Welcome to the website of Pétanque Wellington. On these pages you will find information regarding the game of Pétanque, also known as Boules or French Bowls, within the lower North Island of New Zealand.
Please take some time to browse through the site and we welcome your feedback (webmaster@petanque.org.nz).
Eighteen teams took part in the Naenae Open Doubles on Saturday 1 November 2025. Thanks go to Ray White Real Estate's Anna Manning and Pak 'n Save Lower Hutt for their generous support.
Twelve teams took part in the Khandallah Labour Weekend Doubles.
After the midweek wild weather it was a relief to have sun and light winds.
The format was the traditional four round Snake draw to determine the "ranking" and the fifth game to determine the prizes (chocolates or wine).
Several players were taking part in their first organised Pétanque event and it was great to see the more experienced players giving them encouragement.
Twenty-two teams (four less than last year) took part in the Regional Doubles at Kapiti. The format was a five round Swiss on Saturday with a time limit of 50 minutes plus one end.
The top 8 went into the Trophy section, the next 8 into the Plate and the bottom 6 into the Bowl.
The Trophy final on Sunday saw Yvonne Futcher (Wanganui East)/Alan Taylor (Kapiti) against Te Wai Haa Rangi Biddle-Amoroa (Wanganui East)/Aurelie Bray (Kapiti) with Yvonne and Alan taking the title 13-5.
Seven players registered to take part in the Shooting Competition (Tir de Précision) held in conjunction with the Regional Doubles. Despite not reaching the minimum number of participants (8) it went ahead this year. In a very low scoring final Michelle Maxwell (Kapiti) beat Michael Rocks (Naenae).
Upper Hutt Pétanque Club hosted a challenge by Horowhenua Pétanque Club for the Jacques Cochonnet trophy on Wednesday 22nd October 2025 at their Maidstone Park terrain.
In the 1st round, Upper Hutt took the doubles and triples games. This was repeated in the 2nd round, putting Upper Hutt up 4-2 and needing only one win from the 3rd round to retain the trophy. They went one better and took the singles and triples games, reaching an overall score of 6 games to 3, the 19th consecutive win and 18th defence for this prestigious trophy.
The Upper Hutt team consisted of Derek Worsley (singles), Dave Gwerder and Colin Gooch (doubles) and Brian Smith, Mary Khalil and Adrienne Gwerder (triples). The Horowhenua team consisted of Gavin Jones (singles), Marie Jones and Judy Tyree (doubles) and Ricky Winkel, Jon Whittaker and Jan Haumaha (triples)
The next challenge is from Naenae and will be away for Upper Hutt, after the last five challenges having being at home.
Twenty-six teams took part in Horowhenua Pétanque Same Club Doubles. Two teams: Seymour Harawira/Theresa Harawira (Silverstream) and Debby Butler/Michelle Maxwell (Kapiti) finished with 5 wins.
Seymour and Theresa took first place on superior points differential.
Twenty teams took part in Rex Hayes Memorial Mixed Doubles last month. Michelle Maxwell and Michael Rocks defeated Annick Le Guen and Kevin McFadgen to win the title for the third time.
WPA Mixed Doubles Champions - Michael Rocks & Michelle Maxwell
Twenty-two teams took part in the eighth WPA Mixed Doubles Championship held at the Otaki Pétanque club.
The format was a 4 round random draw followed by a single elimination knockout in groups of eight.
After the qualiftying games, nine teams had registered 3 wins (no team won all 4 games). with Christine Daykin and Alan Taylor the unlucky team to miss out on the Trophy section.
Michelle Maxwell & Michael Rocks, beaten finalists last year, went one better to win the Championship final against Annick Le Guen & Kevin McFadgen.
This is Michelle's fourth Mixed Doubles title and Michael's first.
Upper Hutt hosted a very strong challenge from Silverstream for the JC Trophy on Saturday, 27 September, in warm and dry conditions for a change.
The teams gathered at 09:00 and play began at 09:30. Upper Hutt took only 1 of the 3 games in the first round, and another 1 in the second round, making it 2-4 at that point.
The final round was climactic right up to the last boule of the last game, but Upper Hutt took all 3, making the final score of 5-4, the 18th consecutive win for Upper Hutt.
The next challenge is from Horowhenua to be held at Upper Hutt.
After a few years in the West Island, the WPA website is being hosted again in NZ. Hopefully, you won't notice the change, but in case something doesn't work as expected, please send a message to the webmaster.
Champion of Champions - Singles
22 September 2025
Six clubs sent representatives to the Champions of Champions Singles at Otaki. The format was a single round-robin. Unfortunately, the Otaki representative had to withdraw after two rounds due to illness.
Going into the final round, three players were tied on 3 wins each. Horowhenua faced Manawatu, Upper Hutt played Silverstream, while Naenae had the Bye which gave them 4 wins.
Horowhenua won their game, which took them to 4 wins. Upper Hutt lost to Silverstream and dropped down to fourth place as a result.
Thirty players took part in the 28th Regional Singles Championship held at the Horowhenua Pétanque club. The weather got in on the act with driving rain on Saturday morning delaying the start of round two by half an hour or so. This being the first competition of the new season there were plenty of up and down results. As they say, one moment a rooster, the next a feather duster.
Seymour Harawaira (Silverstream) was the only undefeated player on Saturday.
Unfortunately, Seymour succumbed to the Top Spot curse on Sunday dropping down to the Plate knockout after the morning round-robin.
In a replay of last year, Michelle Maxwell (Kapiti) played Michael Rocks (Naenae) in the Championship final. Unfortunately for Michelle, the result was another second place.
Anyone who wants to be considered for the team of six from Wellington to travel to Dunedin the last weekend (29-30) in November to play Southern and Canterbury in the Tri-Star tournament please advise me by email or phone (0272479370) by Friday 12th September. If selected you will need to be available to travel to Dunedin on Friday 28th November and return on Monday 1st December. Once the number of applications are known the selection criteria will be advised. Players will need to pay their own travel and accommodation.
Graeme Morris
Jacques Cochonnet Trophy Challenge
1 September 2025
Upper Hutt hosted a very strong challenge from Kapiti for the JC Trophy on Sunday 31st August, in very wet conditions.
The teams gathered at 09:00 and play began at 09:30 as the rain was settling in. The rain continued throughout play and only slackened off during the lunch after all games had been played.
Upper Hutt took two of the three games in the first round, and one in the second round, making it three all at that point. The final round was rivetting but Upper Hutt took all three, making the final score of 6-3 the 17th consecutive win for Upper Hutt.
The Upper Hutt team consisted of Dave Gwerder, Mary Khalil and Moises Burgos (Triples), Adrienne Gwerder and Brian Smith (Doubles) and Derek Worsley (Singles). The Kapiti team consisted of Tony Gatford, Alan Taylor and Grant Bray (Triples), Michelle Maxwell and Kevin McFadgen (Doubles), and Debby Butler (Singles).
The next challenge is from Silverstream at Upper Hutt.
This tournament between Masterton and Naenae was established four years ago, contesting for a trophy generously donated by Graeme Morris. Masterton has held the trophy since its inception.
As in 2024, this year's tournament was tied at the end of the fourth round - each club having won ten games.
In a thrilling finish Naenae prevailed - winning three of the five games (two of which won by a single point).
At the end of a damp contest Masterton were gracious losers: Naenae grateful winners. Final score: 26-24.
Chanticleer Cup team
4 August 2025
The Wellington team to play against Auckland in the annual Chanticleer Cup (23 & 24 August 2025) at Otaki Pétanque Club is:
Debby Butler (Kapiti), Rachel Clarke (Silverstream), Christine Daykin (Manawatu), Ngaire Eriksen (Horowhenua), Dave Gwerder (Upper Hutt), Marie Jones (Horowhenua),
Kevin McFadgen (Kapiti), Shirley MacDonald (Otaki), Peter Matthews (Silverstream), Michelle Maxwell (Kapiti), Alan Taylor (Kapiti), Derek Worsley (Upper Hutt).
