Water Polo: Weather could change venue for Water Polo at the Waterfront

Loui Schuler plays some water polo in the Tauranga Harbour in preparation for this weekend's tournament. Photo / George Novak

The fate of Tauranga's inaugural Water Polo at the Waterfront event rests on the weekend's weather conditions.

After more than a month of dry weather, Tauranga has had some rain which is expected to continue through the weekend. Organisers were initially concerned the weather would force them to cancel the event but with the heaviest rain forecast for Friday, they are now confident it will still go ahead and at it's original venue in the Tauranga Harbour.

However, Danny Kayes, who is one of the driving forces behind the event, says a final decision on whether to move the tournament to their Plan B location at Windermere will be made this afternoon.

A total of 120 water polo athletes are registered for this weekend's fast-paced, all-action tournament that is planned to be held in an 18m by 13m makeshift pool roped off by the tidal steps inside the Tauranga Harbour beside The Strand.

One of the organisers of Water Polo at the Waterfront, Danny Kayes. Photo / George Novak

Twelve teams from Rotorua, Wellington, Waikato, Auckland and Tauranga will play eight-minute halves with non-stop games between 9am and 7pm on Saturday and between 9am and 4pm on Sunday.

Water polo athlete Cameron Hayes was looking forward to this weekend's event, playing with his Tauranga-based Piranha team. However, after suffering a shoulder injury on Wednesday he was no longer able.

The 23-year-old who has been playing water polo for about 14 years would still be at the tournament though, supporting his teammates and the event that he hopes will showcase the sport to a wider group of people.

"It's a good way to show the sport around Tauranga," Hayes said.

Hayes said having it run similar to a sevens rugby competition, as a fast-paced and shorter version of a regular water polo match, would show the physicality and the action involved with the sport.

"It's certainly about attracting people down to the event to see what it's all about."

He says a good mix of athletes are taking part including new and old players, some of New Zealand's top athletes and those who were coming out of retirement. He says it will be an exciting event to watch and hopes it goes ahead as planned this weekend.