effect.  

I'd like to thank those of you who have supported the trial, but it's been clear for some weeks that it was not an attractive option for the majority of the Club's junior players.

I'm pleased to be able to tell you, however, that following the success of last weekend's event there will be a Junior/Novice half day tournament next year.  

Additionally, the Committee has agreed to facilitate the "Summerset" social bridge group and is also looking at other options for supporting our new learners going forward.