Club rivalries return as men's 2025 Suzuki National Water Polo Club League kicks off

The men's 2025 Suzuki New Zealand National Water Polo Club League kickstarts this weekend, bringing together six of New Zealand’s top clubs for two months of competitive water polo.

This league plays a big role in the New Zealand national pathway, giving current New Zealand squad members crucial game time and providing a platform for up-and-coming players to test themselves at the highest domestic level. With experienced teams, new faces, and club rivalries on display, the 2025 season is shaping up to be a good one.

Who’s playing?

This year’s men’s division features six clubs:

• Canterbury
• Hutt
• Marist
• North Harbour
• Sea Wolf (new men’s side for 2025)

• Tauranga (defending champions)

Teams will play each other home and away in a double round-robin format. Then, it all wraps up with finals weekend in Tauranga on 28–29 June, where every team will be in the mix.

Things to watch this season:

There’s plenty of intrigue heading into the 2025 Suzuki New Zealand National Water Polo Club League men’s competition. Here are some of the key storylines and developments to keep an eye on as the season unfolds:

• Chasing Four Straight Titles – Tauranga Men come into the season as the team to beat. After lifting the trophy in 2022, 2023, and 2024, they’re now chasing a rare four-peat. With several national squad players in the lineup and a solid coaching setup, they’ll be looking to set the tone early and remind everyone why they’ve been so dominant.
• A New Contender – the addition of a men’s team from Sea Wolf is one of the most interesting developments this year. As the club makes their return to the men’s league, it will be exciting to see how they match up against the more established clubs in the league. 

• Shifting Dynamics Across the League – other clubs like North Harbour and Marist aren’t just here to make up the numbers — both have strong player rosters and deep histories in New Zealand water polo. Expect tight matches and potential upsets, especially as teams settle into form over the first few rounds. Canterbury and Hutt also bring plenty of grit and have shown they can push the top teams when it counts.

Locations & key dates:

Games will be played across the country in Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington (Lower Hutt), and Christchurch – we encourage you to come along and support the teams in person if a game is in your area. Make sure to check out key competition dates:

• Round robin: 3 May – 22 June
• Finals weekend: 28–29 June, Tauranga

Follow the action:

• Draw / Results: https://nzwaterpolo.org.nz/draws-and-results/suzuki-nz-national-water-polo-club-league-2025
• Official Website: https://nzwaterpolo.org.nz/suzuki-nz-national-water-polo-club-league
• WPNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nzwaterpolo/
• WPNZ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nzwaterpolo/

With a strong mix of established talent and emerging players, this season’s Suzuki New Zealand National Water Polo Club League promises plenty of great matchups and tight contests. Whether you're supporting from the stands or tuning in online, there’s plenty to look forward to.