Kōpua o Kiwa - Kiwa Pools

Kiwa Pools is eponymous to the name of the bay that it stands; Tūranganui-a-Kiwa, the great standing place of Kiwa. The narrative of Kiwa is told through the intimate details, woven throughout various aspects of the building, from structural elements to graphical imprints, designed in collaboration with Sir Derek Lardelli of Lardelli Arts.

Facing the Pacific Ocean, triangular colonnades stretch along the south elevation, reminiscing the breaking waves created by the Horouta waka. Guests are welcomed into the facility through the framed pawaha, depicting the mouth of the beast, leading under a large taniwha carving. Throughout the facility, the narrative is referenced through graphical imprints and wayfinding signage, a gallery of pipes and veins are on full display from the pool hall, depicting Te Manawa (the beating heart of the facility).

With a range of diverse functions, Kiwa Pool is not just a swimming facility, but a commitment to sustaining a vibrant community life by creating a fully accessible community amenity. The new pool facility boasts a 50m Olympic Pool, which contains a moveable floor for a world-class recreational and training facility. From the leisure pool to the hydrotherapy to the kids splash and learn to swim specific pools. The new Kiwa pool facility goes further in creating fun and safe swimming facilities.

NZIA Local Award for Architecture (Gisborne & Hawke’s Bay) – Public 2024