NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIPS

2026 Event

Tournament Dates/Locations:

• Division 1 Championships - 9-12 April - Auckland (Girls/Boys)
• Division 2 Cup - 3-6 April - Wellington (Girls/Boys/Mixed)

Competition Information:

• 2026 General - Competition Manual (.pdf document)

          Rules & regulations consistent across all national competitions

• NZSS Division 1 Championships - Competition Manual (.pdf document)

          Rules & regulations specific to NZSS Division 1 Championships

• NZSS Division 2 Cup - Competition Manual (.pdf document)

• Competition Resources     

Competition Draws & Schedule:

NZSS Championship Div 1

• Available here (external link)

NZSS Cup Div 2

• Available here (external link)

Important Documents

H&S Forms

• NZSS Division 1 (.pdf document)
• NZSS Division 2 (.pdf document)

Key Dates:

Team Entry:

Entries Open: 27 November 2025
Entries Close: 20 February 2026
Team Entry Fee: $2300

There is a two-step entry process:

1. Submit your team entry via Friendly Manager. This does not commit your team to participation.
   Friendly Manager - Walkthrough Guide (.pdf document)

2. Confirm or withdraw your entry by 23 February 2026.
   Confirmed entries cannot be changed or withdrawn without financial penalty. We recommend waiting until all 2026 eligibility rules and guidelines are finalised and shared with schools to confirm your entry, in case changes need to be made. 

Composite teams must complete an application form (details below) due 24 January 2026.

Team Changes & Withdrawals
Teams may withdraw or adjust entries without penalty until 23 February (unless confrimed). Schools unsure of division placement or awaiting dispensation outcomes are encouraged to enter now and include notes where needed.

Entry Priority (if capacity is reached)

1. First team from a single school

2. Composite team*

3. Second team from a single school
   *Applicable to Division 2/Cup-tier events only.
   If two teams have the same priority level, the earlier entry will take precedence.
   

Check your team entry below

• NZSS Division 1 (.pdf document)
• NZSS Division 2 (.pdf document)

Team and Player Eligibility:

• NZ Secondary School Sport Eligibility Regulations (external link)

Composite Teams

The composite team application form can be found at the School Sport NZ Eligibility link above.

Composite team applications are due 30 days prior to the entry closing date.

Competition Review:

During 2024 NZWP has been working with stakeholders to review our systems and processes for all competitions. We have identified that our pools/venues and Referees are under significant pressure, and our competitions need to adjust. As you will notice above, we have separated Division 1 and 2 to different dates (sometimes cities) to combat this growing pressure.

For 2025, we are introducing an EOI system. This will assist our planning to ensure our pool bookings are accurate and that we can service our schools.

Entry Expression of Interest

Filling out the EOI is not confirmation of your entry, but an indication only. In early 2025 we will formally open entries, with priority going to schools that have filled out the EOI. Fees will not be due until formal entries close and teams are accepted.

Schools who do not fill out the EOI may not be able to enter the competition, if a division is fully subscribed.

Friendly Manager

NZWP will be fully integrating these competitions to Friendly Manager, our member management and competition system. Based on the information provided in the EOI form, we will build your school and login in this system.

From 2025, team entries and player lists, will be submitted via Friendly Manager.

History

NZSS started in 1986 with the girl's tournament held in Christchurch and the boy's tournament in Auckland. 

Prior to this, the only secondary schools' competition was an inter- provincial event dominated by Wellington and Canterbury with Auckland and Waikato often winning.

NZSS however has increased both the numbers of players and water polo status as a school sport as schools have been a captive membership largely untapped until 1986.

PREVIOUS RESULTS