Open Grade Competition
Wellington Hockey offer various levels of competition in the Open Grade Competition from Premier, Intercity and Reserve. These matches are held across all Wellington turfs. Having the various grades enables us to maintain a hockey environment which is enjoyable, rewarding and satisfying for all people involved. Entry to these competitions is via our Wellington based clubs. To find the contact details for our Wellington Clubs, please click here.
Competition Handbook
Find below the link to download the 2025 Wellington Hockey Open Grade Competition Handbook which outlines rules, regulations and procedures that all coaches, managers, players and officials need to follow.
2025 Competition Key Dates
Team registrations open in PlayHQ: 24 January, 2025
Team registrations close: 7 March, 2025
Open Grade Opening Weekend: 29/30 March, 2025
Start of Intercity: 10 May, 2025
Intercity Finals: 14 June, 2025
Finals Weekend (all grades): 16/17 August, 2025
Promotion Challenge Games: Matches need to be played prior to NHC commencing
Playing Days:
Games are played on Saturdays and Sundays approximately from 12:00pm to 9:00pm at turf venues located at Wellington, Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt, Porirua and Kapiti.
Public Holiday Playing Weekends:
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Anzac (26/27 April, 2025)
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Matariki (22/23 June, 2025)
No Games Played:
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Easter (19/20 April, 2025)
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Kings Birthday (31 May/1 June, 2025)
2025 Competition Formats
The 2025 competition formats for each grade are listed and summarised below. Note that some grades DO NOT play on Matariki, whereas the majority will have scheduled matches.
Start Date: 29th March, 2025
End Date: 16th August, 2025
Number of Teams: 6
Grade Specific Notes:
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The first round of the competition will run from 29th March to 3rd May. Every team must play each other once to determine ranking for Intercity.
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Intercity will run from the 10th May to 14th June with no game on King's Birthday Weekend (Saturday 31st May)
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No games on Matariki weekend (Saturday 21st June) for P1 Men ONLY.
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The second round of the local competition will run from 21st June to 17th August.
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Three-week final series starts on 10th August, Semi-Finals on the 2nd August and Finals on 16th August:
Quarter Finals/Top 2 Double Chance:
Game A) 1v2
Game B) 3v6
Game C) 4v5
Semi Finals:
Game D) Winner Game A vs Winner Game C
Game E) Loser Game A vs Winner Game B
5th Place) Loser Game B vs Loser Game C
Finals:
Grand Final) Winner Game D v Winner Game E
3rd Place) Loser Game D vs Loser Game E
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Start Date: 29th March, 2025
End Date: 16th August, 2025
Number of Teams: 7
Grade Specific Notes:
-
The first round of the competition will run from 29th March to 3rd May. Every team must play each other once to determine ranking for Intercity.
-
Two one-off midweek matches to be played on Wednesday nights (16th April & 23rd April) for Rounds 4 & 5.
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Intercity will run from the 10th May to 14th June with no game on King's Birthday Weekend (Saturday 31st May)
-
The second round of the local competition will run from 21st June to 17th August, which includes a game played on Matariki 21st June.
-
Two-week standard final series starts on 9th August, with final games on 16th August in the following format:
Semi Finals:
Game A) 1v4
Game B) 2v3
Game C) 5v8
Game D) 6v7
Finals:
Grand Final) Winner Game A v Winner Game B
3rd Place) Loser Game A v Loser Game B
5th Place) Winner Game C v Winner Game D
7th Place) Loser Game C vs Loser Game D
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Start Date: 30th March, 2025
End Date: 17th August, 2025
Number of Teams: 8
Grade Specific Notes:
-
Teams divided into two pools of four based on final seedings from the previous year.
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Two pools seeded
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Pool A: Teams 1, 4, 5 & 8
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Pool B: Teams 2, 3, 6 & 7
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-
Competition played as a one round competition, with one points table for weeks 1-17
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Across the season, everyone plays each other twice (14 games), as well as also playing teams within your pool for a third time (further three games).
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No games on Easter Weekend (Sunday 20th April)
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No games on King’s Birthday Weekend (Sunday 1st June)
-
Games to be played on Matariki weekend (Sunday 22nd June)
-
Total of 19 matches in 2025
-
Two-week standard final series starts on 10th August, with final games on 17th August in following format:
Semi-Final weekend matches to be:
Game 1: 1 v 4
Game 2: 2 v 3
Game 3: 5 v 8
Game 4: 6 v 7
Finals week matches to be:
1st & 2nd: Winner G1 v Winner G2
3rd & 4th: Loser G1 v Loser G2
5th & 6th: Winner G3 v Winner G4
7th & 8th: Loser G4 v Loser G4
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Start Date: 29th March, 2025
End Date: 16th August, 2025
Number of Teams: 10
Grade Specific Notes:
-
Competition played as a one round competition, with one points table for weeks 1-18
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Everyone plays each other twice (18 games)
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No games on Easter Weekend (Saturday 19th April)
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No games on King’s Birthday Weekend (Saturday 31st May)
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Games to be played on Matariki weekend (Saturday 21st June)
-
Total of 19 matches in 2025
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No Semi-Finals in 2025
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Finals week matches to be based upon rankings at the end of the 18-week round robin:
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Game 1: 1 v 2
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Game 2: 3 v 4
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Game 3: 5 v 6
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Game 4: 7 v 8
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Game 5: 9 v 10
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-
Start Date: 30th March, 2025
End Date: 17th August, 2025
Number of Teams: 7
Grade Specific Notes:
-
Competition played as a one round competition, with one points table for weeks 1-17
-
Across the season, everyone plays each other twice (14 games), as well as also playing teams within your pool for a third time (further three games).
-
No games on Easter Weekend (Sunday 20th April)
-
No games on King’s Birthday Weekend (Sunday 1st June)
-
No games on Matariki Weekend (Sunday 22nd June)
-
Total of 18 matches in 2025
-
Four-week final series starts on 26th July, with final games on 17th August.
-
Start Date: 29th March, 2025
End Date: 16th August, 2025
Number of Teams: 8
Grade Specific Notes:
-
Teams divided into two pools of four based on final seedings from the previous year.
-
Two pools seeded
-
Pool A: Teams 1, 4, 5 & 8
-
Pool B: Teams 2, 3, 6 & 7
-
-
Competition played as a one round competition, with one points table for weeks 1-17
-
Across the season, everyone plays each other twice (14 games), as well as also playing teams within your pool for a third time (further three games).
-
No games on Easter Weekend (Saturday 19th Aprill)
-
No games on King’s Birthday Weekend (Saturday 31st May)
-
Games to be played on Matariki weekend (Saturday 21st June)
-
Total of 19 matches in 2025
-
Two-week standard final series starts on 10th August, with final games on 17th August in following format:
Semi-Final weekend matches to be:
Game 1: 1 v 4
Game 2: 2 v 3
Game 3: 5 v 8
Game 4: 6 v 7
Finals week matches to be:
1st & 2nd: Winner G1 v Winner G2
3rd & 4th: Loser G1 v Loser G2
5th & 6th: Winner G3 v Winner G4
7th & 8th: Loser G4 v Loser G4
-
Start Date: 30th March, 2025
End Date: 17th August, 2025
Number of Teams: 8
Grade Specific Notes:
-
Teams divided into two pools of four based on final seedings from the previous year.
-
Two pools seeded
-
Pool A: Teams 1, 4, 5 & 8
-
Pool B: Teams 2, 3, 6 & 7
-
-
Competition played as a one round competition, with one points table for weeks 1-17
-
Across the season, everyone plays each other twice (14 games), as well as also playing teams within your pool for a third time (further three games).
-
No games on Easter Weekend (Sunday 20th April)
-
No games on King’s Birthday Weekend (Sunday 1st June)
-
Games to be played on Matariki weekend (Sunday 22nd June)
-
Total of 19 matches in 2025
-
Two-week standard final series starts on 10th August, with final games on 17th August in following format:
Semi-Final weekend matches to be:
Game 1: 1 v 4
Game 2: 2 v 3
Game 3: 5 v 8
Game 4: 6 v 7
Finals week matches to be:
1st & 2nd: Winner G1 v Winner G2
3rd & 4th: Loser G1 v Loser G2
5th & 6th: Winner G3 v Winner G4
7th & 8th: Loser G4 v Loser G4
-
Start Date: 29th March, 2025
End Date: 16th August, 2025
Number of Teams: 6
Grade Specific Notes:
-
Competition played as a one round competition, with one points table for weeks 1-15
-
Everyone plays each other three times (15 games)
-
No games on Matariki weekend (Saturday 21st June) for Reserve Women ONLY.
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Three-week final series starts on 10th August, Semi-Finals on the 2nd August and Finals on 16th August:
Quarter Finals/Top 2 Double Chance:
Game A) 1v2
Game B) 3v6
Game C) 4v5
Semi Finals:
Game D) Winner Game A vs Winner Game C
Game E) Loser Game A vs Winner Game B
5th Place) Loser Game B vs Loser Game C
Finals:
Grand Final) Winner Game D v Winner Game E
3rd Place) Loser Game D vs Loser Game E
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