Take a look around Christchurch's new Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre

Friday, 5 December 2025

Christchurch’s largest indoor sports and aquatics facility is set to open soon, but before it hosts the Special Olympics National Summer Games from December 10, we got to have a look around, and you can too in the video above.

The $63 million project has employed more than 4000 workers, and taken over 2.9 million construction hours to build. It had nearly 400 people working on-site at one time.

At 32,000 square metres, Parakiore will be the country’s largest indoor sports and aquatics facility, with a 50-metre competition pool, a 25x20m dive pool, and 1000 poolside seats.

There will also be a large aquatic leisure zone and a Sensory Aqua Centre, designed for inclusive participation.

Parakiore will also have nine indoor courts, including a three-court Show Court with retractable grandstands for 2500 spectators.

The facility will also house fitness and movement studios, as well as a High Performance Sport New Zealand training base.

For families, the centre will boast a hydroslide tower with five slides, including the adrenaline-pumping “Looping Rocket”.

Mayor Phil Mauger said its location in the heart of the city meant it was already helping drive momentum in Christchurch, drawing national events and visitors from across the country.

Parakiore hydroslides

Looping Rocket – a trapdoor slide that will have riders reaching up to 40km per hour.

Sphere Slide – up to two riders on a raft spin unpredictably in a large sphere.

Two body slides – varied speeds, twists and turns.

Gentler body slide – for those wanting a more relaxed ride.