National Award Winners

CELEBRATING SUCCESS IN AND OUT OF THE POOL

The NZWP National Awards is an annual event that lets us recognise exceptional performance and contribution within the water polo community.

2023 NZWP NATIONAL AWARD WINNERS

Finalists: full list available here (.pdf document). Winners: full list available here (.pdf document)

A huge thank you to our sponsors: The Tindall Foundation, The Stream Shop, Benefitz, John Matthews & Associates, AUT Millenium, Delfina Sport, Premium Real Estate, Suzuki NZ, KAP7, Trophy Specialists & Engraving

Volunteer of the Year presented by Delfina Sport – Kathryn Doy (Waitakere)

Referee of the Year presented by John Matthews & Associates Emma Wilson

Rookie Coach of the Year presented by Benefitz – Isabella Jacka (Marist)

Coach of the Year presented by The Stream Shop – Justin Pickering (Sea Wolf / Sacred Heart College)

Player (Female) of the Year presented by Suzuki NZ – Bernadette Doyle (North Harbour)

Player (Male) of the Year presented by The Tindall Foundation – Cole Phillips (Manawatu)

Team (Female) of the Year presented by Premium Real Estate – Waiariki Tamahine U14 (Rotorua)

Team (Male) of the Year presented by The Tindall Foundation – Sacred Heart Premier

Fair Play Award presented by Trophy Specialists & Engraving – Sarah Gollan (Harbour City)

Outstanding Flippa Ball School presented by KAP7 – Tahatai Coast School Papamoa

Club of the Year presented by Premium Real Estate – Hawke's Bay Water Polo


NZWP Life Membership 
presented by TAB – Slim Potter (Rotorua)

NZWP Life Membership presented by TAB – Russell McKinnon

NZWP Distinguished Service Award – Megan Thomson (Hutt)

NZWP Service Award – Alastair Hulbert 

2022 PREMIUM REAL ESTATE NZWP NATIONAL AWARD WINNERS

Volunteer of the Year presented by Benefitz – Megan Brown (NHWP)

Referee of the Year presented by John Matthews & Associates – Sam Wylie

Rookie Coach of the Year presented by Trophy Specialists & Engraving – Emily Drage (Waitakere)

Coach of the Year presented by The Tindall Foundation – Chelsea Geary (NHWP)

Player (Female) of the Year presented by Delfina Sport NZ – Emmerson Houghton (Marist)

Player (Male) of the Year presented by Delfina Sport NZ – Bae Fountain (Tauranga)

Team (Female) of the Year presented by Premium Real Estate – NZ U18 Youth Women (New Zealand)

Team (Male) of the Year presented by Premium Real Estate – Canterbury U21 (Canterbury)

Fair Play Award presented by The Tindall Foundation – Sarah Chambers (Harbour City)

Outstanding Flippa Ball School presented by The School Uniform Centre – St Heliers School

Club of the Year sponsored by Premium Real Estate – Marist Water Polo Club

NZWP Life Membership – Aleisha Clarke (Otago)

NZWP Distinguished Service Award – Rahiti Teokotai White (Waikato)

2021 PREMIUM REAL ESTATE NATIONAL AWARD WINNERS

Coach of the Year presented by The Tindall Foundation – Rahiti Teokotai-White (Waikato)

Rookie Coach of the Year presented by Trophy Specialists & Engraving Ltd – Lachie Griffiths (Manawatu)

Referee of the Year presented by The StreamShop – Ryan McEwan (Marist)

Volunteer of the Year presented by Benefitz – Chris Jarvis (Marist)

Team of the Year (male) presented by KAP7 New Zealand – Hamilton Boys High School Premier

Team of the Year (Female) presented by KAP7 New Zealand – Seawolf U16 Black

Player of the Year (Male) presented by Delfina Sport NZ – Matt Lewis (Marist)

Player of the Year (female) presented by Delfina Sport NZ – Katie McKenty (NHWP)

2019 PREMIUM REAL ESTATE NATIONAL AWARD WINNERS

Coach of the Year presented by Sky Sport Next – Lionel Randall

Rookie Coach of the Year presented by Hershell Food Ltd – Roana Paterson

Referee of the Year presented by The Business Advisory Group – John Waldow

Fair Play Award presented by New Zealand Water Polo – Athletes and Staff at FINA World Champs, Gwangju

Team of the Year (male) presented by The Tindall Foundation – Marist Magic Men

Team of the Year (female) presented by The Tindall Foundation – North Harbour Hammerheads

Player of the Year (male) presented by SMB Legal – Matt Lewis

Player of the Year (female) presented by Delfina Sport NZ – Bernadette Doyle

Volunteer of the Year presented by Digital Masters – Laura Hammond

Club of the Year presented by Premium Real Estate – North Harbour Water Polo

Outstanding Flippa Ball School presented by New Zealand Water Polo – Campbells Bay School

2018 PREMIUM REAL ESTATE NATIONAL AWARD WINNERS

Coach of the Year presented by The Business Advisory Group – Angie Winstanley-Smith

Rookie Coach of the Year presented by Hershell Food Ltd – Gabryel Oloapu

Referee of the Year presented by New Zealand Water Polo Foundation – David Couper

Fair Play Award presented by MG Marketing – Waitakere U14 Boys

Team of the Year (male) presented by Tindall Foundation – North Harbour Maroon U14

Team of the Year (female) presented by Tindall Foundation – North Harbour Senior Women

Player of the Year (male) presented by SMB Legal – Matt Bryant

Player of the Year (female) presented by New Zealand Water Polo – Morgan McDowell

Volunteer of the Year presented by Wove Ltd – James Ross

Club of the Year presented by Premium Real State – Canterbury Water Polo

Outstanding Flippa Ball School presented by Wove Ltd – Mt Carmel School

2017 PREMIUM REAL ESTATE NATIONAL AWARD WINNERS

Coach of the Year presented by The Business Advisory Group – Kurt Goldsworthy

Rookie Coach of the Year presented by New Zealand Water Polo – Thomas Jones

Referee of the Year presented by New Zealand Water Polo – John Waldow

Fair Play Award presented by Premium Real Estate – Regan Taylor

Team of the Year (male) presented by Tindall Foundation – Marist Senior Men

Team of the Year (female) presented by Tindall Foundation – Waitakere Senior Women

Player of the Year (male) presented by New Zealand Water Polo – Matt Small

Player of the Year (female) presented by Video Pro Audio Visual and Digital Signage – Emmerson Houghton

Volunteer of the Year presented by Delfina Sport – Megan Brown

Club of the Year presented by Premium Real State – Marist Water Polo Club

Outstanding Flippa Ball School presented by New Zealand Water Polo – Diocesan School for Girls

2016 PREMIUM REAL ESTATE NATIONAL AWARD WINNERS

Coach of the Year presented by Barfoot & Thompson – Matt Payne

Rookie Coach of the Year presented by Selini Estates – Rahiti Teokotai-White

Referee of the Year presented by Designsource – Jamie Campbell

Fair Play Award presented by Premium Real Estate – Jake Lockwood

Team of the Year (male) presented by Tindall Foundation – North Harbour Senior Men

Team of the Year (female) presented by Tindall Foundation – Marist Senior Women

Player of the Year (male) presented by Barfoot & Thompson, Remuera – Jasmin Kolasinac

Player of the Year (female) presented by Buddle Findlay – Nicole Lewis

Volunteer of the Year presented by Delfina Sport – Helen Collins

Club of the Year presented by New Zealand Water Polo – Mountfort Park

Outstanding Flippa Ball School presented by Delfina Sport – Māori Hill School - Dunedin


Life Membership 
presented by New Zealand Water Polo – Craig McGuinness

Service Award presented by New Zealand Water Polo – Matt Payne

Honours Award presented by New Zealand Water Polo – Davor Carevic



2025 NZWP Registrations!