Swim in the City - Wai Kaukau o Kirikiriroa

Well, we don't have a metro in Hamilton...but we have plenty of other spaces where we could put a public heated outdoor swimming pool.

Swimming in the metro: Paris is reusing some abandoned subways as swimming pools.
Photo by © Manal Rachdi/Nicolas Laisne architecte

Sport Waikato are running a survey on Active Spaces,

See below for the link to the Sport Waikato survey. You can tell them what you think about the provision of outdoor swimming facilities in the central city.
"How can we help improve active spaces in your community? Take the five minute survey and tell us what you think!
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Take the survey now https://bit.ly/3vmMmMO
Your voice helps your Council to inform investment opportunities in the local play, active recreation and sport plans - so it's important that we hear what you think!"

Play, Active Recreation and Sport Local Plan - Community Survey Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

Here is an opportunity to tell HCC what you think of their services (including pools), and the quality of leadership from the council. The survey also asks you about the performance of your electricity lines company. Please take a minute to give objective feedback.

Resident Services Survey 2022 Have your say

Check out our new website. It is a work in progress so check back occasionally to see how it is growing. And let us know what you would like to see on the new website:

Home | Swim In The City The Hamilton Municipal Pools closed in late 2012 due to lack of maintenance by Hamilton City Council. Swim In The City - Wai Kaukau o Kirikiriroa is dedicated to preserving this historic city asset as an outdoor heated all-year swimming venue in the heart of the city.This beautiful image by Mark Was...

Here is a letter we sent to HCC councillors and key staff today asking them why they think the swimming needs of the city are adequately catered for:

17 October 2021
Hamilton City Councillors
CEO Lance Vervoort
Community Services Director Helen P**i

Dear City Councillors and staff
On September 23 Waikato Times ran an article regarding the future of the historic Municipal Pools on Victoria St, Hamilton (Waikato Times, https://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/waikato-top-stories/126458725/renewed-push-for-outdoor-riverside-pool-in-central-hamilton). Swim In The City is dedicated to ensuring that this site is returned to its use providing an outdoor heated public swimming pool for all the community in the heart of Kirikiriroa for generations to come.
We were surprised that in the article, Helen P**i of Hamilton City Council is quoted as saying that "Analysis indicates the city is meeting demand." This analysis is quite contrary to that given the 2017 Waikato Regional Aquatics Facilities Plan, which HCC participated in. Hamilton is listed as being highly deficient in all seven of its Priority Actions. The report identifies a need for an additional 1177 square metres swimming space (approx. 20 lanes). https://www.sportwaikato.org.nz/getmedia/b80bf18f-2594-4eba-9e16-0e7a77c7b4a2/Waikato-Regional-Aquatic-Facility-Plan-FINAL-VERSION.pdf.aspx?ext=.pdf
Can Ms P**i please advise the public what has changed since 2017 that has suddenly eased the shortage of lane space? Recent Facebook surveys by HCC asking where people swim and what they think of HCC pools reveal considerable dissatisfaction with the availability and range of HCC swimming venues:
https://www.facebook.com/HamiltonPools/photos/a.372059469494603/4599669246733583
https://www.facebook.com/HamiltonPools/photos/a.372059469494603/4599673320066509/
While we do not know how the new analysis is evidenced, we do know that Hamilton swimming clubs and private Learn To Swim providers have waiting lists because there is not enough lane swimming space in Hamilton. Many schools no longer provide swimming development, full swimming sports, or swimming incentive days. Schools that previously could walk or take the Orbiter bus to the Municipal Pools have to spend many thousands of dollars bussing their students to Waterworld for swimming lessons.
Partner Pools and School Pools provide only a few hours per week of public availability, if that. Privately run pools are not public pools and cater to only a small proportion of the swimming public.
Concentrating swimming facilities at Waterworld does not meet the goals of a 20-minute city.
There is a dire need of an outdoor heated public swimming pool in the heart of the city, within walking or cycling distance for the city’s highest concentration of schools, dwellers and workers.
We look forward to seeing HCC’s analysis that current demand is being met.
Best regards

Katherine Luketina
Spokesperson for Swim In The City

We want to make sure that our community has the chance to tell us how we can improve, write a comment below and let us know how we might improve on what we currently do.

Here is a recent Waikato Times article about the future of the Municipal Pools - thanks to the Times for communicating this community issue. We'll be responding regarding the inaccuracy of HCC manager Helen P**i's reported comment: "Analysis indicates the city is meeting demand." What do you think? Is HCC providing sufficient swimming facilities for your needs?

Renewed push for outdoor riverside pool in central Hamilton The battle for an outdoor public pool in Hamilton's CBD has been reignited.

The University of Waikato is doing a survey on how people feel about the concept of the 20 minute city. It takes about 10 minutes and you can go into the draw for a prize. You can tell them whether or not access to sporting facilities such as pools are your priority. Take the survey here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc9Yg9M9BckwqWDno5CdnYZ2hkJs2utzX3ejiH_gG8H2XBYHg/viewform?fbclid=IwAR3Nd5wy3tL8Vjnu3GrrTVS7ZqcAQv15BG_DmPIB6j5N5ze1jXfFPKtmyZ4

A short survey on living locally in Aotearoa New Zealand Nau mai, haere mai. This survey aims to understand how much time, and how, you are willing to travel to access services and amenities. The survey takes 5-10 minutes. It is up to you if you wish to take part. If you start and change your mind, you can stop at any time. Your responses are confidential...

Here is a great article on why swimming is good for your brain. We hope you get to go swimming soon.https://ideas.ted.com/swimming-brain-boost-science/?utm_content=2021-9-01&utm_campaign=social&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&fbclid=IwAR3z7xFDgckfU0h8PzGH_IQ0MwBSC6aj5cC9zdyoj4LUqJXO8pXGXIwyewk

The fountain of youth hasn’t been found — but swimming may come close A growing body of research suggests that swimming provides a unique boost to our brain health. Neurobiologist Seena Mathew explains what scientists know — and what they’re still figurin…

Swim In The City have been working on a new vision for the Municipal Pools site. Below is the Jean Drapeau pool complex, Montreal, cheekily transposed to the Municipal Pools site. If you like what you see, make a comment on the HCC Pools website that you would like a comprehensive swimming complex in the city. HCC is asking people what they think about local swimming facilities. The link to their Facebook survey is here: https://www.facebook.com/HamiltonPools/photos/a.372059469494603/4599673320066509/