Today, there are 50 registered players across the country and to highlight the growth, New Zealand will send their biggest contingent to the JDC World Championship in Gibraltar later this year, with eight competitions across two teams.
For Matiu Hawea, a teacher, the idea to start it all stems from wanting to give kids in the region an opportunity, “when we went to the Junior Nationals for the first time and we realised there was a big opportunity for kids to be a part of this sport”.
“For us in Gisborne, it was about giving those opportunities to the kids we have here,” Hawea said.
The Tao Matarau Junior Darts Academy was launched in 2018, before becoming New Zealand’s first academy officially affiliated with the UK-based JDC in April the following year.
It went on to be named the JDC’s International Academy of the Year in 2019.
As well as Tao Matarau, there is also Te Aro Pūtahi (Tokoroa), Manawatū Matatahi (Palmerston North) and Tao Matarau North (Kaitāia), while additional coach accreditations are underway in Auckland, Otago, Taupō, Whakatāne and Wellington.
The Tao Matarau Junior Darts Academy in Gisborne.
The programme has helped produce some of New Zealand’s brightest young talents and provides a pathway for aspiring players to compete on the international stage.
For the world champs, one team were selected through a series of qualifying tournaments held around the country, giving youngsters from outside the academy system the chance to earn a place.
The second team are made up of the country’s highest-ranked academy players, who are ranked through the JDC’s international Academy ranking system.
Each week, academy members complete a standardised scoring routine under the supervision of a coach, with their scores uploaded to an app. The results contribute to global and New Zealand rankings.
Johnathan Parker (Tao Matarau) and Preston Wheeler (Te Aro Pūtahi) are both presently ranked inside the top five in the world on the JDC’s global Academy ranking system.
For Hawea, the biggest successes aren’t measured by trophies, with one parent recently telling him that her daughter’s maths teacher had asked what she was doing outside school, after noticing her maths ability had improved dramatically.
“The answer was she’d started playing darts,” he said.
“You have the maths component that actually can help our kids in their daily life. But the other big thing that a lot of people don’t see in terms of darts is the social, the social impact that it has with our kids and being able to socially interact with others.
“I think those are the two biggest things, the social impact that they have on our kids and also the maths for our region, otherwise it’s just tablets and phones.”
Hawea has even introduced darts into the classroom, using it as a practical way to teach maths while giving students an opportunity to learn outside the traditional setting.
The programme has also become a way of building confidence, communication skills and creating a safe environment where young people can thrive.
Running the academy, however, is far more than a once-a-week commitment.
Between academy nights, local competitions, national tournaments and travelling with players, darts has become a way of life for the Hawea family.
“We have our academy nights, then we travel with them on certain weekends,” Hawea said.
“The commitment is huge.
“You just have to be passionate about giving the kids opportunities. If you have that drive, you can give anything a go.”
As the programme continues to grow, attracting children hasn’t been the biggest obstacle.
Instead, Hawea said finding enough volunteers with the passion to mentor young players remains the greatest challenge.
“The kids are here and the kids are keen,” he said.
“They’re keen to give this whole space a go because it’s providing a lot of opportunities to travel the world.
“The hardest part is finding people who have the passion to work with kids and give up their time.
“If your academy grows, you need passionate people who actually want to help give these kids opportunities.”
Interest in junior darts has also been boosted by the rise of teenage world champion Littler, who came through the JDC pathway before becoming one of the sport’s biggest stars.
Hawea said many youngsters joining the academy already know exactly who Littler is.
“We’ve got a few new kids and they already know who Luke Littler is,” he said.
“It has had an effect within darts in general, especially for younger people.”
Hawea has been blown away by the unexpected journey that darts has taken him on.
“We’ve had our ups and downs, but seeing these kids grow into young men and young women, and seeing how much they love darts, that’s what it’s all about,” he said.
Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.