Rules & Regulations

(a) Act means the Incorporated Societies Act 1908 and the Incorporated Societies Act 2022, or any Act which replaces it (including amendments), and any regulations made thereunder.

(b) Annual General Meeting means a meeting of the Members held once per year which, among other things, will receive and consider reports on the Association's activities and finances.

(c) Chair/President means the Executive Member responsible for overseeing the governance and operations of the Association and chairing all General, Executive, and Committee Meetings.

(d) Executive means the Association's senior officers: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Games Convenor.

(e) Committee means the Association's governing body; a Committee Member means a member of the Committee, including the Executive and two (2) Delegates from each Member Club.

(f) Deputy Chair/Vice President means the Committee Member elected or appointed to deputise in the absence of the Chair/President.

(g) General Meeting means either an Annual General Meeting (AGM) or a Special General Meeting (SGM).

(h) Member means an Individual representing a Member Club that has not ceased to be a member of the Association.

(i) Register of Members means the register of Members kept under these Rules.

(j) Interested Member means a member of a member club who is interested in a matter for any of the reasons set out in section 62 of the Incorporated Societies Act 2022.

(k) Interests Register means the register of interests of Officers, including Committee Members, kept under these Rules.

(l) Matter means: (i) the Association's performance of its activities or exercise of its powers; or (ii) an arrangement, agreement, or contract (a transaction) made or entered into, or proposed to be entered into, by the Association.

(m) Notice to Members includes any notice given by post, courier, or email; and the failure for any reason of any Member to receive such Notice shall not invalidate any meeting or its proceedings or any election.

(n) Rules means the rules in this document.

(o) Secretary means the Committee Member responsible for keeping the Register of Members, the Register of Interests, and recording the minutes of General, Executive, and Committee Meetings.

(p) Special General Meeting means a meeting of the Members, other than an Annual General Meeting, called for a specific purpose or purposes.

(q) Treasurer means the Committee Member responsible for overseeing the finances of the Association.

(r) Working Days mean as defined in the Legislation Act 2019. Examples of days that are not Working Days include a Saturday, a Sunday, Waitangi Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, ANZAC Day, the Sovereign's birthday, Te Rā Aro ki a Matariki/Matariki Observance Day, and Labour Day.

(a) Any question relating to the interpretation of rules, or any matter not provided for in the rules, shall be decided by the Committee in the first instance.

(b) The term 'individual' means 'a member of a member club'.

(c) Unless otherwise stated, male gender shall include female.

(d) The term 'Office' means the registered office of the Association, as defined by the Committee from time to time.

(e) Terms in the singular, where necessary, shall include plural.

(f) The term 'year' means the financial year of the Association.

(g) The abbreviation 'AGM' means 'The Annual General Meeting of the Association'. The term 'SGM' means 'A Special General Meeting of the Association'.

(a) To develop, promote, control, and encourage the game of darts within the Association and such other activities as the Executive and/or Committee decides.

(b) To raise money and accumulate capital and property in such manner as the Committee shall decide for the efficient operation of the Association.

(c) To subscribe to, become a member of, and co-operate with and/or support any other Association, Company, Individual, or Group whose objects or aims are altogether or in part similar to those of this Association.

(d) To indemnify all members of the Committee and delegates, or servants of the Association, against all claims and demands made upon them in respect of acts done by them in good faith in pursuit of the business of the Association.

(e) To remunerate any person or group for services rendered to or for the Association.

(f) To dispose of profits of the Association to charitable, social, sporting, or benevolent organisations in such manner as the Committee shall decide.

(g) To dispose of property in such manner as the Committee shall decide.

(h) To authorise the Committee to borrow and invest money on behalf of the Association in such manner as it considers appropriate.

(i) No member shall derive personal financial gain from being a member of the Association other than that permitted by law (e.g. prizes etc).

(j) No surplus generated by the Association may be returned to the Member Clubs or any Member of the Member Clubs, all or in part.

(k) The Association will not confer any ownership of assets to the Member Clubs or any Member of a Member Club.

(a) Payment of due subscription fees shall form as consent for an individual of a member club to become a member of the Association.

(b) Membership shall be restricted to Member Clubs that are located in Canterbury (defined as North of The Rangitata River and South of the Oaro River and East of the Main Divide of the Southern Alps) and are affiliated to Clubs New Zealand Incorporated, or such organisation that replaces it, and such other Incorporated Societies (clubs) as are invited to join the Association.

(c) Unless otherwise stated, all players must be financial members of a Member Club and eligible for full participation in that club and have access to the facilities of that club.

(d) The Committee shall retain the power to decline membership but where such a declination occurs the applicant club must be advised at the earliest opportunity.

(e) The Association retains the right to not provide a reason for declination of membership if it deems appropriate.

(f) Any subscription fees conferring membership will expire at the end of twelve months from the last due date of such subscription term. Any subscription paid part way through a subscription term shall expire at the end of that subscription term.

(g) Any outstanding dues by a member club (or any of its members) shall remain due by the member club.

(h) Any member club becoming unfinancial under this clause shall lose all the rights of membership. Any property held by the member club (or any of its members) must be returned to the Association immediately.

(i) Any member club that has had its membership terminated as the result of a dispute resolution, and any member who has received a life ban, may only be re-admitted to active membership by the approval of a General Meeting.

(j) Individual members of a member club that have been barred from the Association, and who have not received a life ban, may be readmitted by a resolution of the Committee.

(k) Individuals being financial to a member club at the time they are elected or appointed to hold position in the Association shall remain financial until the expiry of the elected or appointed term, even though that individual's club may otherwise become unfinancial.

(a) The Register shall be maintained by the Secretary who will obtain the list of financial members of member clubs from the Treasurer from time to time. Such register must include the name of the individual member, their member club, address, email address, and telephone contact details. Member Clubs must advise the Secretary of any change of these details.

(a) Before any such appointments are made, an estimate of costs should be obtained and presented to a Committee Meeting. Appointments should only be approved after a full appraisal of costs and likely effects.

(a) The Minutes shall record all resolutions, elections, appointments, attendances, and outlines of general proceedings.

(b) Minutes of Meetings of the Committee and General Meetings of the Association, once confirmed by resolution of the next appropriate Meeting and duly signed by the presiding Chairman, shall be receivable as prima facie evidence of the matters set out in such Minutes.

(a) A Patron shall be appointed.

(b) The Committee shall comprise of:

• President
• Vice President
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Games Convenor
• Two Delegates from each member club

(c) The Appeals Committee shall comprise of three (3) elected individuals and two (2) Committee nominees.

(d) The Games Committee shall comprise of a maximum of four (4) elected individuals in addition to the Games Convenor.

(e) The Selectors shall comprise a maximum of three (3) individuals, one of whom shall be the Convenor.

(f) The President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall be appointed Trustees.

(g) The Disciplinary Committee shall comprise of 2 members of the Executive and 3 ordinary individuals.

(h) The Area Executive Member (to sit as the Association's representative on the Executive of Darts New Zealand Incorporated) will be appointed triennially. Any vacancy incurred mid-term will be appointed for the remainder of the term. Any costs not covered by Darts NZ will be the responsibility of the Association.

(a) Under the Act no person may hold office in the Association if they:

(a) No resolution passed by the Association in Executive or Committee or General Meeting shall invalidate any prior action of the Committee which would have been valid if that resolution had not been passed.

(b) The Committee may delegate, to any person or persons, any of its powers covered by these Rules, including the power of delegation. Such delegations shall be specific and finite in their application.

(c) Committee meetings will be held regularly at a time and place as shall be decided from time to time by Executive or Committee or General meeting.

(a) The Disciplinary Committee shall have the power to suspend or expel, from Association activities, any individual of a member club for misconduct or any wilful infringement of the Association's rules or any by-laws, including egregious conduct such as making false statements, fraudulent use or destruction of property, falsification of documents, defrauding of creditors, improper use of the term "Incorporated", and breaching a banning order.

(b) Any two (2) Executive members, in consultation, shall have the power to temporarily suspend an individual from activities for misconduct or any wilful infringement of the Association's rules or any by-laws. Where such temporary suspension is made, the Executive members shall call for a Meeting of the Disciplinary Committee at the earliest practical opportunity to affirm or rescind their action.

(c) Any individual who is suspended or expelled, pending an appeal, shall not be entitled to take part in any of the affairs of the Association until the appeal is held. If expelled, the individual has seven (7) days to appeal (in writing) to the Executive.

(d) If a vacancy occurs for an ordinary member to the Disciplinary Committee prior to the AGM, then a temporary appointment shall be made by the Committee.

(a) There shall be a Board of Appeal consisting of five (5) individuals whose duty it shall be to hear and decide any appeal lodged against any decision of the Disciplinary Committee entailing suspension or expulsion.

(b) Three (3) individuals shall be elected annually by ballot and the other two (2) shall be Committee nominees and shall be members of the Board as of right.

(c) The ballot for the three (3) individuals shall take place at the AGM and nominations shall be called from the floor of the meeting.

(d) The two (2) Committee nominees shall be appointed at any appropriate Committee Meeting or by Committee postal or electronic conference.

(e) A candidate for the three (3) AGM elected positions must have been a financial member of a Member Club for at least three (3) years immediately prior to nomination.

(f) If a vacancy occurs in the Board of Appeal of the three (3) elected individuals prior to the AGM, then a temporary appointment shall be made by the Committee.

(g) The Board of Appeal shall make its own rules as to procedure. The decision of the Board shall reverse, or affirm, or amend the determination appealed from, and shall be in accordance with the opinion of the majority of the members present.

(h) The Secretary shall, within forty-eight (48) hours of notification of an appeal, summon the members of the Board of Appeal. The Secretary shall notify the appellant in writing of the date, time, and venue of the hearing.

(i) The Executive shall place before the Board of Appeal a written report stating the charge or charges against the appellant, the names of witnesses who gave evidence before the Disciplinary Committee, and the decision.

(j) No member of the Disciplinary Committee or Executive shall be in attendance at the hearing except as an appellant or witness or at the request of the Board of Appeal.

(k) The Board of Appeal shall re-hear the case. The hearing shall be in camera. The decision of the Board shall be final subject to the appellant pursuing the dispute with Darts NZ Incorporated or taking legal action.

(l) Pending the hearing of any appeal, the Disciplinary Committee's decision shall remain in force.

(m) The parent Club of any individual who is suspended or expelled shall be notified in writing.

(n) In the event of the Board of Appeal reversing or amending the Disciplinary Committee decision, the appellant and the parent Club shall be notified in writing by the Secretary.

(o) The costs of the Board of Appeal shall be the responsibility of the Association. Decisions by the Committee on apportionment of other costs shall be final and without appeal.

(a) A replacement Meeting must be convened; the time and place will be decided by the Executive.

(b) The AGM should be held at the premises of a member club during the month of November at a time and place agreed to at the previous AGM.

(c) The business of the AGM shall be to:

(d) The Secretary shall circularise member clubs two months prior to the AGM calling for nominations for Executive, Games Committee, Selectors, and Notices of Motion.

(e) Votes for Executive, Games Convenor, Games Committee, and Selectors must be enclosed in an envelope, sealed and marked "VOTES", and cannot be opened until called for at the AGM.

(f) Notices of Motion and nominations are to be in the hands of the Secretary one month before the AGM. These are to be circularised to all member clubs no later than three weeks prior to the AGM. Rules and Regulations may only be altered, deleted, or created, by a Notice of Motion.

(g) Two scrutineers shall be appointed to count votes. In the event of a tie in the election of officers, positions shall be decided by the toss of a coin. In the event of a voting tie for other matters, the motion shall be deemed lost (thereby preserving status quo).

(h) Only two (2) delegates from each club may vote on matters arising at an AGM. If only one (1) delegate is present, that club will only be entitled to one (1) vote.

(i) Any qualifying member, or guest invited by the Executive, may attend an AGM.

(j) Any Club in financial arrears at the time of the AGM shall not be entitled to attend or vote at the AGM.

(a) Notices of Motion shall be as provided for in rule 28, and the same time frames are to be observed if such Notices of Motion are for a Special General Meeting.

(b) Alterations to, additions to, or deletions from the rules may only be made at an AGM or an extraordinary Special General Meeting called for the purpose.

(c) Alterations to, additions to, or deletions from the rules may only be passed by resolutions of at least two thirds (2/3) of the delegates present at such meetings.

(d) Alterations to, additions to, or deletions from the rules up to and including Rule 33 will only become valid after registration.

(a) The Executive shall, at the request of not less than two (2) Member Clubs, or two (2) members of the Executive, convene a Special General Meeting.

(b) The President shall preside at all Special General Meetings. In their absence the Vice-President shall preside. If neither is present, a temporary Chairman shall be elected from nominations called for by the Secretary.

(c) At a Special General Meeting no business, other than that for which the Meeting has been called, shall be discussed.

(a) At the AGM (or Special General Meeting called for the purpose) immediately following such appointment, an election to fill the vacancy must be carried out.

(b) Appointments made at such an election will fall due for re-election at the next annual elections.

(a) No By-laws can be inconsistent with the Act or regulations made under the Act or these rules.

(a) The Association is reformed; or

(b) A similar Association is set up; or

(c) Ten (10) years has elapsed, at which point funds and property should pass to Darts NZ Incorporated or Clubs NZ Incorporated for the fostering and/or promotion of sport.

(a) The end of the financial year shall be the 30th day of September in each year.

(b) The Treasurer will prepare financial accounts to the standard required under the Act.

(c) Financial Statements and Annual Returns must be filed with the Registrar within six (6) months of the Association's financial balance date.

(d) Annual Returns must include updating details such as contact person and such other information required by the Registrar.

(e) Registration fees shall be paid in advance to the Treasurer or nominee, and shall be due before players commence competitive play.

(f) Capitation fees on a per player per round basis for all weekly competition shall be paid to the Treasurer at their direction and shall be set at the AGM.

(g) Tournament entry fees shall be set at the Annual General Meeting and shall apply to all tournaments with the exception of the Over Sixties and the Alf Franklin Memorial President's Invitation Tournaments (for which no fees are due), and shall be retained by the Association.

(h) The Treasurer shall be responsible for the collection, banking, and accounting of all monies, and shall annually present accounts for audit or review.

(i) All accounts are to be accepted and approved by the Committee before being recognised. To assist with smooth function, the Trustees are empowered to pay day-to-day accounts.

(j) The Committee shall decide the level and style of subsidy for representative teams.

(k) The style and level of expenses for the Executive will be decided by the Committee from time to time.

(l) With the consent of Special or Annual General Meetings, the Executive or Committee, on behalf of the Association, may borrow money to further its interests.

(a) Nominations must be presented to an Executive or Committee Meeting prior to the AGM and must be approved by either Meeting.

(b) In any one (1) year no more than one Life Membership may be granted.

(c) Life Members shall not be liable to pay any subscription or levy to the Association.

(d) Life Members may attend General, Executive, and Committee Meetings but shall not be entitled to vote except as a duly elected Executive member at Executive Meetings or as a delegate for a Club at Committee and General Meetings.

(a) Nominations must be presented to an Executive or Committee Meeting prior to the AGM and must be approved by either Meeting.

(b) Honorary Members shall only be liable to fees associated with playing activity within the association.

(a) All Wednesday Competition teams shall comprise of four (4) players, plus emergencies, selected from within each member club.

(b) Players are graded into grades. The Games Committee may regrade a player on performance having regard to the games and teams played. The guideline for regrading assessment based on the Wednesday Competition shall be:

• 70% and over – promotion by one division, or entry into Elite status from 1st division
• 30% and under – demotion by one division

These percentages are to be used as a guide only and regrading should not threaten the ability of a club to field that team entered. Where a regraded player remains in a Lower Division team, that player will be classified as 'provisional' for that Lower Division Competition only.

(c) Submission of teams for Wednesday Competitions should be accompanied by a request or recommendation for a particular grade. The final decision for the grading of a team rests with the Games Committee.

(d) Formats:

(e) All matches must start at 7:30 PM. By mutual agreement between team captains, the match may be played earlier.

(f) It is the responsibility of the captain of the WINNING TEAM to forward the result to the Games Convenor within 24 hours.

(g) If a team defaults but fails to notify the captain of the opposing team or the Association Secretary 24 hours in advance, it will be fined the sum of double the weekly capitation fee.

(h) Nominated team members may not change teams except as allowed under rule 40(a)(iii) as an emergency.

(i) A default of a player shall be called jointly by the two team captains once the game is in progress and shall be called only after a reasonable time has elapsed (following two (2) one-minute calls).

(a) Clubs and not sections, groups, or adjuncts are considered the applicants for annual tournaments. Applications to host these tournaments should be in writing and approved by the Club Executive.

(b) In the event that numbers entered do not warrant the listed style of play, the Games Committee or Games Controller shall determine what style is to be used. Alterations to the length and number of legs and numbers of lives can only be made prior to commencement of the tournament.

(s) Registration cards must be carried by members when playing any games under the jurisdiction of the Association and must be produced on request of an Executive Member or Games Committee Member. Onus of proof of membership rests with the individual.

(t) A game during which a player may qualify for a '180' badge must be played under the control of the Association.

(u) Association representative teams may be selected from time to time. Selection shall be the responsibility of the Executive who may sub-delegate this responsibility.

(v) Entry Rules:

(w) Games Disputes: The Games Controller for the tournament, or their nominee(s), shall have the immediate say in any unresolved games related dispute but shall be ultimately answerable to the Executive, Committee, or relevant Annual General Meeting immediately following the tournament concerned.

(a) All games are to be played on an approved board. The board must be made of the bristle/fibre type and must be in good condition.

(b) Board measurements shall be as approved by Darts NZ Incorporated from time to time.

(c) The board height shall be 173cm (measured from the centre of the bull, in a plumb line, to the floor at oche level).

(d) The Oche shall be a neat, straight, raised strip parallel to the face of the board and not less than 90 centimetres in length. The raised oche shall be 50mm in height and must be fixed in a stable manner. The distance from the plumb line to the centre of the oche (measured from the rear of the oche) shall be 237cm.

(e) The bull or centre is a double 25 (50) and the small ring around the centre is a single 25. The narrow band at the outer edge of the divisions scores double the division value and the next narrow band towards the centre scores treble. All other scoring areas shall score single values only.

(f) The recommended minimum distance between adjacent boards, to ensure safety for players and officials, is approximately 1.8 metres measured bull to bull.

(a) For the first leg (or commencement of Competition), the players (or captains) shall toss a coin. The winner of the toss shall elect the order of the throwing for the bull.

(b) In all other legs, the winner of the previous leg shall throw for the bull first. In Competitions the team winning the previous game shall throw for the bull first.

(c) In the event of the first thrower's dart lodging in the bull, the dart shall be withdrawn before the second player throws for the bull. The point of entry determines the position of the dart. THE DART MUST NOT BE SHIFTED TO DETERMINE THE POINT OF ENTRY. If the darts are the same distance from the bull or both have lodged in the bull, a replay of the bull-up is required. If the second thrower's dart dislodges the first, both players must throw again.

(d) The winner of the bull-up in Tournaments shall have the option of throwing first. The winner of the bull-up in Competitions shall throw first.

(e) A foul incurred in throwing for the bull shall constitute loss of shot. The failure of the dart to lodge in the board constitutes no shot (provided no foul has been incurred) and must be thrown again.

(a) All games shall start and finish with a double, except cricket, special promotional, and international games as directed by the Executive or Committee.

(b) To finish a leg, the total that is scored must equal the number remaining from the previous throw. Should a player obtain more than, or one less than, the requisite number with any three (3) darts, the score will not count and the previous remaining score shall stand.

(c) The Caller or Chalker shall assess the score after each complete throw and shall write it on a board positioned where it can be seen easily by all players and spectators. Progressive clarifications may be given in an advisory capacity only.

(d) The method of scoring shall be by written subtraction:

501
 92
409
 61
348  etc.

(e) The initial point of entry of the dart is the score. Any dart lodged between a split in the wire shall score as the lesser of the disputed values.

(f) Only the darts actually touching or in the board are counted when the score is announced. If a dart falls out after the total score is announced, it shall count. If a dart knocks another out, the fallen dart does not count. If a dart rests on top of others, the point of the resting dart must be touching the board to score.

(g) Any dart which, in the opinion of the Caller or Chalker or Line Umpire, is thrown illegally shall constitute a foul and shall be announced as "Foul Dart" immediately after the occurrence of such foul. A foul dart shall not score but shall remain in the board until all darts are retrieved.

The Chalker, and where applicable Caller and Line Umpire, shall be responsible for ensuring that all rules are adhered to and shall watch for footwear behind the oche, correct scores being called and calculated, and unfair tactics such as excessive talking by players, walking straight back towards the next player standing at the oche, etc.

A player's throw shall be deemed to be completed when the darts are retrieved.

The Chalker, or Caller or Line Umpire, shall be appointed by the Games Controller or, where no Games Controller exists, by the respective Captains.

(a) Where possible, a Caller or Chalker shall indicate to the player when a starting double is scored. If that dart falls out after being indicated, it stands as a score. If the starting double is incorrectly called (not a double), such score shall be invalidated.

(b) Where possible, a Caller or Chalker shall indicate to the player when a finishing double has been scored, providing that the total scored equals the number remaining at the commencement of the throw.

If any attempt is made to throw a dart at the board, even though the dart may not lodge in the board, it shall be deemed a thrown dart.

If there is a dispute by a player against any decision made by the Caller, Chalker, or Line Umpire, a Referee shall decide and their decision is absolute for the immediate duration of the game. The Referee shall be the Games Controller or nominee(s) or, where no Games Controller exists, the respective Captains.

Defaults shall be called by the Games Controller or nominee(s) and shall be called only after reasonable time has elapsed following a "Second and Final call". A reasonable time is considered as being approximately one (1) minute.

The names of the competing players or clubs shall be shown on or about the scoring board prior to the commencement of play.

Ladies only events shall not be open to entry by men and similarly men only events not for ladies.

When 'bowling', all darts should be aimed at the bulls-eye. Any dart landing outside the treble ring will count as a 'riding' score.

(a) If a player who is 'bowling' throws a dart off the scoring area, this will count as 25 'riding'. Darts that fail to lodge in the board do not constitute a 'riding' score.

(b) If a 'riding' score is created with the 1st or 2nd dart, this score will be cancelled if a 'wicket' is taken with the remaining dart(s).

(c) If the next 'batsman' hits 40 or more, the number 'riding' will be added to their score.

The inner bull counts as 2 'wickets' and the outer bull as 1 'wicket'.

Any 'batsman' hitting an outer or inner bull loses one (1) or two (2) 'wickets' but cannot score 25 or 50. Bulls cannot be used for score – only 'wickets'.

'180' badges may not be won at any cricket tournament; however, a badge may be won for six (6) wickets scored in one shot.

Miniature trophies shall be awarded for the team scoring the most runs in the first innings in the Richmond Cricket Cup and Cricket Pairs.

In the event of a tie at the completion of two (2) innings, the team leading at the end of the first innings shall be declared the winner.

(a) Canterbury representative matches are excluded from this rule.

(b) For all Association championship games and tournaments, the uniform must include black dress trousers or skirts, to be worn with your club shirt.

(a) Any member wishing to transfer from one club to another must fill out the appropriate transfer form. This must be completed and in the hands of the Association and approved before a transfer is complete.

(b) In general terms, members playing in competitions shall only be able to transfer before competition entries are taken or following the completion of the competition. No transfers should take place part way through a competition. In special and extraordinary circumstances the Executive has the power to grant dispensation to this rule.

(a) To align the Association name with Darts New Zealand as the national governing body.

(b) To simplify and modernise the Association's identity for the benefit of members and stakeholders.

(c) To remove reliance on Chartered Clubs as the sole basis of membership.

(d) To allow the Association to welcome other incorporated associations and suitable venues to enter teams and players into competitions.

(e) To support expansion of club, association, and venue membership for the long-term benefit of all Canterbury dart players.