65 teams set to battle it out at the Secondary Schools North Island Water Polo Championships

The stage is set for some exciting action at the Secondary Schools North Island Water Polo Championships, where schools from across the North Island will battle it out in the Division 1 and Division 2 competitions for the coveted titles.

The Division 2 Cup starts in Auckland on Saturday 22 March, with the Division 1 Championships following next week from Thursday 27 March.

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

Division 2 Cup

22 – 25 March 2025

This year’s competition will feature 42 teams, with 20 in the Girls Division, 14 in the Boys Division and 8 in the Mixed Division. The competition will take place across four venues – St Cuthberts, Diocesan, Sacred Heart and West Wave – with the four day tournament kicking off on Saturday 22 March, culminating in finals at St Cuthbert's Aquatic Centre on Tuesday 25 March.

As the tournament progresses, there are several teams to keep your eye on…

• In previous years, Glendowie College has been dominant in the Boys/Mixed Grade, securing the 2024 runner-up spot and taking home gold in 2023. Now competing in the stand alone Mixed Division, will they continue their strong form, or will another team step up and take the title?
• In the Boys Division, Mount Maunganui College is looking to defend their 2024 title, But with Aquinas College, back-to-back bronze medallists (2023 & 2024), in the mix, the battle for gold is set to be fierce. 
• In the Girls Division, Samuel Marsden has been knocking on the door for years—will 2025 be their golden year?

Key Links:

• Draw / Results: https://nzwaterpolo.org.nz/draws-and-results/niss-division-2-cup-2025
• Official Website: https://nzwaterpolo.org.nz/north-island-championships
• WPNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nzwaterpolo/
• WPNZ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nzwaterpolo/

Division 1 Championships

27 – 30 March 2025

This year’s competition will feature 23 teams, with 12 in the boys division and 11 in the girls division. The competition will take place across four venues – Diocesan, St Cuthberts, National Aquatic Centre and Sacred Heart – with games kicking off from Thursday 27 March, and finals taking place on Sunday 30 March.

As the tournament progresses, there are several teams to keep your eye on…

• Defending champions Tauranga Boys' College and St Cuthberts College are back, determined to defend their titles and recreate their golden performances from 2024.
• Sacred Heart College (boys division) and Rangitoto College (girls division) will be teams to watch after their standout victories at the North Island Junior Championships last year—expect them to be right amongst the action.

Key Links:

• Draw / Results: https://nzwaterpolo.org.nz/draws-and-results/niss-division-1-championships-2025
• Official Website: https://nzwaterpolo.org.nz/north-island-championships
• WPNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nzwaterpolo/
• WPNZ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nzwaterpolo/