Auckland children swim for free but adults have to pay

Auckland (and former Manukau) Mayor Len Brown's policy of extending free entry to children 16 and under at all Auckland Council's 24 swimming pools means Manukau adults will lose their free swimming program and will now have to pay $3.10 per visit.

The new charges were revealed in draft operating guidelines for the free swimming for children policy that will operate from April next year.

In May, Mayor Brown had to abandon plans to extend the former Manukau City Council's free swimming at five pools to those across the now unified Auckland Council area. However, allowing free swimming for those aged 16 and under was backed.

Council staff have now reported on how the policy will be implemented with policy analyst Anita Coy-Macken saying charges for adults 17 years and older would be based on existing charges, or the lowest equivalent charge in the council pool network where there was currently no charge, as in Manukau.

Currently, the lowest swimming charge for adults is at Massey Park, Papakura, which charges $3.10 per entry. Charges for adults at other pools are as high as $6.90.

Charges will also still apply to all for entry to spas, saunas, hydra slides, diving boards, steam rooms and to use special play equipment.

Entry would be free for school groups to book space on school days between 9am and 3pm and for children's groups during standard hours.

Councillors were told the child-free policy would not apply to Newmarket Pool, where the lessee sets fees and charges, or to facilities where the council is a partner but does not set the prices.

Adults supervising a child would be classed as a spectator and pay the lowest network price, which might be $1.

Auckland has 24 pools with three further facilities to be built in the next eight years in the suburbs of Otahuhu, Albany and Ormiston. 

Image: Swimmer at Auckland's Tepid Baths.

27th June 2012 - AUCKLAND MAYOR CONFIRMS FREE POOLS FOR KIDS

5th June 2012 - AUCKLAND’S TEPID BATHS SET FOR 23RD JUNE REOPENING 

11th April 2012 - FREE SWIMMING LESSONS TO REACH 37,000 AUCKLAND CHILDREN

13th January 2012 - WATER SAFETY CAMPAIGN TARGETS HIGH MAORI DROWNING RATES

20th May 2011 - MANUKAU SWIM PROGRAM DELIVERS 200,000 FREE LESSONS 

4th April 2011 - AUSTSWIM TRAINING LAUNCHES IN NEW ZEALAND 

20th August 2010 - MANUKAU SPORTS CLUBS CAPITALISE ON CLUB SMART PROGRAM

3rd May 2010 - MANUKAU SWIM INITIATIVE EARNS NATIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARD

15th December 2009 - FREE SWIMMING: AN END OR A BEGINNING?

4th November 2009 - SCHOOL SWIMMING POOL CLOSURES RISING 

27th May 2009 - NOT ENOUGH POOLS TO STAY AFLOAT 

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