Christchurch’s Parakiore Aquatic Centre Set for Grand Opening

The highly anticipated Parakiore, New Zealand’s largest indoor sport and aquatic centre, is set to open its doors to the public on December 17, 2023. Located in central Christchurch, this $500 million multisport complex boasts an impressive array of facilities, including a 50-metre competition pool, a dive pool, five hydroslides, a large recreational pool, and a sensory aqua centre. Additionally, the centre features nine courts and serves as a training base for High Performance Sport New Zealand.

Before its public opening, Parakiore will host events for the Special Olympics National Summer Games from December 10 to 14. The centre will serve as the venue for swimming competitions and basketball matches. According to Nigel Cox, head of recreation, sports, and events for Christchurch City Council, it is fitting that the Special Olympics will be the first major event held at the new facility.

“They’ve got their swimming competition and basketball to be played out of here, with some demonstration sports as well,” Cox stated. “We’re expecting all their people will come here to watch, and it’ll be an amazing amount of spectators.”

The journey to Parakiore’s completion has been long, but Cox believes the wait will be rewarded. “Come to the opening day and you’re going to be amazed,” he said. “All that stuff will be forgotten, because this is just the best thing that’s going to happen to Christchurch.”

State-of-the-Art Facilities

Spanning 32,000 square metres, Parakiore offers something for everyone, from thrilling hydroslides to community courts. The complex includes a three-court space equipped with retractable grandstands, fitness studios, and even a circus studio. Staff members have expressed their excitement, with many overwhelmed by the size and features of the new centre.

“When we brought the staff in and welcomed them to start doing the testing, a lot of them were overcome,” Cox noted. “You’ve had those that knew before the earthquake the previous QEII, through to staff that have never known that, but just as they came into the space, it was so big and just going wow, this is so much bigger than they thought it was going to be.”

A Boost for Local Sports

The opening of Parakiore represents a significant milestone for Christchurch and its sporting community. Andrew Ellis, South Island manager for High Performance Sport New Zealand, expressed his excitement about the new facility. “I sort of grew up in Christchurch, with QEII as an asset—a jewel in the crown of our sporting world,” he said.

Ellis emphasized the importance of having a dedicated space that integrates various sporting and recreational activities. “That’s been missing for a long time, so to have that integrated approach to sport and recreation in this city, where everyone’s going to be in the same place connecting, it’s just going to be a game changer.”

The facility has been specifically designed to cater to high-performance training, featuring a gym, running track, and indoor throws cage, alongside offices for high-performance sport providers. Ellis added, “We have a legacy in Christchurch and Canterbury of producing some fantastic performers on the world stage. This is the next step of producing those athletes towards the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Brisbane 2032, and beyond.”

Parakiore was constructed by Crown Infrastructure Delivery and is now owned and operated by the Christchurch City Council. The project’s cost exceeded the initial budget by more than double, with the council’s contribution capped at $147 million. Construction began in 2018, and despite the challenges faced, the community eagerly awaits the grand opening of this state-of-the-art facility.