Christchurch & Invercargill set to host thrilling Secondary Schools South Island Water Polo Championships

The countdown is on for an exciting four days of action the Secondary Schools South Island Water Polo Championships, where schools from across the South Island will face off in the Division 1 Championships and the Mixed Cup, all vying for the prestigious titles.

The Division 1 Championships will kick off in Christchurch on Thursday, March 27, while the Mixed Cup begins in Invercargill on the same day.

Below, we highlight key things to look out for as the competition approaches.

Division 1 Championships

27 – 30 March 2025 · Christchurch

Christchurch is set to be home to four exhilirating days of action at the Division 1 Championships, where 21 schools from across the South Island will battle it out for the prestigious title of South Island Secondary School Champions.

This year’s competition will feature 10 teams in the Boys' division and 11 teams in the Girls' division, with the athletes facing off in a series of exciting matches, culminating in a thrilling finals on Sunday 30 March. The competition will be held at Jellie Park and Taiora QEII, with matches starting Thursday, March 27th.

As the tournament heats up, here are some of the powerhouse teams to keep an eye on:

• Girls’ Division: Watch out for the Marlborough Girls' College team, who were crowned the Division 2 NZ Secondary School Champions in 2024. The Cantabrians are also strong contenders, with Villa Maria leading the local Canterbury competition for 2025. But don't forget about Rangi Ruru, St Margaret’s College, and St Hilda’s Collegiate, who are always in the fight when it matters most.

• Boys’ Division: Christchurch Boys’ High School and St Bede’s College are the teams to beat, but don’t discount the competition from Shirley Boys High School, and the ever-dangerous King’s High School, who are sure to be in the mix.

Canterbury Water Polo have proudly organised and are delivering this tournament for our South Island water polo community.

Follow the Action:

• Draw / Results: see here 
• Official Website: https://www.canterburywaterpolo.org.nz/secondary-school-water-polo-1/siss-championships
• Canterbury Water Polo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/canterburywaterpolo/
• Canterbury Water Polo Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CanterburyWaterPolo

Make sure to check out Canterbury Water Polo's Instagram, where matches will be live streamed.

Mixed Cup

27 – 30 March 2025 · Invercargill

The inaugural South Island Mixed Cup kicks off on Thursday 27 March, welcoming schools from across the South Island to Invercargill. With this division making its debut at a South Island event, we are excited that this year’s competition will feature 6 teams. Splash Palace will be home to the four day competition, with finals taking place on Sunday 30 March.

We are thrilled to be returning to Invercargill for the first time in many years, marking a significant milestone for Water Polo New Zealand. The competition promises to be even more exciting this year as we celebrate the return of a Water Polo New Zealand event to Invercargill and crown the inaugural South Island Mixed Cup winners!

We are proud to be working with Southland Water Polo to provide this competition for our South Island Water Polo community.

Follow the Action:

• Draw / Results: https://nzwaterpolo.org.nz/draws-and-results/siss-cup-2025
• Official Website: https://nzwaterpolo.org.nz/south-island-championships
• Southland Water Polo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waterpolosouthland/
• WPNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nzwaterpolo/
• Southland Water Polo Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100028285315665
• WPNZ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nzwaterpolo/