Keep our pools safe

It is important that children get the appropriate level of supervision when they visit our pools. 

• Children under five years old must be within arm’s reach and under constant supervision by a responsible caregiver aged 16 years or older in the pool at all times, who is wearing an orange wristband.
• Children between the ages of five and seven (inclusive) must be wearing a purple wristband and actively supervised by a responsible caregiver aged 16 years or older, who is to be within the pool area at all times and able to provide immediate assistance.
• Children aged 8 to 11 years (inclusive) must have a responsible caregiver 16 years or older on site unless they are in a supervised programme, such as swimming lessons. If they are swimming before or after their programme, their caregiver must be onsite.

Maximum adult to child ratios

How many children can you bring to our pools?

• One adult to two children under 5 years old
• One adult to one child under 5 and two 5-7 year olds
• One adult to four 5-7 year olds

Using our wristbands

Children and their caregivers are provided wristbands when visiting Christchurch City Council pools to help lifeguards identify young children and work with their caregivers to ensure they are being appropriately supervised.

Wristbands are given out at the front desk when you pay to enter the pool:

• Parents or caregivers who are supervising children under the age of five will be given orange coloured wristbands.
• Children aged five to seven years old will be given purple coloured wristbands.

We know that children can get into trouble faster than adults and we need to work as a team to help them quicker if that happens.

If you are a member or have a multi-visit card you can collect a wristband from the stand on the way into the pool. If you forget, our lifeguards will have them on hand.

Please return them to the stand after your visit so they can be reused.

When water does not meet the required quality standard the pool must be cleared of swimmers to be treated and cleaned.

Cleaning times vary depending on the pool:

Graham Condon

• Lane pool - 7 hrs 30 mins
• Leisure pool - 7 hrs 55 mins
• Spa pool - 1 hr
• Teach/Learn to Swim pool - 5 hrs

Jellie Park

• Leisure pool - 7 hrs 30 mins
• Spa pool - 1 hr 20 mins
• Toddler pool - 1 hr 20 mins
• Teach/Learn to Swim pool - 3 hrs 20 mins
• Sport pool - 12 hrs 20 mins

Pioneer

• Lane pool - 7 hrs 30 mins
• Leisure pool - 7 hrs 55 mins
• Spa pool - 1 hr
• Teach/Learn to Swim pool - 5 hrs

Taiora QEII

• Lane pool - 9 hrs 15 mins
• Leisure pool - 2 hrs 30 mins
• Spa pool - 40 mins
• Toddler pool - 1 hr
• Teach/Learn to Swim pool - 3 hrs
• Hydrotherapy pool - 3 hrs

Te Pou Toetoe Linwood Pool

• Lane pool - 9 hrs
• Spa pool - 45 mins
• Toddler pool - 45 mins
• Teach/Learn to Swim pool - 2 hrs 15 mins

Te Hāpua: Halswell Summer Pool

• Lane pool - 12 hrs 20 mins
• Toddler pool - 1 hr

Norman Kirk Memorial Summer Pool

• Lane pool - 15 hrs
• Toddler pool - 6 hrs

Waltham Summer Pool

• Lane pool - 12 hrs 40 mins
• Toddler pool - 1 hr 30 mins

All Council pools comply with the New Zealand Pool Water Quality Standard NZS 5826:2010.

The purpose of this standard is to protect public health by ensuring a minimum standard is met at all times in regard to water quality.

The standard sets out the margins in which water is safe for public swimming and the required frequency of pool testing. The Council adheres to these standards at all times.

On occasions when these standards aren’t met through water testing, a temporary pool closure takes place until the water quality is returned to within range of the standard.

The reasons for not meeting the standard can vary, in general, it is caused by a human faecal or vomit incident or on occasion a plant maintenance issue.

Graham Condon, Jellie Park, Pioneer, Taiora QEII, Te Pou Toetoe Linwood Pool, Matatiki Hornby Centre, Te Hāpua: Halswell and Waltham Pool are also Poolsafe accredited – an accreditation run by Recreation Aotearoa.

Templeton, Norman Kirk Memorial Pool, and all Council paddling pools are Quality Pools. These accreditations are run by Recreation Aotearoa.

In order to be pool safe, these pools must go through a full audit every year. This audit encompasses the whole pool operation, including but not limited to water testing records, health and safety procedures and staff training.