Auckland Water Polo.
The regional organisation for water polo across Tāmaki Makaurau — governed on behalf of our member clubs and supported by a small operational team.
Auckland Water Polo is an incorporated society representing seven member clubs across the Auckland region.
Our role, principles and the way we work with our community are set out separately in The Way We Work Together. This page is about the organisation itself — our history, structure, governance and the people responsible for its work.
The way we work together →A regional organisation built around Auckland’s club water polo community.
Water polo has been part of Auckland sport for more than a century. The regional organisation developed from the Auckland Swimming Centre, becoming the Auckland Water Polo Centre in 1984 before incorporating as Auckland Water Polo in 2017. Alongside that journey, clubs formed and evolved, new aquatic venues opened, and major events helped shape the game across Tāmaki Makaurau.
Men's water polo begins in New Zealand.
Men's water polo is being played in Christchurch, with the first club established there. Auckland follows as the sport begins to develop in other centres.
Auckland Women's Water Polo League forms.
A newly formed Women's Water Polo League is operating in Auckland, showing that the women's game was already organised in the region in the early twentieth century.
Water polo develops within Auckland swimming.
As the sport grows in Auckland, water polo operates within the Auckland Swimming Centre before later becoming an autonomous regional organisation.
Auckland Water Polo Centre is established.
The Auckland Water Polo Centre becomes the autonomous regional body for water polo in Auckland, with its own Board and governance separate from the Auckland Swimming Centre. The organisation continues under the Auckland Water Polo Centre name until incorporation in 2017.
Mt Wellington–Panmure Water Polo Club is founded.
Mt Wellington–Panmure Water Polo Club is established, playing out of the Panmure Basin Pool and Newmarket.
Glenfield Aquatic Club is founded.
Glenfield Aquatic Club is established on Auckland's North Shore, calling Glenfield Leisure Centre home.
Marist Water Polo Club is founded.
Marist Water Polo Club is established, becoming part of Auckland's growing club network.
Waitakere City name adopted.
Mt Wellington–Panmure Water Polo Club changes its name to Waitakere City Water Polo Club to reflect its home at the Pool Complex in Henderson.
Pan Pacific Youth Water Polo Festival is founded.
The Pan Pacific Youth Water Polo Festival is founded by Chris Hayward, creating a major youth water polo event in Auckland and bringing teams together for competition and development.
North Harbour Water Polo Club.
Glenfield Aquatic Club is renamed North Harbour Water Polo Club.
Sacred Heart College Aquatic Centre opens.
The Sacred Heart College Aquatic Centre opens, adding another important water polo venue to Auckland's aquatic network.
NorthSport Water Polo.
North Harbour Water Polo Club becomes NorthSport Water Polo when it comes under the Millennium Institute umbrella.
Millennium Institute opens.
The Millennium Institute of Sport and Health (MISH) opens in Mairangi Bay, creating a major aquatic and high-performance venue on Auckland's North Shore.
Mountfort Park Aquatic Centre opens.
The Mountfort Park Aquatic Centre opens in Manurewa. The facility now operates as the Manurewa Pool and Leisure Centre.
Mountfort Park Water Polo Club is founded.
Mountfort Park Water Polo Club is established, creating another important club pathway for players and communities in South Auckland.
North Harbour name returns.
NorthSport Water Polo returns to the North Harbour Water Polo Club name. The club has grown to become the largest water polo club in New Zealand.
Diocesan School for Girls Aquatic Centre opens.
The Diocesan School for Girls Aquatic Centre opens, adding another important central Auckland venue for training and competition.
Hibiscus Coast Water Polo Club is founded.
Hibiscus Coast Water Polo Club is established, extending Auckland's club network further north and creating another local pathway into the game.
Margaret Beale Aquatic Centre opens.
The Margaret Beale Aquatic Centre at St Cuthbert's College opens, further strengthening Auckland's aquatic infrastructure.
AUT Millennium and the National Aquatic Centre.
The Millennium Institute of Sport and Health (MISH) is renamed AUT Millennium, and the Sir Owen G. Glenn National Aquatic Centre opens, adding a major international-standard aquatic venue to Auckland's water polo infrastructure.
Atlantis City is founded.
Atlantis City Water Polo and Aquatics Club is established and becomes part of Auckland's expanding regional water polo community.
Sea Wolf is founded.
Sea Wolf Water Polo Club is established, adding another club pathway and community to Auckland water polo.
Auckland Water Polo incorporates.
The Auckland Water Polo Centre becomes an incorporated society, marking the transition to Auckland Water Polo as the formal regional organisation and establishing its constitutional governance framework.
Waitakere Water Polo Club.
Waitakere City Water Polo Club adopts its current name, Waitakere Water Polo Club.
Seven clubs. One regional organisation.
Auckland Water Polo represents seven member clubs across Tāmaki Makaurau and supports the governance, administration, development and delivery of the regional game.
Auckland water polo has been shaped by its clubs, its people, the places they play and the events they have created. Each club has its own history, identity and community — together they form the regional game Auckland Water Polo exists to support.
Member clubs. Board. Operations.
The organisation is accountable to its member clubs, governed by its Board and supported by its operational team.
Member clubs
Seven Auckland clubs make up the membership of Auckland Water Polo and participate in the organisation through its constitutional processes.
Board
The Board is responsible for governance, oversight and the strategic direction of the incorporated society.
Operations
A small operational team manages the day-to-day delivery and administration of Auckland Water Polo.
Our team and Board.
The operational team manages the day-to-day work of AWP, while the Board provides governance and oversight on behalf of the organisation's member clubs.
Fabian
Responsible for the operational delivery of Auckland Water Polo and working with clubs across the region.
Lee
Provides administrative support across AWP activities, communications and regional operations.
Matthew Southerden
Chair
Andrew Churches
Referee Representative
Kevin Ellyett
Secretary
Stephen Bell
Treasurer
Fred Oloapu
Director
Paul Doyle
Director
Sam Perry
Director
Anna Scott
Director
Charlie Veal
Director
Richard McGechie
Director
Anita Fitzgerald
Director
Chris Hayward
Life Member — 2019
Colin Bright
Life Member — 2018
Constitution, policies and organisational resources.
Find the formal documents that govern Auckland Water Polo and support the operation of the organisation.
View resources →Purpose, principles and expectations.
For how AWP approaches decisions, works with clubs and shows up for the community, head to The Way We Work Together.
The way we work together →