Community
Are you looking for a local board gaming groups? Do you want to know about gaming conventions? Have you got a design that you want prototyped? Are you searching for a Kiwi publisher?
If you answered ‘yes’ to any of the above questions, you’ll find some helpful starting points right here.
Board Gaming Groups
Board game groups are all over the country, and these are some of the ones that openly welcome newcomers.
If you’re in the area, make sure you say hello, but double check with the organiser ahead of time that the meeting is still going ahead as scheduled.
And if your group isn’t here and you want it to be, make sure you contact us and let us know!
Whangarei
What: Zak’s Gaming Group
Where: Varies, contact Zak for details
When: Every Saturday, 5 PM onwards
Who: Zak, whangareiboardgames@gmail.com
Notes: Free, but we normally do a fish and chips run so no one is having to prepare meals or clean (much) up. Family friendly and beginner friendly – happy to teach people any of our games, and always keen to learn more if you’d like to bring your own along…
Auckland
What: Mt Albert Board Games Group
Where: Mt Albert Baptist, 732 New North Road, Mt Albert
When: 2nd, 4th and 5th Tuesdays of each month, 7 PM to 11 PM
Who: Charles Grinter, cgrinter@orcon.net.nz
Notes: Mt Albert Baptist is opposite Rocket Park and the War Memorial Hall. Gaming is held in the lounge which is the room attached on the side of the Church building. A gold coin donation is appreciated for the use of the venue.
What: New Lynn Library Board Game Group
Where: New Lynn Library, 3 Memorial Drive, New Lynn (Opposite the mall; at the tables in the middle of the ground floor)
When: Every Friday, 6 PM to 8 PM
Who: Nathan at New Lynn Library, (09) 301 0101
Notes: All welcome – especially beginners.
What: North Shore Strategy Games
Where: East Coast Bays Community Centre, 2 Glen Road, Browns Bay
When: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, 7:15 PM
Who: Zirk van den Berg, zirk@saycommunications.co.nz
Notes: Meeting dates change on those rare occasions when the first Wednesday falls on the first day of the month, in which case it moves one week later. The reasoning behind this odd scheduling is to avoid clashing with the same week as the Mt Albert group, as both groups share some members. Meetings usually finish around 10 or 11, depending on who’s playing what.
What: The America Club
Where: Room 14, Commerce A Building, University of Auckland
When: Every Wednesday, 7 PM to 10:30 PM
Who: Karen Dransfield, info@theamericaclub.net.nz or http://www.theamericaclub.net.nz/
Notes: The America Club also hold regular role playing gatherings as well as table top meetings and other events.
Hamilton
What: Waikato Boardgamers
Where: Christian Discovery Center, cnr Peachgrove and Insoll
When: Every first and third Thursday of the month, 6 PM to 9 PM
Who: Simon Woodward, sjrwoodward@yahoo.com
Notes: All gamers welcome, from beginners to experts. Games played are typically Euros – but we are always looking to try new games! A small donation is appreciated for the use of the venue. Check out the Waikato-Bay Of Plenty Boardgamers Guild on BGG for more details!
If you don’t mind a 45 minute drive, gamers from Hamilton and Tauranga often meet up in Matamata – details are below.
Tauranga
What: SeriouslyBoard Games Group
Where: The venue changes depending on babysitting requirements! (Contact David Taylor for the address.)
When: Every 2nd Thursday, 6:30 PM until whenever
Who: David Taylor, david@seriouslyboard.co.nz
Notes: We’re a friendly bunch who will give most games a go at least once. This is the regular haunt for the SeriouslyBoard crew. All attendees receive an exclusive discount from SeriouslyBoard.
If you don’t mind a 45 minute drive, gamers from Hamilton and Tauranga often meet up in Matamata – details are below.
Matamata
What: Trans-Kaimai Board Games Binge
Where: All Saints Anglican Church Lounge, cnr Broadway and Hohaia St
When: Every fourth Sunday, 1 PM to 6 PM
Who: Simon Woodward, sjrwoodward@yahoo.com
Notes: Most communication is done via this BGG guild. Most attendees are from Hamilton and Tauranga, and meet in Matamata to combine numbers. The finish time is usually 5 PM or 6 PM. A small donation is appreciated for the use of the venue. The crew from SeriouslyBoard are regular attendees.
Wellington
What: Forum
Where: Ferrymans on Waterloo, cnr Waterloo Quay and Bunny St
When: Every Monday, 5 PM to 10 PM
Who: Paul Couch
Notes: Ferrymans on Waterloo is located conveniently around the corner from the central Wellington railway station. We don’t have Paul’s details, but would love to get them if we can.
What: Victoria University Games Club
Where: Mezzanine Floor, Student Union Building, Kelburn Campus, Victoria University
When: Every Friday during University Term, 12 PM to 10 PM
Who: No contact information available
Notes: We don’t have the organiser’s details, but would love to get them if we can. We would recommend contacting the Student Union for further information.
Nelson
What: TBA
Where: Victory Community Health Centre, Totara Street, Victory Square
When: Three monthly.
Who: Jim Risner, james.risner@gmail.com
Notes: TBA
Christchurch
What: Avonside Irregulars
Where: Sam and Nicky’s house in Avonside/Avondale. (Contact Sam Fisher for the address.)
When: Last Friday of the month and other selected Fridays when the whim takes us.
Who: Sam Fisher, sam.fisher@clear.net.nz
Notes: 60 games, old and new available. From 3 to 12 people each month. Emphasis on fun.
What: Christchurch Euro Gamers
Where: Jason and Beryl’s house. (Contact Jason Brice for the address.)
When: Every Wednesday, 7 PM
Who: Jason Brice, jason@sbh.co.nz
Notes: This group runs this Facebook group to organise stuff and chat. Regulars range in age between mid-20s to mid-50s, with gaming for beginners to experts. Between 10 and 15 people play on an average week. There are 150+ games available to play each week, from old classics to latest releases.
What: SAGA
Where: Rooms KD07 and KD08, Kirkwood Village, University of Canterbury (Directions can be found here)
When: Every Tuesday and Thursday, 6 PM to 10 PM
Who: Jan-Yves Ruzicka, president@saga.org.nz
Notes: This group runs this Facebook group and their main website can be found here. Locations are subject to change due to aftershocks. There are currently about a dozen board gamers at sessions with a limited selection of games, again due to the aftershocks. Mainly Uni students but others are welcome. $5 annual fee for joining.
Dunedin
What: NextGen Games
Where: Mark and Ling’s house (Contact Mark Hodge if you would lilke to come along.)
When: Every Wednesday, 7:30 PM
Who: Mark Hodge, markhodgeNZ@gmail.com
Notes: This group uses this website and an email list for announcements (usually games, but also occasional freebie – not always game related, BBQ’s, party’s, and other get-togethers). Regulars range in age from 20′s to 50′s. See the website for an idea of what games are commonly played, house rules, and other advice. Usually we have between half a dozen and a dozen people on the night; occasionally up to around 20 which starts to get a bit crowded. A fire and heatpump keep things nice and cosy in winter.
Board Game Conventions…
If your regular board game group just isn’t big enough to satisfy your gaming appetite, then board game conventions are ideal.
Usually held annually, these events charge a small fee to aIf you’re in the area, make sure you say hello, but double check with the organiser ahead of time that the meeting is still going ahead as scheduled.
And if your group isn’t here and you want it to be, make sure you contact us and let us know!
Wellington
What: Wellycon
Where: St Patrick’s College, 581 Evans Bay Road, Kilbirnie, Wellington (Map)
When: Saturday 14th August (10 AM to 10 PM) and Sunday 15th August (10 AM to 6 PM)
Who: Andrew Rae, wellycon@gmail.com
Notes: TBA.
Christchurch
What: Buckets Of Dice 2011
Where: UCSA Building, University of Canterbury
When: Friday 3rd June to Sunday 6th June
Who: TBA
Notes: TBA
What: GamesFest
Where: Christchurch
When: TBA
Who: Jason Brice, jason@sbh.co.nz
Notes: TBA
Various Locations
What: Board Games By The Bay – Auckland
Where: Tamaki Ex-Services Association Hall, corner Turua Street and Polygon Road, St Heliers
When: 2-3 July, 2011 (10AM to 6PM each day)
Who: David and Angela Taylor
Notes: Check out the Board Games By The Bay website for more details.
What: Board Games By The Bay – Tauranga
Where: Hillier Centre, 31 Gloucester Road, Arataki
When: 22-23 October, 2011 (10AM to 6PM each day)
Who: David and Angela Taylor
Notes: Check out the Board Games By The Bay website for more details.
Board Game Manufacturers…
It’s fair to say that board game manufacturers are pretty thin on the ground in New Zealand, but contrary to popular opinion, they aren’t completely extinct…
Part of another group?
We’d love to add more gaming groups in here. Please tell us about your group and its contact information here:
