59 teams to compete at New Zealand Secondary School National Water Polo Championships

The next week and a half mark the pinnacle of the secondary school water polo season, as athletes from across Aotearoa take to the pool for the 2025 New Zealand Secondary School National Water Polo Championships. With the Division 2 Cup starting in Hamilton on April 19, followed by the Division 1 Championships in Rotorua and Tauranga from April 24, hundreds of students will compete for national honours and showcase the strength and depth of water polo talent in New Zealand.

Below, we break down some key things to look out for ahead of competition kicking off.

Division 2 Cup

19-22 April 2025

From April 19–22, Hamilton will host the New Zealand Secondary School National Water Polo Championships Division 2 Cup, where 32 teams—14 Girls, 13 Boys, and 5 Mixed—will compete across four days of action-packed games at Waterworld and St Peter’s Cambridge.

Keey an eye out for the following teams:

• Girls Division: After taking out the Secondary Schools North Island Water Polo Championships Division 2 title, Diocesan Senior B enter the tournament as early favourites, but St Mary’s College are hot on their heels and eager to cause an upset. From the South Island, St Margaret’s College, runners-up at the 2024 Secondary Schools South Island Water Polo Championships, are determined to go one better with Marlborough Girls' College not returning to defend their title.
• Boys Division: Defending champions Sacred Heart A2 return with valuable Division 1 experience, but Mount Maunganui College—fresh off a Secondary Schools North Island Water Polo Championships win—will be looking to dethrone them. Meanwhile, Christchurch Boys’ High, the lone South Island team in the Boys Division, could be the tournament’s dark horse.
• Mixed Division: For the first time, a standalone Mixed Division has been introduced—an exciting development for co-ed and smaller schools. Glendowie College, winners of the Secondary Schools North Island Water Polo Championships Mixed Division 2, are strong contenders, but with only five teams competing in a round-robin format, every game counts.

Key Links:

• Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/@waterpolonewzealand/streams
• Draw / Results: https://nzwaterpolo.org.nz/draws-and-results/nzss-division-2-cup-2025 
• Official Website: https://nzwaterpolo.org.nz/new-zealand-championships
• WPNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nzwaterpolo/
• WPNZ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nzwaterpolo/

Division 1 Championships

24-27 April 2025

The elite of NZ secondary school water polo converge in Rotorua and Tauranga from April 24–27 for the Division 1 Championships. A total of 27 teams will compete across two venues: Rotorua Aquatic Centre and BayWave TECT Aquatic Centre.

Key Teams to Watch:

• King’s College and St Cuthbert’s College arrive as Secondary Schools North Island Water Polo Championships winners and will be looking to carry that momentum into nationals.

• South Island powerhouses St Bede’s College and Marlborough Girls’ College claimed the 2025 Secondary Schools South Island Water Polo Championships titles and are serious contenders.

• Defending national champions Tauranga Boys’ College and St Cuthbert’s College will aim to go back-to-back.

Full Team Line-Up Includes: Aquinas College, Auckland Grammar, Baradene, Carmel, Christchurch Boys’, Diocesan, Epsom Girls’, Hamilton Boys’, King’s, Kristin, Marlborough Girls’, Palmerston North Girls’, Rangitoto, Rosmini, Sacred Heart, St Kent’s, St Bede’s, St Cuthbert’s, Tauranga Boys’, Western Springs, Westlake Boys’ and Girls’, and more.

Key Links:

• Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/@waterpolonewzealand/streams
• Draw / Results: https://nzwaterpolo.org.nz/draws-and-results/nzss-division-1-championships
• Official Website: https://nzwaterpolo.org.nz/new-zealand-championships
• WPNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nzwaterpolo/
• WPNZ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nzwaterpolo/
  

With passionate crowds, fierce rivalries, and school pride on the line, the 2025 New Zealand Secondary School National Water Polo Championships promises to deliver high-stakes drama from start to finish. Whether you're supporting from the stands or following online, get ready to witness the future of New Zealand water polo in action.