Christchurch’s Parakiore to Host NZ Short Course in 2026
- dale493
- Oct 6
- 4 min read
Announcement of the National Championships in Christchurch in 2026
We are thrilled to announce the next of our dates and locations for the 2026 competition calendar.
Swimming NZ and Christchurch City Council are proud to partner together to deliver the 2026 NZ Short Course Swimming Championships at the new Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre in Christchurch.
The championships will be held during the first week of the Term 3 school holidays, as outlined in the Competition Review recommendation, with racing to be held between Sunday 27 September – Thursday 1 October 2026.
It marks the first time that a national swimming championships will be held in Christchurch since the earthquakes, ending a period of 16 years since the city last hosted Swimming NZ competitions in 2010.
Christchurch City Council’s Head of Recreation, Sport and Events, Nigel Cox, says bringing competitions back to Christchurch is a ‘huge win for the city.’
“We’re thrilled to be hosting Swimming NZ at Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre. Having this exciting event in our backyard is not only a boost to our local athletes and sports fans but will also have a positive impact for the whole city.”
The championships have been well attended in recent years, with more than 720 swimmers competing at the 2025 version held in Auckland last month.
The format of age timed finals during the morning sessions and open age finals in the evening have been incredibly popular for promoting fast racing in recent years. The 2026 championships promise to attract the best swimmers aged 13 years and over from across the country and surrounding nations to converge on Christchurch for an exciting week of racing.
To provide further action not to be missed, the 2026 championships will also be a key competition in the selection of our New Zealand team for the 2026 World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) to be held in Beijing in early December.
Swimming NZ’s Head of Participation, Competitions & Engagement, Dale Johnson, says the return of national championships to Christchurch is crucial for the sport.
“It’s an exciting day for the sport as we announce these NZ Short Course Swimming Championships to be held in Christchurch. The opening of this facility, which includes a 50m pool, is a significant boost for swimming and our clubs in Christchurch, and hosting national championships enables us to showcase everything our sport has to offer and will be the catalyst for further participation growth in the region.”
Swimming NZ’s Competitions Manager, Kate Griffiths, is looking forward to hosting the first national championships in Christchurch since the earthquakes.
“We can’t wait to work with the Christchurch City Council and host the 2026 NZ Short Course Swimming Championships at the brand-new facility of Parakiore. It will be the first time Swimming NZ has hosted a national championships in the city since 2010.”
Cox anticipates benefits for the local economy as a result of hosting national championships.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for the city to host travelling athletes and their supporters. Parakiore is just a stone’s throw from some of the best cafes and restaurants Christchurch has to offer, as well as many other local attractions. Christchurch is the NZ capital of cool.”
Swimming Canterbury West Coast’s Operations Manager, Debbie Rahurahu, believes that it’s a monumental day for the region.
“It’s been a long time since our region saw our top swimmers compete at a national championships in Christchurch. This announcement marks a special day in the delivery of swimming in Christchurch and the Canterbury West Coast region.”
Johnson took the opportunity to thank those involved in confirming the championships will be hosted in Christchurch.
“We are very grateful for this partnership with Christchurch City Council with them supporting us as a Competition Partner. A lot of work over the years has gone into establishing this partnership and it’s a special day to see this become official ahead of hosting national championships there again from 2026. We believe this to be the start of long-term partnership that is beneficial for all parties.”
Construction of Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre is nearing completion. Parakiore will be open to the public in late 2025.
The criteria for the championships (eg: information book, schedule and qualifying times) will be released and announced in the coming weeks.
Key Details
2026 NZ Short Course Swimming Championships
Dates: 27 September - 1 October 2026
Location: Parakiore Sport and Recreation, Christchurch
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