Ribbon Cut at Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre in Christchurch
- dale493
- 22 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Celebrating the Opening of New Zealand’s Largest Indoor Sport and Aquatics Facility
Christchurch's Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre is one step closer to opening to the public after a mihi whakatau and ribbon cutting ceremony was held on Tuesday 9 December.
Located in Central Christchurch between Moorhouse Ave and St Asaph Street, Parakiore will officially open to the public on Wednesday 17 December at 5.30am.
At 32,000 square metres, Parakiore is New Zealand’s largest indoor sport and aquatics facility. It includes a 50m competition pool, eight-lane dive pool, five hydroslides, a large aquatic leisure zone and a Sensory Aqua Centre designed for inclusive participation.
There are also nine indoor courts, including a three‑court Show Court with retractable grandstands for spectators, fitness and movement studios.
The facility also plays host to a High Performance Sport New Zealand hub and training base, featuring the Dame Sophie Pascoe Room which pays tribute to Aquablack #244 who is one of New Zealand’s greatest ever athletes, an eleven-time Paralympic gold medallist and New Zealand's most decorated Paralympian.
Speaking at the mihi whakatau and ribbon cutting ceremony, Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger said:
“Parakiore will stand for generations to come and be a place enjoyed by residents and visitors to our city alike. It is a place for people to come together, play, train, challenge themselves, and above all – have a lot of fun.”
Dale Johnson, Swimming NZ Head of Participation, Competitions & Engagement, believes the facility will be a great asset for all.
“The Parakiore Sport and Recreation Centre looks incredible, and will be an excellent facility for swimmers of all levels. It will host our fastest swimmers at national champs to a training centre for Canterbury clubs, kids learning to swim and the many Christchurch locals swimming for their health and wellbeing.”
The world-class facility will be the home of the 2026 NZ Short Course Championships, being held from 27 September to 1 October 2026, with the competition marking the first national championships in Christchurch since 2010.
Kate Griffiths, Swimming NZ Competition Manager, is excited for national competitions to return to the city in 2026.
“Having seen the pool on opening day, we can’t wait to host the 2026 NZ Short Course Swimming Championships there. We look forward to partnering with the team at Christchurch City Council to deliver quality racing and experiences for our members.”
In the meantime, Swimming Canterbury West Coast are relishing the opportunity their new facility brings, with two major regional long course championships on the horizon. They will hold their first regional long course championships in Christchurch in over 10 years from 23 - 25 January 2026, and also host the South Island Long Course Championships from 13 - 15 March 2026.
Swimming Canterbury West Coast's Operations Manager, Debbie Rahurahu, expressed her delight for the much-anticipated opening of Parakiore.
“After 14 years of anticipation, Swimming Canterbury West Coast is celebrating the long-awaited opening of the Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre, a new chapter for swimming in Aotearoa. This fantastic facility is already being hailed as the new jewel in New Zealand’s national swimming crown and for Swimming Canterbury West Coast swimmers, coaches, officials, and families, this is more than just a pool; it’s a game-changer.”
Rahurahu reflected on the impact of the new facility, and what it means for the swimming community.
“To finally stand inside Parakiore and see what’s been created is incredibly emotional. Our community has shown patience and resilience for so long, and now with the opening of this amazing new facility, our swimmers will finally have the chance to train and compete in their own 50m pool at home.”
The region is looking forward to welcoming swimmers from across the country to experience Parakiore.
“We can’t wait to welcome swimmers, coaches, officials and parents from every corner of the country to this fantastic new facility; to dream big, chase personal bests, medals, titles or records, and to celebrate and enjoy the sport we love.”
Ahead of opening to the public on 17 December, Parakiore is one of six venues across Christchurch that will host the Special Olympics National Summer Games. The swimming and basketball events will be held at Parakiore from 11 - 14 December.
Parakiore was built by Crown Infrastructure Delivery and is now owned and operated by the Christchurch City Council.
