.png)
.png)
New Zealand Cavy Club
- Our Clubs >
- New Zealand Cavy Club
-1.png)
One of New Zealand’s long-standing independent cavy clubs
The New Zealand Cavy Club is one of the Independent Cavy Clubs in New Zealand and is for people who breed, show, and care for cavies, or guinea pigs. The club supports both pedigree exhibitors and pet guinea pig owners, creating opportunities for members to take part in shows, connect with other cavy enthusiasts, and enjoy being part of the wider guinea pig community.
Opportunities to show and connect
The New Zealand Cavy Club holds more than eight shows each year, giving members frequent opportunities to exhibit and stay involved in the cavy fancy. These shows are held in conjunction with the Capital Cavy Club, helping create well-supported events and regular opportunities for exhibitors to take part throughout the year. This strong show calendar makes the club a great choice for members who want to stay active in pedigree and pet showing.
.png)
Bringing together people who share a passion for cavies
The New Zealand Cavy Club is a long-established club that supports people who are interested in guinea pig showing and care. Whether members are experienced exhibitors, breeders, or simply people who enjoy cavies and want to become more involved, the club offers a welcoming place to learn, show, and connect.
.png)
Open to individuals, families, and junior members
Membership is open to anyone with an interest in cavies and is a great way to stay involved in the club’s shows and activities. Members can take part in club events, exhibit their cavies, and stay connected with the wider cavy community.
Current subscription rates are $15 per year for a family membership, $10 per year for a senior single membership, and $5 per year for a junior member under 16. Subscriptions are due on 31 January each year.
.png)
Show Venues
New Zealand Cavy Club shows are held between Coley Street School Hall in Foxton and shared show venues with the Capital Cavy Club in Wellington. These locations help provide a regular and accessible show programme for members across the lower North Island and beyond.
The first club formed in New Zealand for purebred cavies
The New Zealand Cavy Club has an important place in the history of guinea pig showing in New Zealand. It was first formed in 1976 after a meeting in Lower Hutt attended by around 70 people. At that time, there were no pedigree cavies in New Zealand, and the growing interest in purebred guinea pigs led to the formation of the club.
Originally, the club was called the National Cavy Club. After incorporation, the name was changed to New Zealand Cavy Club Incorporated, and more recently the club gave up its incorporation and returned to the name New Zealand Cavy Club. Over the years, the club has played an important role in developing the New Zealand cavy fancy, supporting the growth of pedigree showing, helping establish judging, and contributing to the wider history of cavy exhibition in this country.
.png)
Read More
The New Zealand Cavy Club was the first club formed in New Zealand for Purebred Cavies (guinea pigs). Until 1975 there were no pedigree cavies in new Zealand.
Andrew Benson who had come from the Uk to live in NZ missed his pedigree cavies and started to import some from England. At about the same time Jack Whitworth, a UK all breeds Cavy judge settled in NZ for his retirement, and was astounded that there were no Cavy shows in NZ. On the initiative of these two a meeting of interested people was called in January of 1976 and over 70 people turned up, all owning pet cavies. So the National Cavy Club of New Zealand was formed and newsletters sent out and people joined the club from all over NZ and even overseas.
In April of 1976 the first show was organised, judged by Jack Whitworth. The exhibitors brought their cavies in carry boxes and judged from those. As yet the club had no display cages. As numbers of members and imports grew and shows got bigger entries, the club bought display cages so the general public could admire the various breeds together in groups. The club started a stud register and to give out championship certificates. Jack Whitworth started to train interested NZ Cavy breeders in judging. The English standards were used with some alterations to suit NZ needs. Clubs started up in other parts of NZ and were initially affiliated to the National Cavy Club of NZ. When the club applied to be incorporated in 1978, it was told that the word National could not be used for a hobby club and the name was changed to New Zealand Cavy Club Inc. In 2005 incorporation was dropped because of expenses.
Initially we only had three qualified judges, Jack Whitworth, his son in law Terry Hood and Andrew Benson. Jack Whitworth travelled all over NZ to various clubs to educate and train and once the first batch of his trainees had in his opinion were competent to judge, they in turn began to train as well.
In 1979 “ judging and the standards “ was published, written by jack Whitworth. It contained all the standards used by judges for each breed. It was periodically updated as new breeds were introduced into NZ. Eventually specialist clubs became responsible for voting on changes in standards and submitting to the judges association for final approval.
Soon the other clubs wanted to be independent and affiliation ceased. Each club appointed their own club judges.
By 1983 clubs and exhibitors thought it would be nice to have a National show and at a meeting in Hamilton where a large number of clubs were represented at a show, the Combined Cavy Clubs of New Zealand was formed with the purpose of looking after the National show, which was to rotate around the country held by the various clubs, and the first year book was published. The CCC once formed, eventually took over the stud register and also started to give out championship certificates.
However the NZCC never stopped to give out championship certificates, and both are recognised at National shows. In January 1985 the New Zealand Cavy judges Association was formed after an inaugural meeting in 1984, to introduce uniformity in judging and develop a uniform training scheme for new trainee judges.
For the NZCC February show in 1985 Mr. Jack Davidson from Melbourne Australia was sponsored by NZCCI to judge in conjunction with Christa Krey. The first Australian judge ever, to judge in New Zealand.
In April 1986 another Australian judge, Dennis Kingston was brought over to judge at the 10th anniversary show. At this show Mrs. Whitworth presented the J. Whitworth memorial trophy.
On the 6th of July 2013 the New Zealand Cavy Club celebrated it’s 150th all breeds show
The club currently holds over eight a year, between Foxton and Wellington.
At the February 2016 show, the club celebrated 40 years of continuous existence.
At the February 2022 Show, the New Zealand Cavy Club held it's 200th Cavy show, in conjunction with Capital Cavy Club in Levin.
A copy of the regular newsletter, The Cavy Chronicle, is sent to the Turnbull library, where copies of all New Zealand publications are held.
Key people to contact
The club committee helps organise club activities and can be contacted if members have questions or need support related to their cavies.
The current President is Pat Hardcastle and the Secretary/Treasurer is Christa Krey.
.png)
Supporting fair, respectful, and well-run club activities
The New Zealand Cavy Club rules help provide structure for both club administration and showing. They cover areas such as membership, meetings, committee roles, and exhibitor expectations, while also supporting fair competition and consistent club practices. These rules are an important part of helping the club run smoothly and ensuring members understand the standards and responsibilities that come with taking part in club activities and shows.
Club Rules
1) The name of the club shall be known as ‘The New Zealand Cavy Club’ and its membership shall be open to all Cavy fanciers.
2) The objects of the club are to interest the general public in the care of cavies and breeding and exhibiting of pedigree Cavies.
3) Any person may become a member on payment of an annual subscription.
4) Membership shall cease if subscriptions are not received within three months after the end of the financial year. (the AGM is held at the February show, subs are due then)
5) It shall be lawful for the executive committee to refuse to continue the membership of any person, if in the opinion of the committee such person acted contrary to the club’s interest. Any such member shall forfeit all rights.
6) All subscription must be paid to the club treasurer before the AGM before a member is eligible to vote or receive prize money
7) All those qualifying for junior membership must be under 16 years of age when paying their subscription.
8) The rules of the club may only be added to or changed at an Annual General Meeting.
9) The officers of the club shall be appointed at the AGM each year and shall consist of a committee to include a president, secretary and /or treasurer, newsletter editor and show secretary, These officials shall be the executive of the club and manage it’s affairs. The committee shall have the power to fill any vacancies which may occur throughout the year
10) The executive shall transact the club’s business by email when necessary
11) Voting at a general meeting shall be by ballot or show of hands.
12) Any member with a just reason may request an executive meeting to be called to consider their complaint, giving 10 days written notice to the secretary and a refundable deposit of $10.00 if the complaint is upheld
13) Members wishing to make propositions to the AGM must give 14 days notice in writing prior to the AGM unless the proposer is present in person at the meeting, when his or her proposition will be considered there and then.
14) Each member 16 year and over that has paid a subscription is entitled to a vote. In the case of a partnership (family subscription) each partner is entitled to a vote.
15) All club moneys shall be banked in the club bank account and a financial report given at the AGM
16) If upon winding up of the club there remains after the satisfaction of all its liabilities any property whatsoever, the same shall be given or transferred to some other institution or body, to be determined by the majority of members at an AGM or general meeting.
17) A general meeting may be conducted via email
18) All varieties of cavies when exhibited must be in perfectly natural condition except where allowed for by the breed standard. A judge is empowered to disqualify an exhibit, which he/she decides has been subjected to practises calculated to deceive and give false impressions of merit. Removal of guard hairs does not fall under this rule.
19) A cavy judge officiating at a venue where two or more shows are being held, may make entries in the shows other than the one in which he/she is officiating, provided there is no common award for best overall cavy at the venue.
20) Stock purchased from a judge can not be exhibited under that judge until the expiry of three months from the date of purchase.
21) At a show where owner exhibitors are stewarding, exhibits are to be left alone once they have reached the judging table, and further preferential treatment will be done by the officiating judge or requested by him/her. The officiating judge has full power to enforce this rule to the benefit of all exhibitors.
22) Fatty eye shall be an immediate disqualification. This applies only when the defect is visible without disturbing the eyelid
SHOW RULES
Additional to general rule 18)
a) No cavy may be entered in both the main show and the pet show at the same venue.
b) All longhair and merino exhibits are to be shown on a show board which should be of a size suited to the size of the cavy (and its length of hair). One board per cavy. Wrappers may be replaced after judging, at the owner’s discretion.
c) No exhibit is permitted to be removed from the show pen until the show is closed. This time along with the de-benching procedure will be announced and enforced by the show manager. Special permission to remove an exhibit earlier may be obtained in the case of an emergency. No exhibits are to be handled or fed whatsoever once they have been penned in their show pens, except by handlers to be taken to the judge or when instructed by the show manager.
d) These rules will be strictly enforced by the club, any failure to comply with any of these rules may lead to the exhibitor being disqualified from the show and any prizes will be forfeited
Join the New Zealand Cavy Club today!
Discover all the benefits of being a part of our vibrant and welcoming community. Whether you are a seasoned pro or just starting out, we look forward to welcoming you to our club and sharing our passion for cavies with you!
