Opening date finally set for Christchurch’s ‘world class’ sports facility

Wednesday, 26 November 2025

The opening day of Christchurch’s much-anticipated Parakiore recreation and sport centre has finally been announced.

From 5.30am on December 17, people will be able to whizz down the hydroslides, shoot some hoops or relax in the sauna at the new centre.

Development of the centre, on Moorhouse Ave in central Christchurch, began in 2018.

“It’s certainly been a long road, but I know the whole team is thrilled to be preparing for the first event, and then opening the doors to the public,” said Christchurch mayor Phil Mauger.

A formal ceremony will take place at 8am on December 9 ahead of the Special Olympics National Summer Games, which is being held from December 10-14.

Held every four years, the Special Olympics national games will see athletes from across the country come together to compete in a range of sports. Events will be held at a number of sporting facilities across the city, with swimming and basketball held at Parakiore.

“It’s fitting that such a fantastic event will be first to make use of the new world-class facility,” Mauger said.

“Once we’ve packed up the Special Olympics and made sure everything is shipshape, the gym, pools, hydroslides and community courts will all be open for public use.”

Mauger said the city council and local sports groups were looking at holding “have-a-go sessions” at the centre, as well as guided tours of the facilities.

At 32,000m², Parakiore is New Zealand’s largest indoor sport and aquatics facility.

It has a 50m competition pool, dive pool, five hydroslides, 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 spectators, fitness and movement studios and a High Performance Sport New Zealand training base.

The project cost $500 million, and is projected to deliver tens of millions of dollars each year to the city.