For many people in Ōtaki, the local pool is much more than a place to swim. It is where children develop lifelong water safety skills, whānau spend time together, and the community comes together to stay active and connected.
Ōtaki Pool is busier than ever, with annual visits increasing from around 47,000 to 73,700 over the past three years. Demand for learn-to-swim, Kauora, water safety and community programmes also continues to grow.
What's happening
On 3 September 2026 Council approved an additional $5.1 million to move ahead with stage 2 of the redevelopment of Ōtaki Pool, enabling a more modern and versatile facility for the growing Ōtaki community.
The additional funding takes the total stage 2 investment from $11.1 million to an estimated $16.2 million and will come from within Council’s capital works programme.
Stage two of the redevelopment includes:
- moving the main entrance and changing rooms from the south end of the pool to the west side (beside the tennis club)
- building a new reception area to keep wet and dry areas separate, and add more retail space
- replacing the ageing heating system so the pool uses less energy
- upgrading water treatment and filtration equipment
- extending and updating the plant room
- splitting the existing 33-metre main pool to create a warmer 32 degree learn-to-swim and programme pool alongside a standard 25-metre lane pool (both with accessible ramps)
- a new deep-water manu pool
- an updated toddlers pool
- a new sauna and spa pool
- creating a bus park area at the south end with its own entrance
- larger changing rooms for big groups like schools
- a multi-purpose community room
- new shade cloths above the splashpad.
The redevelopment will occur in stages over two-years. We are aiming to have construction start in early 2027. Final timing will be confirmed once the main contractor has been appointed.
- Building consent - submitted and waiting approval
- Procurement - September to December 2026
- Establish site and early works – February / March 2027 (pool remains open)
- Estimated pool closure for redevelopment - April / May 2027
Council has carefully considered the impact construction will have on pool users, including sports clubs and learn-to-swim participants. To help keep programmes running during the temporary closure, we're working with Ōtaki College on the use of its outdoor pool over summer and exploring shuttle services to other Council pools for lessons and activities.
- Pool reopens - April / May 2028 (estimated 12-14 months pool closure)
Parking
Parking can be busy around the Ōtaki Pool and Haruātai Park, especially during popular times such as Saturday morning sport. To better understand current demand, Council commissioned an independent parking assessment, which confirmed that additional parking is needed across the wider park during peak periods.
Importantly, the pool redevelopment will not reduce the number of existing parking spaces. Instead, it provides an opportunity to plan for additional parking that will better support the growing number of people using the pool and wider park facilities now and into the future.
Finding ways to improve parking and access will be considered as part of the broader Haruātai Destination Park Masterplan, which looks at the long-term future of the park and how it can best support the growing number of people who use it.
Frequently asked questions
We know the redevelopment of Ōtaki Pool will mean some disruption for our community. Here are answers to some of the questions you may have about the project, the temporary closure and what the upgraded facility will offer.
Ōtaki Pool needs to close temporarily so we can carry out a significant upgrade and modernisation of the facility, helping it serve the community well into the future.
The pool’s heating and water treatment systems have reached the end of their life and need replacing, the amenities and plantroom buildings also need upgrading to improve energy efficiency, reduce heat loss, and support more sustainable long-term operation.
While we’re carrying out this essential work, we’re also taking the opportunity to improve the pool spaces, so they better meet the needs of our growing community.
We’d initially hoped to keep the pool open throughout the redevelopment, and complete the work in stages, However, after working through the requirements, closing the facility during construction ended up being the safest and most efficient way to complete this work.
The final construction timeline will be confirmed once procurement planning has progressed. At this stage, we expect to confirm the timeframe in early 2027. The facility is likely to be closed for around 12 to 14 months.
We we'll keep the community updated leading up to and throughout the redevelopment through our website, social media channels, email newsletters, and at reception.
A redevelopment of this scale only happens about once in every 30 years or more, so we’re taking the opportunity to modernise the pool spaces for current and future community needs.
The existing main pool will be divided into two separate pools:
a 25-metre lap pool
a warmer 7-metre programme pool.
This configuration is a common layout for most modern community aquatic facilities.
The 25-metre pool will support water activities including lap swimming, aqua jogging, club training, swimming carnivals, canoe polo, aqua fitness, play and short-course competitions,
The warmer programme pool provides dedicated space for learn-to-swim programmes, Kauora, hydrotherapy, rehabilitation, aqua fitness, and other community programmes.
Having two separate pools will also allow more activities to take place at the same time, with fewer conflict between different users.
The deep water/manu pool will create a distinctive facility feature not currently available elsewhere in the lower North Island.
Designed for both recreation and training, it would support activities such as water safety education, rescue training, boat safety, waka ama and aquafitness.
It will also provide a dedicated space for manu, which is already a much-loved part of Ōtaki's recreational culture.
Completing the work during one planned closure is the fastest, safest and more cost-effective way to deliver the upgrade and the facility back open for our community.
Originally, it was hoped the redevelopment could be staged so parts of the facility could remain open. However, detailed design work showed that this would not be practical due to the scale and complexity of the project.
It would be difficult to safely manage construction activity while maintaining appropriate water quality and health and safety standards for pool users.
No, the Splash Pad will need to close during construction because its plantroom is part of the existing pool building and will be temporarily decommissioned as part of the redevelopment.
We know the closure will affect pool users, including sports clubs and people taking part in learn-to-swim and other aquatic programmes.
We’re currently exploring a range of options to continue as many programmes as possible during the closure.
We’ll contact programme participants with more information once arrangements are confirmed.
Yes, absolutely. We'll also investigate other available options for Ōtaki Pool users, including how Coastlands Aquatic Centre and Waikanae Pool programming may be able to support them during the closure. We will share more information once arrangements are confirmed.
We’re currently looking at what alternative shower facilities may be available in Ōtaki during the closure.
No decisions have been made yet, and we’ll provide more information once the options have been assessed.
The redevelopment will create a more modern, reliable and flexible aquatic facility for the growing Ōtaki community.
It will:
provide a dedicated warm-water programme pool (no more kids with blue lips!)
provide better support to learn-to-swim and water safety programmes
cater for a wider range of ages and abilities
improve the long-term sustainability of aquatic services in Ōtaki
Create a facility that better meets current and future community needs.
Ōtaki Pool redevelopment: Stage 1
Stage 1 improvement works to rebuild the pool’s structure were carried out in 2017.
This involved replacing the building’s cladding, strengthening structural steel, installing insulation, installing double-glazed windows and improving heating and ventilation systems.
This work will remain fully intact and will continue to form part of the upgraded facility.