Annual Report

On behalf of the Board and management team, we are pleased to present this report for the 2025-2026 year. It has been a year that has tested our resilience, but it has also shown the strength, depth and generosity of the swimming community across New Zealand.

Governance and Leadership

The Board has continued to keep the 2028 Strategic Framework at the centre of its work. During the year, Board meetings continued to focus on strategic alignment, financial sustainability, risk, health and safety, membership protection, participation, inclusion and performance.

A key feature of the year has been balancing ambition with careful stewardship. The organisation has operated in a more difficult funding environment, including a reduction in high performance funding following the Paris Olympic cycle and the conclusion of the Apollo Projects principal partnership. The Board and management team have responded by maintaining strong budget discipline, while continuing to deliver high-quality national competitions, athlete and coach support and enabling our top swimmers to compete successfully on the international stage.

The ongoing modernisation of the governance framework has also remained important. Work on the Constitution and related club and regional templates has supported compliance with the Incorporated Societies Act and helped provide clearer governance expectations across the wider swimming network.

The Board also acknowledges the value of the Athlete Leadership Group and the organisation's continued focus on athlete voice, wellbeing and positive team culture. These remain central to our commitment to providing a safe, diverse and inclusive environment for all.

Participation and Competition

The year has reinforced the importance of a competition pathway that caters for swimmers at every stage, from grassroots and junior participation through to national championship racing and international selection.

The 2026 Junior Festivals were a clear example of the pathway working well. Across four zones, 1,152 swimmers aged 12 and undertook part, with nearly 57% of swims resulting in personal bests and 3,957 personal bests achieved. These events continue to provide a positive and enjoyable entry point into national-level competition and strongly support the strategic focus on attractive events and more people competing more often.

At the other end of the domestic competition calendar, the 2026 NZ Swimming Championships attracted record numbers, with more than 425 swimmers and more than 50 multi-class athletes competing. This was a particularly encouraging sign of growth and inclusion and provided the final qualification opportunity for several major international events.

Open water also continued to grow as an important part of the participation and competition pathway. The 2026 NZ Open Water Swimming Championships in Taupō and the Secondary School Open Water Championships at Lake Tikitapu showed the strength of the discipline and the opportunity to connect swimming with outdoor, community-based experiences.

Performance and Coaching

The international performance pathway continued to show encouraging depth. In the second half of 2025, New Zealand swimmers featured strongly across the World Aquatics Championships, World Para Swimming Championships, World Junior Championships and the World Cup series. The results included World Para medals, World Cup medals, national records and strong top-16 performances.

The 2025 World Para Swimming Championships were a particular highlight. Gaby Smith won silver on the opening day, while Cameron Leslie added two silver medals later in the meet. These results reinforced the value of the para pathway and the importance of maintaining a fully integrated approach to para and able-bodied swimmer development.

The World Cup series also demonstrated the continued international relevance of our senior athletes, with Erika Fairweather, Caitlin Deans and Cameron Gray among those delivering medals, personal bests and New Zealand records across the North American legs.

In 2026, the domestic championship season provided a strong platform for selection. At the conclusion of the NZ Swimming Championships, 51 swimmers were named across four New Zealand teams for Para Pan Pacific Championships, Pan Pacific Championships, Junior Pan Pacific Championships and World Junior Open Water Swimming Championships. A 13-strong squad was also selected for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, reflecting both established excellence and emerging depth. The results of the games will be covered in next year's Annual Report!

The launch of Aquablacks Project B32 and the National Youth Programme was an important strategic step. By bringing together swimmer, coach and parent education, camps, recognition, performance tracking and long-term development, the programme directly supports the ambition of building toward LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032.

Coach development also remained a priority. SWIMCONZ provided a valuable national platform for professional development and connection, and offered SNZ an opportunity to communicate its new coach and athlete development pathway programmes, led by Wayne Goldsmith and David Llyes, respectively.

Disability, Inclusion, Wellbeing and Integrity

The growth of multi-class participation was one of the most positive themes of the year. More than 50 multi-class athletes competed at the 2026 NZ Swimming Championships, the highest number recorded in New Zealand history. This aligns closely with our commitment to accessible and equitable opportunities and to fully integrated para and able-bodied pathways.

International para development opportunities also strengthened. A New Zealand Paralympic pathway development team competed at the 2026 Para Swimming World Series on the Gold Coast, recording 13 best times from 25 swims and gaining or renewing international classification. In Japan, a six-strong team returned with six medals from the Para Swimming World Series in Fuji-Shizuoka, with all team members gaining international finals racing opportunities.

These outcomes show that the para pathway is not only producing medal-winning performances, but also building the experience, classification status and confidence required for future cycles.

Membership, Volunteers and Recognition

Swimming continues to rely heavily on the contribution of volunteers, officials, coaches, administrators, clubs, regions and parents. The year provided many opportunities to recognise that service.

We recognised 29 members of the community through its 2025 Recognition Awards, including Service Awards, Distinguished Service Awards and Exemplary Service Awards. Marlene Morrison was also awarded Life Membership in recognition of more than 40 years of service to swimming across club, regional and national levels.

Special mention to Shirly Mackay (Auckland) who was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit and Keith Bone (Hawkes Bay Poverty Bay) and Marlene Morrison (Canterbury/West Coast) who were both awarded a King's Service Medal, all for services to swimming in the King's Birthday Honours.

Technical officials also continued to represent New Zealand with distinction internationally, including appointments and experiences at the World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships and World Para Swimming Championships. Their contribution supports the quality, fairness and professional delivery of the sport.

Financial Stewardship and Sustainability

Financial stewardship remained a central Board responsibility. The 2025-2026 financial year was shaped by reduced revenue, inflationary pressure and ongoing investment in high performance, education, competitions and member support.

Swimming New Zealand reported total revenue of $XX for the year ending 30 June 2026, compared with $4.61 million the previous year. Total expenses were $XX, resulting in a net deficit of $XX. While the deficit was anticipated and carefully managed, the result reinforces the need to keep building sustainable revenue streams and to continue strengthening our commercial approach.

The Board acknowledges the work of the Audit and Risk Committee and management team in maintaining strong oversight during a challenging financial period. The organisation remains focused on ensuring that resources are directed toward activities that best support the strategic plan: participation growth, quality competitions, high performance outcomes, safe and inclusive environments, and member value.

Conclusion

We thank the Board, management team, staff, regions, clubs, coaches, technical officials, volunteers, athletes and partners for their commitment during the year. We will continue to make decisions that are consistent with our values: accountability, excellence, collaboration and care. Our responsibility is to lead with discipline and ambition, support our members, and ensure swimming remains a sport for all and a sport for life.

Swimming New Zealand has faced real challenges, but the year has also shown the strength and potential of the sport. There is growing depth across the pathway, a strong culture of service, and a clear strategic direction to guide the work ahead.

Together, we will continue to build a swimming system that gives more New Zealanders the opportunity to enjoy the water safely, compete positively, and perform with pride on the national and international stage.

Debbie Pattullo, Chair    Steve Johns, CEO