As 2026 launched, so too did New Zealand's Bug of the Year competition, no doubt modelled after the more famous Bird of the Year contest. As I explain in this blog, long before I discovered parrots, I was a fan and collector of slaters, so when a champion was needed for the

Taranga Pill Woodlouse, I was happy

to volunteer. It's an election year, and I promise

you will encounter no politician cuter, more

modest, and more hard-working than a

woodlouse, which also charmingly rolls

into a ball when under duress! Voting closes 15 February.

​​

The year's events kick off with Battlecry at the Onehunga RSA 21-22 February and Armageddon in Christchurch, where we'll be represented by Andy on 21 March.

​

Our next game, FARMily Feud, is on its way and expected to release around 1 April with a launch event at Auckland's Cakes n Ladders. It is a return to our usual small box format, with a lovely presentation in our one-piece magnet box, linen-finish cards, and two punchboards full of tokens.

 

We'll need to kick off a reprint of Flipology in a few months and we'll freshen up some of its artwork for the occasion. Read our February newsletter, coming out 13 February, where we will announce a Going to the Dogs competition as part of Flipology's makeover.

 

2026 is the tenth anniversary of Hoard joining the Cheeky lineup so we'll be celebrating our star game all year.

​

​

​