World Champions In Our Backyard: Underwater Hockey Stars Set For Asia-Pacific Showdown

New Zealand’s underwater hockey athletes are quietly leading the world in a sport few people know even exists. At the 2024 CMAS Age Group Underwater Hockey World Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Kiwi youth teams claimed three gold medals and a bronze, outperforming traditional sporting powerhouses.

Next month, New Zealand’s top players return to Malaysia for the Asia/Oceania Intercontinental Championships (ICCs) — a key qualifier for the 2026 World Championships — and a chance to reaffirm our place at the top of this remarkable global sport.

Why It’s Not Just Another Sport

Underwater hockey is like nothing else in the pool — or out of it. It’s: Played on the bottom of the pool, using short sticks and a lead puck

A four-dimensional game: players navigate left–right, up–down, and must manage time underwater on a single breath

Silent and strategic: once submerged, players communicate entirely through movement and positioning

Self-substituted: athletes sub themselves in and out every 20–30 seconds, creating a constantly rotating, fast-flowing rhythm

Visually striking and physically demanding — yet gentle on joints and accessible to all fitness levels

A Sport for All Kinds of Players

What makes underwater hockey one of Aotearoa’s most inclusive sports?

Body type doesn’t matter: agility, awareness, and timing win over size or brute strength

Men and women often train and play together, especially at grassroots and club level

It’s low impact and high intensity, offering full-body fitness without the pounding of traditional contact sports

And it builds deep team trust through non-verbal coordination and shared effort

Whether you're a competitive swimmer, ex-water polo player or just someone looking to be part of a positive, tight-knit sporting community, there's a place for you here.

Auckland’s World-Class Talent Pipeline

Four elite Kiwi teams — Elite Men, Elite Women, Masters Men, and Masters Women — will represent New Zealand in Malaysia this August, competing against top-tier opponents from Australia, Singapore, China, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

Many of these athletes come from Auckland’s powerhouse clubs — Glen Innes Joes, Ninjas of Vancouver, and Pakuranga Sharks — and schools including Mahurangi College, MAGS, Epsom Girls’ Grammar, Glendowie College, Diocesan, and Howick College.

“This is a sport that rewards grit, strategy, and timing — all things Kiwis excel at,” says Emma Rae, Elite Men’s Head Coach. “We’re not just competitive; we’re leading the world. It’s time more New Zealanders knew.”

“It still feels surreal to be 19 and about to represent New Zealand at the Elite level for the second time,” says Phoebe Ata, a 2025 Elite Women’s player from GI Joes and Howick College alumna. “It all started with a love of swimming and the water — and a community that’s encouraged me every step of the way.”

Under the Radar — But Growing Fast

Despite world-class results, underwater hockey remains one of New Zealand’s best-kept sporting secrets. Players and clubs work hard to access pool time and build visibility, but the passion and participation are growing fast.

“Underwater hockey isn’t just a game — it’s a whānau,” says Logan Stevenson, President of Auckland Underwater Hockey. “It’s inclusive, fun, and incredibly rewarding. Once you try it, you’re hooked.”

About Underwater Hockey

Invented in the 1950s in the UK, underwater hockey (also known as Octopush) is now played in over 20 countries, with regular world championships across youth, elite, and masters levels. New Zealand is one of the top-performing nations globally, with a strong grassroots system and a growing youth development pipeline.

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