New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern officially opens Hawke's Bay Regional Aquatic Centre

With its long-course 50 metre pool described as “a game changer for competitive swimming”, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has officially opened the new $32 million Hawke's Bay Regional Aquatic Centre.

Speaking at the opening today, Prime Minister Ardern stated “this is a world class facility which will be able to host national and international events including the world championships. With a 10-lane Olympic pool, training pool, hydrotherapy centre and seating capacity of up to 1,662 people, this is a facility that Hawke’s Bay and New Zealand can be proud of."

Developed through a partnership between the Hawke’s Bay Community Fitness Centre Trust (HBCFCT) and Crown Infrastructure Partners and built by Apollo Projects, New Zealand’s newest indoor aquatic complex was completed on time and with additional facilities incorporated due to an innovative procurement and contracting approach.

Bruce Mactaggart, HBCFCT Founding Trustee - who led the design and construction of the project - said the Centre is “even bigger and better than originally planned”.

With its 10-lane 50 metre FINA World Championship/Olympic standard pool, capable of being split into two 25 metre competition pools by using a moveable bulkhead and also houses another 25 metre learn-to-swim/warm up pool, Mactaggart said the initial scope originally planned for the project was delivered under budget, enabling the addition of two hydrotherapy pools which will be available for rehabilitation and therapeutic applications, as well as being used by athletes for recovery and coaching purposes.

Mactaggart noted “in the current climate, it is a significant achievement that, working alongside our partners at Apollo Projects, we have been able to finish the complex on time and within budget; and so, have been able to add extra features such as the hydrotherapy centre.

“Our aquatic offering is now unparalleled in New Zealand and is specifically designed as a deep-water pool to enhance our ability to host many different sports, including water polo and canoe polo, in addition to major national and international swimming events.

A suite of multipurpose rooms has also been added which can accommodate meetings, conferences and which will support the hosting of major events in the region.

The completion of the aquatic centre, designed and built by Apollo Projects, boosts the investment in sport, recreation and wellbeing facilities created by HBCFCT to over an $85 million investment, all achieved in just over six years since the charity was founded.

Apollo Project’s Executive Director and Chief Executive, Paul Lloyd added “it has been an absolute privilege working alongside Bruce and the HBCFCT team to deliver this incredible facility. Apollo has a close connection to aquatic sports, so the completion of this new world-class aquatic facility is something we are very proud of.

“The aquatic facility is a fantastic showcase of everyone’s hard work, and we are delighted to hand over this project without any delays or cost blowouts, which is a great outcome when you consider the current challenging construction environment. On behalf of the Apollo team, we would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has been involved; the strong partnerships and high levels of trust have been key to this project’s success.”

In 2016, the HBCFCT’s founding Chair Sir Graeme Avery and Mr Mactaggart announced their vision to enhance the health and lifestyles of Hawke’s Bay people through the provision of world-class sport and health facilities, community-based outreach programmes, research, and education.

Since then, the Trust has opened the EIT Institute of Health & Sport multi-purpose facility with a community gym and high-performance strength and conditioning gym, indoor athletics track, a basketball/netball court, education classrooms and meeting rooms, specialist sports health clinic (which includes physiotherapy, sports medicine practitioners and imaging services).

Recently, a further extension to the main sports hall has been completed along with a 72-bedroom accommodation hostel.

The project was funded through the New Zealand Government’s COVID Infrastructure Recovery Fund.

Images: The new faciity and scenes from today's opening of the Hawke's Bay Regional Aquatic Centre. Credit: Apollo Projects Ltd/Simon Cartwright Photography.