Hawkes Bay Water Polo began at St Joseph's school pool in 2021 with half a dozen primary/intermediate schools. A committee of around 10 awesome volunteers have since grown the sport to over 400 participants. We are based now at the amazing new Hawkes Bay Regional Aquatic Centre which has allowed our team to further grow this new sport in the bay. Our aim is to create a platform where anyone of any ability can come and learn this amazing team sport. Water Polo is a terrific game which enhances aquatic awareness and terrific team camaraderie.

Our Mission:

Our mission is profound yet simple: to provide a welcoming platform for individuals of all skill levels to experience the thrill of water polo. Beyond being an exhilarating team sport, water polo cultivates aquatic awareness and a profound sense of camaraderie among participants. We also take pride in our commitment to instilling water safety awareness within athletes and their families, recognizing its essential role.

Milestones Achieved:

• Term 1 of 2023 witnessed an astounding participation of over 450 individuals in our water polo community.
• Term 2 of 2023 celebrated close to 600 participants, spanning a diverse age range from 8 to 61.
• Term 2 & 3 of 2023 we reached maximum capacity in our school leagues.
• Our initiatives include diverse school leagues, catering to Primary through High School levels.
• Our social league for players aged 16 and above has captured the attention of both seasoned players and newcomers. Most of which are parents wanting to give it a go after watching their children play.
• In July we hosted our first International Event, where the New Zealand and Australia Youth
• Water Polo teams went head to head in a test series.
• Our U14 representative teams wore the HBWP logo with pride at our first ever tournament away. Girls placed 4th and the boys placed 5th.
• We are incredibly excited to send our first-ever regional teams to represent Hawkes Bay at the forthcoming National Competition, an event that unites clubs from all corners of New Zealand.
• As part of our developmental approach, our athletes will engage in regional competitions with local clubs to sharpen their skills for year-end challenges.

Community and Volunteers:

Our successes rest upon the shoulders of 11 remarkable volunteers, including a dedicated chairperson. These selfless individuals champion our local leagues and contribute to our Development Officer's efforts in cultivating future talents. The sense of community we've fostered in such a brief period is truly extraordinary, and the momentum continues as our leagues and teams expand. Water polo now stands as the fastest growing sport in the Hawkes Bay region