12 Dec 2025

Christchurch welcomes big new sports and aquatic centre

From Nights, 8:10 pm on 12 December 2025

The Southern Hemisphere’s largest indoor sport and aquatics centre opens to the public in Christchurch this Wednesday.

At 32,000 square metres, Parakiore boasts a 50-metre competition pool, dive pool, five hydroslides, a large recreational pool and a sensory aqua centre, as well as nine indoor courts, fitness studios and a High Performance Sport New Zealand training base.

Emile Donovan speaks to Warren and Mahoney architect Brett Diprose about what it takes to design and build such a colossal community asset.

Swimming facilities at Christchurch's new 'Parakiore' multisport complex.

Swimming facilities at Christchurch's new 'Parakiore' multisport complex. Photo: RNZ/Nathan Mckinnon