Water Polo NZ says it has not received “any formal complaints from players in relation to allegations of bullying or favouritism”.
However, Water Polo NZ chair Alex Howieson said last night that the organisation became aware towards the end of 2025 of concerns – “raised directly with me by some players” – in relation to other matters.
She would not specify what those concerns and matters were, but said they were passed to the commission “to seek guidance”.
Separately, another public agency, High Performance Sport NZ, was called in to help arrange a debrief/review of last year’s world championship campaign.
That debrief – conducted by performance consultant and former All Blacks manager Darren Shand – was completed in December and is now in the hands of Water Polo NZ.
Additionally, HPSNZ said it had been made aware by Water Polo NZ in January “of issues relating to the relationship between a small group of players and the coach”.
It said it was not made aware of any allegations around bullying or selection favouritism.
Water Polo NZ has declined to release Shand’s report to the Herald, but its board has said it has “full confidence” in its executive and coaches.
Do you know more? Please email Shayne Currie in confidence – shayne.currie@nzme.co.nz
Troubles on tour
The New Zealand women’s water polo team has a new moniker – the White Caps, another play on the range of nicknames for New Zealand’s national sporting teams (think All Blacks, Black Ferns, All Whites, Black Caps, Silver Ferns, and White Ferns).
“The name reflects a growing sense of identity, pride, and professionalism within the programme,” said a Water Polo NZ press statement last year.
But as nautically minded readers will know, white caps can also signify choppy seas.
There are high hopes that the New Zealand women’s team will be the first ever Kiwi water polo squad to qualify for the Olympics, especially now that the Games will take 12 women’s teams at Los Angeles.
The next Olympics will be held in Los Angeles in 2028 following the Paris Games in 2024. Photo / AFP
In the water, the White Caps performed creditably on last year’s tour, including at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, finishing 10th overall and therefore within the range of Olympic qualification.
Out of the water, however, a rift appears to have developed between some older and younger members of the squad.
There was one alleged act of physical violence, and concerns about an alleged lack of support for players.
“There was no safe place,” claimed one source.
It had got to the point that some parties had serious fears for the mental health and well-being of some athletes.
‘Mindful of our duty of care to both players and staff’
Women’s senior coach Angie Winstanley-Smith referred the Herald to Water Polo NZ chief executive Jan Shearer.
Water Polo NZ performance coach Barbara Kendall – a 1992 Olympic gold medal boardsailor – said it was not for her to say what was in Shand’s report, also referring the Herald to the organisation’s executive and board.
“With any team that’s going overseas, there’s always going to be things that go well and things that don’t go well,” said Kendall.
“That’s just how it is, and you learn from those, and then you move forward. That’s how you learn, and that’s how you get better.”
Water Polo NZ chair Alex Howieson initially declined to answer the Herald’s specific questions about allegations of bullying, selection favouritism, and other serious claims.
On Tuesday, she pulled out of a pre-arranged interview with the Herald four minutes beforehand.
Instead, she sent a statement that said the organisation had “contacted” the commission “as part of standard good-practice processes that support athlete wellbeing, organisational capability and the ongoing development of high-performance sport”.
Water Polo NZ chair Alex Howieson.
“As a fast-growing national sporting organisation with limited resources, Water Polo New Zealand has proactively sought guidance from the Sport Integrity Commission, alongside High Performance Sport New Zealand and Sport New Zealand, to ensure our systems, policies and practices continue to meet expected standards as our programmes evolve,” she said in the statement.
Howieson, an HR professional, said Water Polo NZ had “clear safeguarding policies, codes of conduct and reporting pathways”.
“Any concerns raised are taken seriously and managed through these frameworks. We are mindful of our duty of care to both players and staff, and of the importance of managing sensitive matters responsibly, fairly and through appropriate processes.”
Last night, she sent a further statement after the Herald learned that Water Polo NZ had briefed club chairs in a nationwide teleconference call about potential media coverage.
She said that the concerns that she had heard from players last year “were taken seriously”.
“…we have already begun strengthening our systems, policies, and partnerships to further embed athlete wellbeing into both decision‑making and governance.
“The well-being of our players, coaches, volunteers, management, and staff is paramount.”
The commission’s investigation comes in the wake of concerns about several other sports in recent years, including cycling and boxing.
TVNZ’s 1 News revealed this month that the commission was investigating Boxing NZ and a head coach after allegations of bullying, harassment, and a “boys club” culture, which had caused top athletes to quit.
The commission was established after the death of Olivia Podmore, 24, in 2021. Podmore’s death by suspected suicide followed years of systemic bullying and isolation within Cycling NZ after she inadvertently exposed an athlete-coach affair. An independent inquiry found that medal success had been prioritised over athlete well-being.
WPNZ CEO: ‘I am aware of some matters’
Water Polo NZ chief executive Jan Shearer.
One source told the Herald that the Sport Integrity Commission’s inquiries into the Water Polo NZ allegations to date were wide-ranging and ongoing.
The Herald has confirmed an investigation is under way, although some parties have yet to be interviewed.
The commission itself declined to answer specific Herald questions or even confirm that it is involved.
Water Polo NZ chief executive Jan Shearer – another Olympic sailing medalist – said she was unaware of a commission investigation. “I don’t know anything about it.”
Herald: “Are you aware of any concerns that have been raised about the women’s programme/ the senior women’s team?
Shearer: “Yes, I am aware of some matters, but that’s as far as it goes.”
Herald: “And do those matters involve allegations of bullying?”
Shearer: “Not that I’m aware of.”
Herald: “What are the matters that you’re aware of?”
Shearer: “I’m unable to disclose that.”
Herald: “When were you made aware of those matters?”
Shearer: “Look, I don’t really have anything further to add.”
Barbara Kendall said she was not in a position to talk about any allegations – she did not know what they were.
“It’s not my position to say anything because I don’t know what those allegations are, and [where] it’s coming from.
“Everyone’s digging up stuff. I mean, look what’s happened to netball, what’s happened to the hockey players, what’s happened to the football players, what’s happened to rugby just recently.
“You’re going to get changing of guards. You’re going to get people who don’t agree with other people’s coaching styles.
“They’re going to get all sorts of things – people just don’t agree. It’s part of sport, it’s part of business, it’s part of life, and it’s definitely part of high-performance sport.
“High-performance sport is a tough gig to be in for anybody – you’re getting pushed to all sorts of limits and all sorts of places. That’s high-performance sport, and you’ve got to be mentally tough.
“I can’t judge or make any comment on individuals or anything, but as a whole and in high performance, you have to be agile, you have to be resilient, you have to be respectful.”
New Zealand has never had a water polo team compete at the Olympics. Photo / Getty Images
‘Full confidence’
Howieson said Water Polo NZ’s board had “full confidence in our management and coaching staff”.
“We are proud to work with experienced, internationally recognised coaches and support personnel who are committed to athlete development and wellbeing as we work toward our long-term goal of qualifying New Zealand’s first water polo team for the 2028 Olympic Games.
“We are grateful for the ongoing support of our athletes, clubs, volunteers and the wider water polo community as we continue to grow the sport and pursue our Olympic ambitions.”
Water Polo NZ was awaiting feedback from the commission. To date, it had not been contacted for further information. “Should that occur, we will provide our full cooperation.”
She also confirmed the organisation had “engaged” communications and PR support.
Do you know more? Please email Shayne Currie in confidence – shayne.currie@nzme.co.nz
Sport Integrity Commission
The publicly funded Sport Integrity Commission declined to answer specific Herald questions about its work with Water Polo NZ.
“We don’t typically respond to specific questions about complaints or investigations – or confirm if a complaint or investigation is ongoing,“ said a spokesperson in a statement.
“This is because we are legally required to protect the privacy of those involved (particularly complainants) and preserve the integrity of the process.
“Our role is to make sport and recreation safer and fairer in Aotearoa New Zealand.
“Anyone can contact us to report an integrity issue in sport or recreation. We treat well-being as a priority. We support anyone involved in a complaint we’re handling through access to free and independent counselling from a third-party provider.”
High Performance Sport NZ
Sport NZ CEO Raelene Castle. Photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz
Sport NZ Group chief executive Raelene Castle confirmed a debrief about last year’s world championships campaign had been completed by Shand for Water Polo NZ – understood to be a normal process and best practice to identify any issues.
“WPNZ has shared the report with High Performance Sport New Zealand in confidence, and we are unable to release the debrief or any details,” said Castle.
She said HPSNZ was confident that WPNZ was aware of the concerns that had been raised in the debrief “and are working on a plan to understand the detail of the specific issues”.
“We will be updated on progress.”
HPSNZ had not received any request for assistance from the commission. “We have no oversight of any investigations that it may be undertaking.”
Editor-at-large Shayne Currie is one of New Zealand’s most experienced senior journalists and media leaders. He has held executive and senior editorial roles at NZME including managing editor, NZ Herald editor and Herald on Sunday editor and has a small shareholding in NZME.