Sport & recreation  |  31 Oct 2025

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Construction of New Zealand’s largest indoor sport and recreation centre is complete.

Crown Infrastructure Delivery (CID) Chief Executive John O’Hagan and Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger today welcomed the handover of Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre from the Crown to Christchurch City Council, marking the beginning of commissioning ahead of opening.

O’Hagan says the completion of Parakiore comes at a time when the city is growing, events are thriving and demand for world-class facilities has never been stronger.

“The handover of Parakiore marks the completion of the Crown-led Anchor Project programme, a cornerstone of Christchurch’s post-earthquake recovery and urban regeneration. These projects were about more than bricks and mortar, they were about restoring confidence, creating spaces for people and setting Christchurch up for the future. This is a proud moment for the city and all the planners, designers, engineers, project managers, contractors and community partners who believed in the vision and worked through immense challenges to make it real.

“Delivering Parakiore has taken an extraordinary effort, with more than 2.9 million construction hours, up to 400 people on site at peak and nearly 4,000 workers involved overall. That scale of commitment shows just how much this project means to Christchurch and New Zealand. I’d like to thank everyone involved, especially my team at CID.”

Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger says the handover starts the final phase before doors open. 

“We just can’t wait to complete the fit-out and get the doors open to the community. Parakiore is going to be absolutely amazing for everyone. You can do it all under one roof – swim, dive, dance, shoot hoops, play pickleball – the choice is yours. 

“Christchurch is on a roll and with Parakiore right at the heart of the city, it’s already contributing to that momentum by attracting a number of exciting national events.

At 32,000 square metres, Parakiore will be New Zealand’s largest indoor sport and aquatics facility. It includes a 50‑metre competition pool and a 25 by 20 metre dive pool at five metres deep with 1,000 poolside seats, a large aquatic leisure zone and a Sensory Aqua Centre designed for inclusive participation.

There are nine indoor courts, including a three‑court Show Court with retractable grandstands for 2,500 spectators, fitness and movement studios, and a High Performance Sport New Zealand training base.

The hydroslide tower houses five slides, including the trapdoor “Looping Rocket,” adding a major family attraction in the heart of the central city.

Christchurch City Council will now run a commissioning programme to test systems, train staff, finalise operating procedures and support tenants as they move in.

Parakiore will open to the public later in the year. The Council will confirm the opening date as the commissioning progresses.

CID delivered Parakiore on behalf of the Crown and, with handover now in place, will transition out of its delivery role while continuing to support close‑out activities as required.