Kids get ready to dive into lessons at new Taiora: QEII

Excitement is building for children in the eastern suburbs with registrations for swimming lessons at the new Taiora: QEII centre opening soon.

The $38.6 million Taiora: QEII Recreation and Sport Centre is due to open on 31 May so the public can enjoy the facilities over Queen's Birthday Weekend.

Designed with input from the community, its multiple attractions include a hydroslide with walls at up to 90 degree angles, a 25-metre lap pool with a movable floor, a water adventure playground, a leisure pool with a lazy river channel, fitness centre, spin room and a spa and sauna.

Learn to swim lessons will be available at QEII from 5 June.

The complex will mark the welcome return of a major swimming and fitness centre to the eastern suburbs after the original earthquake-damaged QEII Centre, which was built on the same site to host the 1974 Commonwealth Games, was demolished in 2012.

Registrations for Learn to Swim lessons at the QEII centre open today for existing customers and 14 May for the general public. Lessons will start from 5 June. School bookings for swimming lessons are already in and confirmed for the rest of the year.  

Chisnallwood Intermediate Principal Justin Fields says he hopes the new facility will improve the swimming skills of not only his school’s 600 pupils but all of the community.

“Having a new complex so close by will save on the transport costs we currently pay for our students to get to swimming lessons. I think they’ll be really excited when the new QEII Park centre opens its doors.”

While Rawhiti School already has its own swimming pool on site, Principal Liz Weir says it will use the new facility as a place for school “trips and treats”.

“QEII is very close to us, it’s only about 900 metres away from the school, and we will make full use of it where we can,” she says.

“I know outside of school our children will really enjoy using it. We feel really strongly that anything that’s a positive new development in the east like this one is going to benefit all of our families and it’s a real morale boost for the community.”

Christchurch City Council Head of Recreation, Sports and Events John Filsell says it will be great to have the new centre open and providing a valuable service to the community.

“We all know how important it is for children to access swimming lessons so they can be safe in the water. The more opportunities for them to get into a pool and have fun, gain confidence and learn new skills the better it is for Christchurch.”

Taiora: QEII Recreation and Sport Centre will open at the end of May with swimming lessons starting on 5 June.