Where to play poker in the Wellington region - Friday

Zoo Bar - 227 Riddiford Street, Newtown. 7pm start. Run by NPPL.

BJ's Tavern - 25 Tocker St, Taita. 1pm start. Run by Super League Poker.

Stokes Valley Cossie Club – 35 George St Stokes Valley. 7.30pm start. A Super League Poker "associate" game.

Where to play poker in the Wellington region - Thursday

The Lanes - 234–238 Wakefield St, Wellington. 6.30pm start. $10 entry, $350 first prize. One of the most popular (and toughest) games in Wellington, it books out quickly. Register a few hours beforehand. Run by the venue.

The Bull and Bear - 2 Plimmer Lane, Lambton Quay. 6.30pm start. A popular and long established game, now run by the venue.

Windmill - 55 Cleveland St, Brooklyn, Wellington. 7pm start. Run by Poker Fun.

BJ's Tavern - 25 Tocker St, Taita. 1pm start. Run by Super League Poker.

Petone Sports Bar - 266 Jackson St, Petone. 7pm start. Run by Super League Poker.

Upper Hutt Cossie Club - 11 Logan St, Upper Hutt. 7pm start. Run by the club; membership required. An APL "minor league" game.
Little Totara - 1 Turon Cres, Totara Park, Upper Hutt. 7pm start. $5 entry.

Where to play poker in the Wellington region - Wednesday

Four Kings - 7-11 Dixon Street, Wellington. 6.30pm start. $10 entry, $350 first prize. Run by the venue.

Island Bay Bar - 134-136 The Parade, Island Bay, Wellington. 7.30pm start. Run by Poker Fun.

Cambridge Hotel - Cnr Alpha St & Cambridge Tce, Wellington. 7pm start. $10 entry. Run by NPPL.

Waterloo Hotel - 27 Waterloo Quay, Wellington. 6.30pm start. $20 entry, cash prizes. A "minor league" APL game.

Strike - 399 Hutt Road, Lower Hutt. 7pm start. $10 entry + rebuys and add-ons, $500 prizes. Run by the venue.

Bellevue Gardens - 140 Woburn Rd, Lower Hutt. 7pm start. $5 entry.

BJ's Tavern - 25 Tocker St, Taita. 2 games, one starting at 3pm, one at 7pm. Super League Poker "Associate" games.

Stokes Valley Cossie Club – 35 George St Stokes Valley. 7.30pm start. Run by Super League Poker

Where to play Poker in the Wellington region - Tuesday

The Big Kumara - cnr Cuba St and Dixon St, Wellington. 7pm start. Run by the venue; $200 cash prize.

The Realm - 7 Moxham Ave, Hataitai. 7pm start. Run by NPPL.

Bay 66 - 66 Bay Road, Kilbirnie. 7pm start. Run by NPPL.

The Glasshouse - 2 Gibbons St, Upper Hutt. 7pm start. $5 entry.

Big Chill - 180 High St Lower Hutt. 2pm start. Run by Super League Poker.

Bedrocks Bar – 1 Waterloo Rd Lower Hutt. 7pm start. Run by Super League Poker.

Where to play poker in the Wellington region - Monday

Cambridge Hotel - Cnr Alpha Street & Cambridge Terrace, Wellington. $10 entry, 7pm start. Run by NPPL.

Strike - 399 Hutt Road, Lower Hutt. $20 buy-in plus rebuys, 7pm start. Run by the venue.

Stokes Valley Cossie Club - 35 George Street, Stokes Valley. 1pm start. Run by Super League Poker.

Big Chill - 180 High St Lower Hutt, Lower Hutt. 7pm start. Run by Super League Poker.

Upper Hutt Cossie Club - 11 Logan Street, Upper Hutt. 7pm start. Run by the club; membership required. An APL "minor league" game.

Porirua Club - Lodge Place, Porirua. 7pm start. Run by APL.

Where to play poker in the Wellington region - Sunday

For my next several posts I'm going to go through all the days of the week, and for each day I'll list all the pub poker games in the Wellington region that I know of. I'll start with Sunday.

Chill Cafe - 156 Willis Street, Wellington. 3pm start. Run by NPPL.

The Sandbar - 103 Mana Esplanade, Mana. 3pm start. $20 entry fee; an APL "minor league" game.

Strike - 399 Hutt Road, Lower Hutt. $10 buy-in plus rebuys, 7pm start. Run by the venue.

Petone Working Men’s Club - 47 Udy St Petone. 4pm start. Run by Super League Poker.

Petone Sports Bar - 266 Jackson St, Petone. 7pm start. A Super League "Associate" game.

Upper Hutt Cossie Club - 11 Logan Street, Upper Hutt. 2pm start. Run by the club; membership required. Affiliated with APL as a "minor league" game.

List of New Zealand poker leagues

There are a number of pub poker leagues operating in New Zealand. This is my attempt to list them all, and the areas in which they operate, with the emphasis on my own area (Wellington). Feedback/corrections etc from people actually involved in these leagues is appreciated and encouraged.

Active leagues:

National Pub Poker League

This Australian based league is the largest and best established in New Zealand. There are numerous venues in Christchurch and the Canterbury region, where it is the dominant league, and plenty in Auckland. Smaller towns with an NPPL presence include Hokitika, Queenstown, Ashburton and Temuka. There are 7 venues in the Wellington region, including one in the Hutt Valley.

Venue winners qualify for a monthly regional final, from which you can qualify for the National Final, usually held in Auckland or Christchurch.

Australian Poker League

One of the Big Two in Australia, along with the NPPL, but a relative newcomer in New Zealand. So far only operating in various towns around the North Island, with none in Auckland. No venues in Wellington city itself, but one each in Porirua, Johnsonville, Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt.

A unique feature of this league is the "player of the month" award.

Super League Poker

Another Australian based league, where it is particularly active in Sydney. In New Zealand, it is most active in the Hutt Valley. Venues in Lower Hutt, Petone, Stokes Valley, Upper Hutt, Masterton, Foxton and Te Kuiti.




Poker Fun

A small Palmerston North based league which also runs games in Masterton, Martinborough and two in Wellington. This league is highly regarded by its followers, and in 2010 it was awarded the inaugral "League of the Year" title by pokernz.com.

Kiwi Poker League

The main league operating in the Otago region, with venues also in a few Canterbury and Southland towns.








New Zealand Series of Poker

Based in Hamilton, this is the dominant league in the Waikato region, and also has a few venues in the Bay of Plenty.


Jackpot Poker

An Auckland based league, running in about 18 venues.





New Zealand Poker League

A new league founded by well known Auckland player Jarm Joseph, with sponsors including Sky City and Pokernz.com. Operates in several venues in the Auckland region.




Ultimate Poker League

A small league running at a few venues in Nelson and Richmond.







New Zealand Poker Club

An offshoot of the Pockets 8 Ball Club. Based in Tokoroa, with branches in Glen Eden, Rotorua and Pukekohe.



Southern Poker League

A newly established league catering to Invercargill players.






Defunct leagues:

Aotearoa Poker series

This league used to operate several venues in Wellington and the Hutt Valley, and a couple in Taranaki. As of 2011 it has gone into recess.





Premier Poker League

A small league which operated in the Nelson area.






Network Poker League

Australian owned league which appears to have collapsed in 2008 after they failed to provide national finals winner Hayden Hape with the promised entry into the $10,000 Main Event in Las Vegas.

Saturn Poker League

A Dannevirke-based league founded by Hayden Hape following his departure from the Network Poker League. However the domain www.saturnpokerleague.co.nz has expired, and this league no longer appears to be operating.

The National Poker League (TNPL)

This league used to operate throughout the country before going bust in 2008. In Wellington, its most popular game was held at the Bull and Bear on the Plimmer's Steps; this game is now run independently by the venue.

Poker Nights

A small league which operated in Auckland from about 2007 to 2008.