Resolve the issue. Protect the game.
Most issues are best resolved early and directly. When that isn't possible, Auckland Water Polo applies its Constitution, applicable Bylaws and the dispute-resolution requirements of the Incorporated Societies Act 2022.
AWP's aim is to have as many people as possible playing water polo in a positive environment. Sometimes disagreements or breaches of rules occur — and when they do, the goal is to resolve them fairly and at the right level.
Not every disagreement needs to become an AWP matter. The policy starts by directing issues to the organisation best placed to resolve them.
Start in the right place.
Between individuals.
Start with your own club. Disputes between individuals should usually be raised and resolved at club level first.
Between clubs.
Clubs should first try to resolve the issue directly. If that doesn't work, AWP can step in.
See the process →About a referee.
Referee complaints follow a specific process and must be lodged promptly after the game.
See the process →From a game or rule breach.
Game disputes and alleged breaches of AWP rules are handled by AWP under the breach process.
See the process →About Auckland Water Polo.
You can also raise a complaint about AWP, its decisions, conduct, processes or the way a matter has been handled.
See how to lodge it →Try to resolve it first.
The policy expects clubs to make genuine efforts to resolve a dispute between themselves, verbally or in writing. AWP does not necessarily need to be involved at that stage.
Talk first.
The clubs make reasonable efforts to resolve the issue directly.
Advise AWP.
If resolution isn't reached, one or both clubs advise AWP that a dispute exists.
Neutral panel.
Where the inter-club process applies, AWP may convene a judiciary panel of at least three representatives from clubs not involved in the dispute. Any decision-maker must also satisfy the Constitution and natural-justice requirements.
Written statements.
Both clubs provide written statements and may be asked to meet the panel to clarify matters.
Resolution.
The panel considers the matter and determines an appropriate resolution, including warnings or sanctions if required.
Put the complaint in writing.
Where a club is alleged to have breached AWP rules, the complainant must make a written complaint to Auckland Water Polo.
AWP reviews.
AWP discusses the alleged breach with the club involved and, where necessary, the complainant.
Was there a breach?
AWP determines whether a breach of the relevant rules has occurred and whether a judiciary panel is required.
Action is determined.
AWP management may determine the appropriate action, or where the matter requires it, a neutral judiciary or disciplinary panel may be convened. Any formal decision must comply with the Constitution, applicable Bylaws and the Incorporated Societies Act.
30 minutes matters.
For game-day disputes covered by the competition disputes process, the complaint must be lodged with the Pool Controller within 30 minutes of the end of the game. It must be in writing and passed to AWP electronically or in hard copy.
Competition disputes should be sent to the Competitions Manager. AWP then deals with the matter under the applicable competition disputes and constitutional processes.
Raise it quickly. Put it in writing.
If a club wishes to raise a complaint about a referee under the referee complaints process, it needs to be lodged within 30 minutes of the game ending and submitted in writing through pool control.
The purpose of the complaint process is not to re-referee the game. It is to identify and review a specific concern about referee conduct, application of the rules, or an incident that requires formal consideration.
Tell us what happened.
Include the competition, teams, date, venue, game time and the referee involved.
Be specific.
Describe the decision, conduct or incident you are concerned about. Include the approximate time in the game and any relevant context.
Provide supporting information.
Where available, include video, photographs, match records or the names of people who can help clarify what occurred.
Pool control records it.
The complaint is lodged with pool control within the required timeframe and then passed to the appropriate AWP referee process.
Independent referee review.
The written complaint is passed to the Referee Working Group.
A panel of three neutral referees reviews the complaint.
The panel determines whether the complaint is upheld and may seek further information where required.
If upheld, the panel determines the appropriate response or follow-up.
If you are at the venue, speak to pool control before leaving. Then lodge the written complaint online using the button above, making clear which game and referee the complaint relates to.
You should be able to speak up safely.
Auckland Water Polo will handle disputes and complaints as carefully and discreetly as reasonably possible. Information should only be shared with the people who need it to receive, assess, investigate or determine the matter.
Personal information and complaint details should be treated sensitively and shared only where necessary for the process to operate fairly.
A person should not be disadvantaged, intimidated or treated unfairly because they raised a genuine concern or participated in a complaints process in good faith.
If the person who would normally receive the complaint is involved in the matter, use the alternative contact identified on this page so the concern can be handled independently.
A person raising or responding to a complaint may ask for appropriate support during the process, subject to the requirements of a fair and orderly review.
AWP cannot promise complete anonymity or absolute confidentiality. Natural justice may require enough information to be provided to the person or organisation complained about so they have a fair opportunity to respond. Where that is necessary, AWP should limit disclosure to what is reasonably required for the process.
Use the right contact.
Different matters are handled by different people. This includes complaints about Auckland Water Polo itself. Sending your complaint or dispute to the right contact helps AWP respond quickly and avoids unnecessary delays.
Contact the Competitions Manager.
Competition disputes, including game-related competition matters, should be lodged with the AWP Competitions Manager.
Contact the Competitions Manager →Send to the Chair.
Other formal disputes and complaints — including complaints about Auckland Water Polo, its conduct, decisions or processes — should be lodged with the Chair of Auckland Water Polo.
chair@aucklandwaterpolo.co.nzSend to the Secretary.
If your dispute or complaint concerns the Chair, do not send it to the Chair. Lodge it directly with the Secretary instead.
secretary@aucklandwaterpolo.co.nzFair process applies to everyone.
Because the Constitution adopts the Schedule 2 framework, formal disputes and complaints need more than a decision — they need a fair process.
Put the complaint in writing.
A member or officer may make a complaint by giving written notice to AWP or the relevant complaints body.
Both sides are heard.
The complainant and the person or body complained about must have a reasonable opportunity to provide their position before an outcome is determined.
The decision maker must be impartial.
A person should not decide a complaint where there are reasonable grounds to doubt their impartiality or ability to approach the matter without a predetermined view.
AWP can choose the right process.
A matter may be investigated internally, referred to a subcommittee or external person, or — with agreement — handled through mediation, facilitation or another consensual process.
Under the Schedule 2 framework, AWP may decide not to proceed where a complaint is trivial, unsupported, outside the material scope of the rules, already dealt with, brought by someone with an insignificant interest, or made after undue delay.
The people deciding the issue shouldn't be part of it.
Neutral clubs.
The judiciary panel is made up of representatives from clubs that are not involved in the dispute or alleged breach.
At least three.
The policy requires a minimum of three club representatives when an AWP judiciary panel is convened.
Neutral referees.
Referee complaints are reviewed by a panel of three neutral referees through the Referee Working Group process.
Where you appeal depends on who made the decision.
The appeal pathway moves through the appropriate level of the sport. Start with the decision you received and move to the next available review level.
Club decision
A decision made by a club may be appealed to Auckland Water Polo where the matter falls within AWP's jurisdiction or applicable competition and dispute processes.
AWP management decision
An appeal from an AWP management decision should be lodged with the AWP Chair. The Chair determines the appropriate next step, including whether the matter should be considered by the Board or whether a Disciplinary Committee panel should be convened.
AWP Board or DC decision
A decision made by the AWP Board or an AWP Disciplinary Committee panel may be appealed to Water Polo New Zealand under its applicable disciplinary and appeals process.
External appeal
Once the relevant AWP and Water Polo New Zealand appeal processes have been exhausted, an eligible sports-related dispute may be referred to the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand.
The written outcome should identify who made the decision and, where applicable, the next review or appeal route. If you are unsure which pathway applies, contact the AWP Chair before lodging the appeal.
The Constitution comes first.
Clause 16 of the Auckland Water Polo Constitution adopted on 19 February 2025 requires AWP to resolve disputes and complaints in accordance with the Constitution and the dispute-resolution procedures in Schedule 2 of the Incorporated Societies Act 2022, except where an applicable AWP Bylaw provides otherwise.
Competition-specific and operational processes continue to apply where they are consistent with the Constitution, current Bylaws and the Act. If there is any inconsistency, the Constitution and applicable law govern.
Start with the right process.
Competition disputes should be lodged with Fabian. Other formal disputes and complaints should be lodged with the Chair. If the matter concerns the Chair, lodge it with the Secretary instead. Referee complaints continue to use the dedicated referee complaint process above. AWP will handle concerns as discreetly as reasonably possible and will not tolerate retaliation against someone who raises a genuine concern in good faith.
Find your club contact.
For a dispute between individuals, contact your own club first. You can email the club directly from here without leaving this page.
North Harbour Water Polo
Water polo / academy enquiries
Close this panel and continue through the AWP disputes and complaints page. The process below explains when and how Auckland Water Polo becomes involved.