National recognition for Te Pou Toetoe: Linwood Pool

A year after opening, Te Pou Toetoe: Linwood Pool has won the Outstanding Pool category at the 2022 New Zealand Recreation Awards.

Christchurch’s newest pool was recognised for its focus on minimising barriers and encouraging diversity through innovative design and a community-led approach.

The awards are presented across 11 categories and acknowledge the value recreation brings to communities.

Te Pou Toetoe features New Zealand’s first, purpose-built, all-season indoor manu pool which has proven a major drawcard, especially for children and young people.

It also features accessible design to cater for a wide variety of users and offers a popular weekly women's session and monthly youth nights with a focus on fun and socialisation through recreation.

“The community-led approach at Te Pou Toetoe:Linwood Pool has been very successful. It’s an example of working closely with the community through the planning and design phase to deliver great outcomes,” says Christchurch City Council Head of Recreation, Sport and Events Nigel Cox .

“Te Pou Toetoe was community-led from the start and we worked hard to ensure their voices were heard in the design.  A majority of participants are from the local area and it has a real community feel and that’s what we want to achieve with each community pool. Receiving the Outstanding Pool Award for Te Pou Toetoe:Linwood Pool is great recognition.”