This week's Country Spotlight takes me to New Zealand, and I think this could be one of the strongest darts nations I've covered in the series so far.
Over the past few weeks, I've looked at countries where darts is still developing internationally. Vietnam, for example, has an established local darts community but relatively limited results on the international stage.
New Zealand is a very different proposition.
This is a country with a long darts history, an established national structure, World Championship representatives, international tournament winners and a domestic circuit that is producing some seriously competitive players.
And having looked through six enhanced player profiles from my Q4QS Database, I think there's a particularly interesting story developing.
Jonny Tata is producing some outstanding averages.
Ben Robb has been winning tournaments regularly.
Haupai Puha has enjoyed an impressive run of form.
And Nicole Regnaud is demonstrating that she can compete with, and sometimes beat, some of the country's strongest male players.
For a country with a population of only around five million, that's a pretty impressive collection of talent.
But how strong is New Zealand compared with the world's leading darts nations?
And could we see another Kiwi player establish themselves on the professional circuit?
A Country With a Long Darts Tradition
Unlike some of the emerging darts nations I've featured recently, New Zealand has been playing organised darts for generations.
The New Zealand Darts Council was established in 1937, providing a national structure for the sport long before the modern professional era.
Over the decades, darts developed through local associations, clubs, regional competitions and national championships.
And that structure remains important today.
The country has a well-established network of darts organisations, with competitions taking place across both the North and South Islands.
One of the interesting things about New Zealand is that it has maintained a strong traditional darts structure while also developing pathways into modern professional competition.
The New Zealand Darts Council continues to support national competitions and representative darts.
Meanwhile, Darts Players New Zealand, or DPNZ, provides a route into PDC-related tournaments and international qualification.
And alongside those organisations, WDF competitions give players further opportunities to compete.
It's a system that offers considerably more competitive opportunities than many smaller darts nations enjoy.
And I think that helps explain why New Zealand continues to produce international-standard players.
New Zealand's Place in World Darts
New Zealand might be geographically isolated from the main European professional circuits, but it has been involved in international darts for decades.
Its players have competed at World Championships, represented the country at the PDC World Cup and appeared in World Series events.
And perhaps the most important point is that New Zealand hasn't relied on just one player.
Different generations have produced different names.
Players such as Warren Parry and Cody Harris helped establish the country's presence internationally.
More recently, Haupai Puha, Ben Robb and Jonny Tata have carried that tradition forward.
New Zealand has also benefited from its proximity to Australia.
Although travelling between the two countries still involves considerable expense, the Australasian circuit provides opportunities that are much closer than Europe.
For players hoping to progress internationally, those competitions can be invaluable.
But the biggest challenge remains the same.
How do you turn success in New Zealand into consistent results against the world's leading professionals?
That's the question facing the current generation.
Haupai Puha – The Professional Trailblazer
Haupai Puha has been one of the most important figures in modern New Zealand darts.
His achievements include becoming the first New Zealander to secure a PDC Tour Card through Q-School.
That was a significant milestone.
Because obtaining a Tour Card is one thing.
Competing regularly against the world's strongest professional players is another challenge entirely.
The PDC circuit is extremely competitive, and players from outside Europe face additional difficulties with travel, accommodation and time away from home.
Puha's achievement demonstrated that a New Zealand player could earn a place on that circuit.
But what interests me now is how he's performing back in New Zealand.
And his recent Q4QS figures are particularly encouraging.
Puha's Q4QS Performance
My database contains 56 recorded matches for Puha across 17 tournaments.
He's won 41 and lost 15.
That gives him a win percentage of 73.2%.
His overall match average is 84.21, while his official Q4QS Average is 83.33.
His highest recorded match average is 95.43, achieved in a 4–0 victory over Jordan Whyte during DPNZ Pro Tour Event 10.
But the most interesting part of his profile is his recent form.
Across his last ten recorded matches, Puha has won all ten.
His average over those matches is 87.20.
And in September 2026, he produced a particularly impressive sequence of results.
He won DPNZ Pro Tour Events 11 and 12 on consecutive days.
In the first final, he defeated Jonny Tata 7–6.
In the second, he defeated Tata again, also by 7–6.
And in that second tournament, he had already beaten Ben Robb 6–5 in the semi-finals.
Those are not easy victories.
Robb and Tata are two of the strongest players in New Zealand.
To beat both in the same tournament, and then repeat the success against Tata in another final, is an excellent achievement.
Puha averaged 91.57 in the second final against Tata.
That is a very respectable standard under pressure.
And it suggests that, despite his experience on the professional circuit, he remains a major force in New Zealand darts.
Ben Robb – The Tournament Winner
If Puha has the professional experience, Ben Robb has one of the strongest records for tournament success.
And his Q4QS statistics are impressive.
My database contains 90 matches across 29 tournaments.
He's won 69 and lost 21.
That's a win percentage of 76.7%.
His overall match average is 86.34, while his official Q4QS Average is 86.54.
And he has recorded eight tournament victories in the supplied profile.
That's a considerable achievement.
His highest recorded match average is 100.24, produced in a 4–3 victory over Frank Bush during DPNZ Pro Tour Event 5.
He's also recorded a 98.05 average in a tournament final and several other performances above 95.
Those numbers demonstrate that Robb can produce a very high standard.
But what I particularly like is the number of tournaments he's winning.
There are plenty of players who can produce a 95 average occasionally.
There are fewer who can consistently work their way through a tournament and lift the trophy.
And Robb has demonstrated that ability repeatedly.
Robb's International Challenge
Robb has represented New Zealand internationally, including at the World Cup of Darts and the PDC World Championship.
He's also competed outside New Zealand in events such as PDC Q-School, the Challenge Tour and WDF competitions.
And that gives us an interesting opportunity to compare different levels of competition.
His domestic results are strong.
But when he faces higher-standard international opposition, the challenge becomes considerably greater.
For example, he recorded a 92.13 average in a defeat against Derek Coulson on the PDC Challenge Tour.
He also averaged 93.93 in a 6–4 defeat against Karel Sedláček at the World Series Finals.
Those are good performances.
And they demonstrate that Robb can produce competitive averages against strong opposition.
But they also illustrate how difficult it can be to win matches at that level.
Sometimes an average above 90 simply isn't enough.
And that's probably one of the biggest challenges facing New Zealand's leading players.
They can dominate domestically.
They can produce strong averages.
But to establish themselves on the professional circuit, they need to reproduce that standard regularly against much tougher opposition.
Robb has the ability.
The question is whether he can take the next step.
Jonny Tata – New Zealand's Statistical Standout
Of the six players I've examined, Jonny Tata has the highest official Q4QS Average.
And by a fairly noticeable margin.
His figure is 88.13.
That's higher than Robb's 86.54 and Puha's 83.33.
His overall match average is 87.87.
And his record is outstanding.
Across 66 recorded matches, he's won 52 and lost 14.
That gives him a win percentage of 78.8%.
He's reached seven finals and won one tournament in the supplied data.
He has also reached three semi-finals and two quarter-finals.
Those are very strong figures.
And they suggest that Tata is one of New Zealand's most consistently competitive players.
Tata's Best Performances
Tata's highest recorded average is 97.88, achieved in a 4–1 victory over Haunui Hira.
But there are several other performances worth highlighting.
He averaged 97.86 in a deciding-leg victory over Haupai Puha.
He recorded 97.45 against Steve Higgins.
And he averaged 96.97 in a victory over Paul Mangino.
Those are impressive numbers.
But there's something else I find particularly interesting.
Tata has also recorded victories against Robb and Puha.
He defeated Robb 7–4, averaging 91.31.
And he beat Puha 6–2, averaging 88.61.
So we're not simply looking at somebody producing good averages against weaker opposition.
Tata has demonstrated that he can beat the country's leading players.
And I think that makes him a particularly interesting contender for future international opportunities.
The Rivalry at the Top
One of the strongest features of New Zealand darts is the competition between its leading players.
Robb, Tata and Puha are regularly meeting one another in important matches.
And those matches are often very competitive.
In September, Puha defeated Tata in consecutive finals.
Robb has beaten Tata in major domestic matches.
And Tata has recorded victories against both.
This is exactly the sort of rivalry that can help improve standards.
If one player dominates every tournament without facing much resistance, there's less pressure to improve.
But when several players are capable of beating one another, the standard required to win becomes higher.
And I think that's something New Zealand has going for it.
The leading players are being tested regularly.
They're producing averages in the 80s and 90s.
And they're having to perform under pressure to win tournaments.
That's a healthy environment for developing stronger players.
Mark Cleaver – The Consistent Contender
Another player worth highlighting is Mark Cleaver.
He might not have quite the same international profile as Puha or Robb, but his domestic statistics are very respectable.
My database contains 54 matches across 15 tournaments.
He's won 39 and lost 15.
That gives him a win percentage of 72.2%.
His overall match average is 79.07, while his official Q4QS Average is 78.58.
He's reached two finals, five semi-finals and five quarter-finals.
That's an impressive level of consistency.
And his highest recorded match average is 92.68.
Interestingly, that came in a defeat against Jonny Tata.
He also recorded averages of 92.54 and 92.49 in victories against Josh Walters and Kayden Milne.
Those are strong performances.
Cleaver's record demonstrates that New Zealand has more depth than simply its three biggest names.
And that's important.
Because a strong darts nation needs competitive players beyond the very top.
Kayden Milne – A Player With Potential
Kayden Milne is another player I wanted to examine.
And his record contains some particularly interesting results.
Across 27 recorded matches, he's won 20 and lost seven.
That's a win percentage of 74.1%.
His overall match average is 76.77, while his official Q4QS Average is 76.68.
He has won two tournaments in the supplied data.
And those victories include some very impressive results.
Milne has beaten Ben Robb, Jonny Tata and Haupai Puha.
He defeated Tata 6–4, averaging 81.17.
He beat Robb 6–4, averaging 77.49.
And he defeated Puha 7–2 in a tournament final.
That's a particularly noteworthy result.
To beat a player of Puha's experience by that margin demonstrates that Milne is capable of competing with the best players in New Zealand.
His highest recorded average is 91.21.
However, his recent averages have fallen slightly.
His last-ten average is 74.15, compared with his overall figure of 76.77.
So there's still work to do in terms of consistency.
But the ability to beat leading players is already there.
And that makes him somebody worth watching.
Nicole Regnaud – A Standout in New Zealand Women's Darts
I particularly wanted to include Nicole Regnaud in this article.
And having examined her Q4QS profile, I'm glad I did.
Because some of her performances are outstanding.
Regnaud has been one of New Zealand's leading female darts players, enjoying considerable success in domestic women's competition.
Her 2026 achievements include victories at the New Zealand Open, Canterbury Open and Auckland Open.
And she topped the New Zealand Darts Council women's rankings published in October.
But what makes her particularly interesting from a Q4QS perspective is that she has also been competing against male players on the DPNZ circuit.
And she hasn't simply been making up the numbers.
Regnaud's Q4QS Statistics
My database contains 30 matches across 15 tournaments for Nicole Regnaud.
She's won 15 and lost 15.
That gives her a win percentage of 50%.
Her overall match average is 74.32, while her official Q4QS Average is 72.85.
Her highest recorded match average is 89.48.
And that performance came against Jonny Tata.
Not in a defeat.
In a victory.
During DPNZ Pro Tour Event 10 in July 2026, Regnaud defeated Tata 5–2, averaging 89.48.
I think that's one of the standout results from all six profiles.
Tata has the highest Q4QS Average of the players I've examined.
He's won nearly 79% of his recorded matches.
And Regnaud beat him convincingly.
That's a serious achievement.
Regnaud Against the Leading Men
And her victory over Tata wasn't her only impressive performance.
She averaged 88.88 in a 5–3 defeat against Ben Robb during a New South Wales Darts Masters qualifier.
She also averaged 87.00 in another defeat against Robb.
Those are excellent averages.
She defeated John Hurring 4–0 with an 88.41 average.
And she recorded an 83.50 average in a victory over Frank Bush.
What these results demonstrate is that Regnaud is capable of producing a standard that can trouble some of New Zealand's strongest male players.
Of course, consistency remains important.
Her overall Q4QS Average of 72.85 is considerably below the figures recorded by Robb and Tata.
And her match averages have ranged from 56.81 to 89.48.
That's a fairly wide spread.
But the potential is clearly there.
And her recent form is encouraging.
Across her last ten recorded matches, she's won seven and lost three.
Her average over those matches is 75.77.
So there are signs that she's becoming more competitive.
Why Regnaud's Performances Matter
I think Nicole Regnaud's results deserve attention for reasons beyond simply comparing men's and women's darts.
New Zealand has a strong women's darts tradition.
And players such as Wendy Harper have represented the country internationally.
But Regnaud's performances demonstrate something particularly encouraging.
She is gaining competitive experience against strong opposition.
She's playing in tournaments where she regularly faces players with higher averages and stronger ratings.
And occasionally, she's beating them.
That experience can only be valuable.
It provides opportunities to improve.
It exposes players to different styles of competition.
And it demonstrates that the women's game in New Zealand has players capable of producing very competitive darts.
I'd be particularly interested to see whether Regnaud can maintain her stronger performances over a longer period.
Because if she can bring her overall average closer to the level of her best matches, she could become an even more significant international contender.
New Zealand's Leading Players – The Q4QS Comparison
Here's how the six players I've examined compare.
| Player | Matches | Wins | Win % | Q4QS Average | Best Average |
|---|
| Jonny Tata | 66 | 52 | 78.8% | 88.13 | 97.88 |
| Ben Robb | 90 | 69 | 76.7% | 86.54 | 100.24 |
| Haupai Puha | 56 | 41 | 73.2% | 83.33 | 95.43 |
| Mark Cleaver | 54 | 39 | 72.2% | 78.58 | 92.68 |
| Kayden Milne | 27 | 20 | 74.1% | 76.68 | 91.21 |
| Nicole Regnaud | 30 | 15 | 50.0% | 72.85 | 89.48 |
All six have played at least six tournaments, meaning they qualify for an official Q4QS Average.
There are a few interesting things here.
Firstly, Tata has the highest Q4QS Average.
Secondly, Robb has the largest recorded match sample and the most tournament victories.
Thirdly, Puha's recent form is stronger than his overall figures might initially suggest.
And finally, Regnaud's results demonstrate that New Zealand has a female player capable of beating some of the country's leading men.
These are six selected players from my database, rather than a complete ranking of every New Zealand player.
But they give us a useful picture of the standard being produced at the top end of the domestic game.
The Importance of DPNZ
One of the reasons New Zealand continues to produce competitive players is the existence of Darts Players New Zealand.
The DPNZ Pro Tour provides regular tournaments and a pathway towards international qualification.
And that's extremely important.
Because players need regular competitive opportunities if they're going to improve.
Practising at home is useful.
Playing local league darts is useful.
But tournament competition presents different challenges.
There's the pressure of knockout matches.
The need to produce your best darts at important moments.
And the challenge of playing several strong opponents in succession.
The DPNZ circuit gives players opportunities to experience those situations regularly.
And looking at the averages being produced by Robb, Tata and Puha, it's clear that the standard can be very competitive.
The Challenge of Geography
Of course, New Zealand faces one disadvantage that many European darts nations don't.
Distance.
For a player based in England, travelling to a tournament elsewhere in the country might involve a few hours in the car.
For a New Zealand player wanting to compete regularly on the PDC circuit, the journey can involve travelling halfway around the world.
And that's before considering the cost of accommodation, flights and time away from work or family.
It's a considerable challenge.
And I think it helps explain why some very talented players from New Zealand struggle to establish themselves internationally.
It's not necessarily because they lack the ability.
Sometimes the practical difficulties are enormous.
That's why regional competition in New Zealand and Australia is so important.
It provides opportunities to compete without requiring every tournament to involve a trip to Europe.
But ultimately, players who want to establish themselves on the main professional circuit need to find a way to compete regularly against the world's strongest opposition.
And that's a difficult balance.
New Zealand's Next Generation
Another encouraging aspect of New Zealand darts is the development of younger players.
The national structure includes youth competitions and rankings, helping provide opportunities for players to progress.
Names such as Preston Wheeler, Sophie Beaumont and Georgia Stevens have appeared in national youth rankings.
And although I don't have detailed Q4QS performance profiles for them, their involvement is encouraging.
Because the future of any darts nation depends on producing new players.
Robb, Tata and Puha won't be competing forever.
And if New Zealand wants to maintain its international strength, it needs the next generation to develop.
The important thing is that the opportunities exist.
Young players need tournaments, coaching, encouragement and opportunities to compete against stronger opposition.
And New Zealand appears to have a foundation on which to build.
How Strong Is New Zealand Internationally?
This is probably the most difficult question.
Because domestically, the leading players are producing very respectable averages.
Tata's Q4QS Average of 88.13 is particularly impressive.
Robb's 86.54 and Puha's 83.33 are also strong figures.
And there are several other players capable of producing averages above 90.
But we need to be careful about comparing those figures directly with players competing regularly on the PDC ProTour.
The standard of opposition is different.
The tournament conditions can be different.
And the pressure of competing against world-class players week after week is considerable.
So I wouldn't automatically assume that a player averaging 88 domestically would produce exactly the same figure on the PDC circuit.
Nevertheless, the underlying ability is clearly there.
And I think New Zealand deserves recognition as one of the stronger darts nations outside Europe.
The challenge is converting that domestic strength into more regular international success.
Could New Zealand Produce Another Established PDC Professional?
I certainly think it's possible.
Puha has already demonstrated that a New Zealand player can earn a Tour Card.
Robb has produced strong performances internationally.
And Tata's domestic averages suggest he has the scoring ability to compete at a higher level.
But the step from being one of the best players in New Zealand to becoming an established PDC professional is enormous.
It requires consistency.
It requires regular competition.
And it requires the ability to perform against players who are averaging in the 90s, and sometimes considerably higher, on a regular basis.
That's where the real challenge lies.
But if New Zealand can continue producing players of this standard, I think another professional breakthrough is certainly possible.
Q4QS Darts Nation Rating
For New Zealand, I'm taking into account its long darts history, domestic structure, current player strength, international achievements and future potential.
Current Strength: 8.0/10
Participation & Depth: 8.0/10
International Achievement: 7.5/10
Future Potential: 8.5/10
Overall Q4QS Nation Rating: 8.0/10
I'm giving New Zealand 8 out of 10.
And I think that's a deserved rating.
The country has a long history of organised darts.
It has produced World Championship representatives and a PDC Tour Card holder.
It has a strong domestic competition structure.
And the leading players are producing some very respectable statistics.
Jonny Tata's 88.13 Q4QS Average is particularly impressive.
Ben Robb has won eight tournaments in the supplied data.
Haupai Puha has enjoyed an excellent recent run.
And Nicole Regnaud is demonstrating the strength of the women's game through some outstanding performances against male opposition.
The biggest limitation is the country's international success at the very highest level.
New Zealand has produced talented players, but it hasn't yet established a consistent presence among the world's leading professionals.
That's what prevents me from giving it an even higher rating.
But the foundations are certainly there.
Final Thoughts
I've enjoyed looking at New Zealand because it offers a very different story from some of the countries I've covered recently.
This isn't a nation trying to establish whether darts can become popular.
Darts has been played competitively in New Zealand for generations.
The country has a recognised national structure, a competitive domestic circuit and players who regularly represent it internationally.
And the Q4QS figures suggest that the current standard is very respectable.
Jonny Tata is producing some of the strongest averages.
Ben Robb is winning tournaments.
Haupai Puha is enjoying an excellent run of form.
Mark Cleaver is consistently reaching the later stages of competitions.
Kayden Milne has demonstrated that he can beat the country's leading players.
And Nicole Regnaud has produced some outstanding performances, including that memorable victory over Tata.
For me, that's the most encouraging thing.
New Zealand doesn't appear to be relying on one player.
There are several capable competitors pushing one another.
And that competition can only help the overall standard.
The biggest challenge remains turning domestic success into consistent results on the international stage.
But with the talent currently available, I think New Zealand has every reason to be optimistic.
A small nation geographically, but certainly not a small nation when it comes to darts.
And I'll be particularly interested to see whether one of the current generation can take the next step and establish themselves among the world's leading professionals.
