2025 WPNZ National Awards Finalists Named

Our 2025 National Awards Ceremony will be held in Auckland on Saturday, 16 May 2026 at 6:30pm at the Novotel Ellerslie.

Click here to buy your tickets now! - full buffet dinner and sit down ceremony - tickets are $50 for finalists and $95 for all other patrons

Congratulations to the following members of our Water Polo New Zealand community, who have been named finalists for the 2025 National Awards...  

Volunteer of the Year Finalists 

Beth Kyd (Tauranga Water Polo)

Dee Bailey (North Harbour Water Polo)

Julie Bolland (North Harbour Water Polo)

Referee of the Year Finalists - presented by Trophy Specialists & Engraving

Daniel Pearce

Jamie Campbell

Ryan Cheeseman

Rookie Referee of the Year Finalists

First time award! The finalists for the Rookie Referee category will be publicly announced on the night of the awards.

Rookie Coach of the Year Finalists 

Lucas Wilson (Waitakere)

Matthew Leadbeater (Otago)

Rowan Ellyett (Marist)

Coach of the Year Finalists - presented by AUT Millennium

Bella Jacka (Marist)

Rachael Roset (North Harbour)

Tim Chambers (Canterbury)

Player (Male) of the Year Finalists – presented by kap7

Ethan Carrington (Tauranga)

Gene Baggott (Tauranga)

Zavier Tuhuru (Canterbury)

Player (Female) of the Year Finalists 

Bridget Layburn (North Harbour)

Scarlett Goldsworthy (Canterbury)

Kate Henderson (Marist)

Team (Female) of the Year Finalists – presented by The Tindall Foundation

North Harbour Senior Women (Hammerheads) 

NZ Women's University Games Team 

Canterbury Under 21 Women 

Team (Male) of the Year Finalists - presented by The Tindall Foundation

Canterbury U21 Men

Marist Water Polo U12 Sharks

Tauranga U21 Men’s

Outstanding Flippa Ball School Finalists - presented by Margaret Chase at Envoyage Travel

Albany Primary School

Pongakawa School

Papamoa Primary School

Club of the Year Finalists – presented by LEAP Leadership

Marist Water Polo

Canterbury Water Polo

North Harbour Water Polo