The new build of the Gisborne District Council’s most used recreational facility in the Tairāwhiti region provides fully accessible aquatic facilities that are modern and fit for purpose. The project will improve user experience, community participation in aquatic recreation, and increase the number of people learning how to swim.
| Funding Programme | Infrastructure Reference Group |
| Project Owner | Gisborne District Council |
| Infrastructure Type | Community facility |
| IRG Funding | $40 million |
| Co-funding | $6 million |
| Total Project Cost | $46 million |
| Project Completed | November 2023 |
Kiwa Pools has three inside pools, a 50m x 20m pool with moveable floor, a leisure and toddlers’ pool, and a learn-to-swim/hydrotherapy pool.
Sir Derek Lardelli worked with Architecture HDT and Apollo Projects to ensure cultural narrative was woven into the design of Kiwa Pools.
Apollo Projects executive director Paul Lloyd said: “Our vision was to create more than just a pool.
“We wanted to build a place where families could gather, kids could learn to swim and friendships could flourish. Kiwa Pools is more than concrete and water; it’s a hub of connection and wellbeing.”
The name Kiwa Pools was gifted by the kaumatua of Ngai Tāwhiri Hapu.
Government funding of $40 million enabled the building of the pools, with the council contributing $6m.
Additional external funding enabled the inclusion of a hydrotherapy pool, while solar panels on the roof contribute to sustainable operations.
