Canterbury Swim School is a leading provider of swimming lessons for all ages and abilities in Christchurch, operating from the purpose-built Waitaha Aquatic Centre at 25 Charente Way, Yaldhurst. The centre features a six-lane, 25-metre lap pool heated to 27 degrees alongside a four-lane, 10-metre teaching pool warmed to 32 degrees, and it is open seven days a week.
The school and centre were established in July 2013 by nationally experienced and accredited coaches Huia Mikara and Jenny Jones, together with businessman Chris Hurley, who wanted to give western Christchurch the sizeable indoor aquatic facility the area had long been missing. Huia and Jenny bring 50 years of coaching between them, spanning learn-to-swim beginners through to Open national and international level, and in 2015 they received Service Awards from Swimming New Zealand.
Programmes cover just about everyone: weekly swimming lessons with consistent, experienced tutors seven days a week; baby and pre-schooler classes from six months; school holiday programmes that keep kids active; casual swimming for exercise or fun; coached Masters sessions; Mellow Mondays for swimmers aged 60 and over; and Waitaha Swim Club, which caters for emergent competitive swimmers right through to nationally competitive squads.
Canterbury Swim School holds Gold Status Quality Swim School recognition from Swimming New Zealand — the highest standard possible and the industry benchmark for best practice in swim teaching. There are generous extras too: enrolled swimmers can practise for free whenever practice lanes are open, and children under three are offered a free introductory lesson.
Canterbury Swim School is a leading provider of quality swimming lessons in Christchurch, welcoming swimmers of all ages and abilities to its purpose-built home, the Waitaha Aquatic Centre at 25 Charente Way in Yaldhurst. The centre runs two heated indoor pools: a six-lane, 25-metre lap pool held at 27 degrees for fitness, squads and casual swimming, and a four-lane, 10-metre teaching pool warmed to a cosier 32 degrees.
Lessons run seven days a week for every level of ability, and the centre itself is open seven days. Whether someone is stepping into the water for the very first time, keeping up a regular exercise routine, or training towards national competition, there is a lane and a programme to match.
The swim school and centre were established in July 2013 by nationally experienced and accredited coaches Huia Mikara and Jenny Jones, together with businessman Chris Hurley. Their motivation was simple: the western area of Christchurch had, in their words, been about as dry as the proverbial desert — there was no sizeable indoor aquatic facility available to local residents. So they decided to end the drought themselves, building the Waitaha Aquatic Centre and making it available to the community.
Huia and Jenny brought 50 years of coaching between them, gained through local swim clubs as well as Templeton Hospital, Templeton Primary School and McKenzie Residential School. Their work has spanned everything from learn-to-swim beginners through to Open national and international level, alongside a long-standing commitment to swimming and assisting youth in the community. In 2015, Swimming New Zealand presented both coaches with Service Awards in recognition of that contribution.
The heart of the business is its weekly swimming lessons — high quality, affordable classes delivered by consistent and experienced tutors. For the youngest visitors, baby and pre-schooler lessons cater for children aged six months and over, building early water confidence in the warm teaching pool.
School-age swimmers progress through the levels with lessons available every day of the week, and school holiday programmes keep kids active with a splash of fun through the break.
Adults are well looked after too. Masters swimming sessions offer top-quality coaching in a great group setting, focused on improving aerobic base and technique. Mellow Mondays invite swimmers aged 60 and over to come along on Mondays to, as the school puts it, move and mellow out in the water. And anyone who simply wants a swim for exercise or fun can drop in as a casual swimmer.
For those with competitive ambitions, Waitaha Swim Club is based at the centre and caters for emergent competitive swimmers right through to nationally competitive squads.
Canterbury Swim School has been recognised as a Gold Status Quality Swim School by Swimming New Zealand — the highest standard possible, and the industry benchmark for defined best practice in swim teaching.
There are some genuinely useful perks woven into the programme. Families with a child under three can start with a free introductory lesson. And every swimmer enrolled in the weekly programme can practise for free whenever practice lanes are open — as many times as they want — a great chance to brush up on the skills learned during the week.
Bookings and enrolments are managed through the school's online family portal, with registration available on the website; the team can also be reached on 03 260 2220 or at [email protected]. On arrival, swimmers are asked to sanitise their hands at reception when entering and exiting the building, and to shower before entering the pools.
With its warm teaching pool, experienced coaches and a pathway that stretches from a baby's first splash to national-level squads, Canterbury Swim School has grown into exactly what its founders set out to create: a proper aquatic home for western Christchurch, open to everyone.