Updated child supervision requirements are coming to the Aquatic Centre from 12 October 2026. The changes are designed to strengthen water safety, clarify caregiver responsibilities and make it easier to understand what's expected when you visit.
We're updating our supervision requirements to help keep children safe around water, provide clearer expectations for caregivers, and align with current aquatic industry best practice.
The updated supervision requirements come into effect on 12 October 2026. In the lead-up, you'll start seeing signage and information at the Aquatic Centre to help you get familiar with the changes before they start.
Active supervision is required every time you visit the Aquatic Centre - this applies at all times, not just during peak periods. It means being able to:
Active supervision does not include supervising from another area, using a phone, reading, or being distracted by other activities.
The change reflects contemporary aquatic industry best practice and helps ensure children receive appropriate supervision while using the facility. The depth of our pools ranges from shallow to very deep across the facility, and features such as the wave machine and the shape of our indoor pools make these changes essential for keeping our young swimmers safe.
Active supervision applies every time you visit the Aquatic Centre. The ratios below set out exactly how many children one caregiver can supervise, and apply all day on weekends, public holidays and school holidays:
Applying supervision requirements consistently throughout weekends, public holidays and school holidays provides greater clarity for customers and supports consistent operation of the facility.
A supervising caregiver must be aged 16 years or older and capable of meeting the applicable supervision requirements, including remaining within arm's reach or providing active supervision where required.
Follow the ratio for your youngest child - this is the priority and can't be averaged out or relaxed because of older children in the group. The scenarios below apply on weekends, public holidays and school holidays, when ratios are enforced. On other days, ratios don't apply, but you must still meet the active supervision requirements for each child's age.
If you can't meet these requirements for your group, you'll need a second caregiver aged 16 or older.
Yes. The supervision requirements apply to all children within the relevant age groups, regardless of swimming ability.
Children aged 4 years and under must have a caregiver aged 16 years or over in the water with them. Being in the water allows caregivers to provide immediate assistance if required.
Our lifeguards play an important role - they supervise the facility, monitor pool safety and respond to emergencies. However, parents and caregivers remain responsible for actively supervising children in their care.
On weekdays outside of public and school holidays, there is no set ratio of caregivers to children required. However, the active supervision requirements for your child's age group still apply at all times. For example, if you bring a 2–4 year old during the week, you're still expected to be in the water with them. Wristbands are always required.
Our team will check you have the right number of supervising caregivers when you arrive. Supervising adults need to be present at reception when you arrive - we can't verify supervision once you're inside the pool area. If your group doesn't meet the ratio, we'll ask you to wait at reception, come back once you can meet requirements, or enjoy Destination Kawaroa in the meantime.
Lifeguards and staff will speak with caregivers who aren't meeting the supervision requirements for their group. If a caregiver needs to be in the water with their child and isn't willing to do so, they'll be asked to leave with their child.
It's based on your child's actual age on the day you visit. Up to age 4, they're in the 2–4 band: an orange wristband, and a caregiver (16+) in the water with them at all times, at a one-caregiver-to-two-children ratio. From the day they turn 5, they move into the 5–9 band: a green wristband, and active supervision - a caregiver (16+) who can see, hear and immediately assist them, at a one-caregiver-to-four-children ratio. The caregiver no longer needs to be in the water once a child is in the 5–9 band but must stay close enough to see, hear, and immediately assist your child if needed.
Wristbands help customers and staff identify supervision requirements and are required at all times. Children under 2 years do not require a wristband, children aged 2-4 years will receive an orange wristband, and children aged 5-9 years will receive a green wristband. Caregivers supervising a child with a wristband will also receive a wristband so we can easily identify caregivers of our young swimmers.
We understand wristbands aren't suitable for every child. If your child has a sensory sensitivity or condition that makes wearing a wristband difficult, that's okay - your child doesn't have to wear one. Please let our staff know at reception, and we'll make sure your caregiver wristband is issued so supervision requirements are still clearly identified. If you're a regular visitor, we can issue an RFID card (a simple scan card) to you or your child, so our team recognises your needs automatically - no need to explain again each time.
Yes. Please drop your wristband in the return box near the lockers or at reception before you leave. This helps us make sure every caregiver and child can be easily identified for supervision. It also keeps enough wristbands available for everyone visiting that day. Thanks for helping us keep the system running smoothly for all our young swimmers.
Yes. All children in school groups are required to wear wristbands at all times while at the Aquatic Centre, in line with the age-based system used for all customers.
The minimum age to use the hydroslides is not changing. What's new is that caregivers of children aged 8–9 using the hydroslides must wait the bottom of the slides, ready to supervise and immediately assist their child if needed.
We’ll update signage to make it clear that the accessible changing rooms are available for caregivers assisting children under 10, people with disabilities and support persons, people with limited mobility, and people who are not comfortable using a gendered changing room.
From 12 October 2026, casual users of the sauna and steam room must be 16 years or older. Updated signage and customer information will be introduced to support this change.
This change is being made for safety reasons. Younger children are more susceptible to dehydration and overheating in saunas and steam rooms and are more likely to move in and out frequently, which can also disrupt other users.
This change applies to casual users only. Students aged 14 years and over with a concession or membership that includes sauna use can continue to access these facilities as usual. This is a great option for our experienced sauna users who are 14+.
Yes. As with the main pools, children aged under 10 years must be actively supervised by a caregiver aged 16 years or over while using the spa pool.
There are no changes to admission prices at the moment. The only change on the price list, is that the 'Adult with Child Under 8' pricing category is being renamed 'Adult with Child Under 10' to match the new supervision age - the price itself stays the same. You'll see this updated wording on the website and in customer information from 12 October 2026.
Yes. Standard supervision rules and wristband requirements will apply to children in Learn to Swim lessons and their caregivers. From 12 October, we will be issuing wristbands to our LTS students aged under 10 in all lessons, and their parents.
If you have a child under 10 years attending lessons, please stay within the pool surrounds. Our Learn to Swim programme never replaces a parent's vigilance when it comes to children's safety in and around water. To meet our safety requirements, we rely on parents to supervise children in lessons while the teachers are instructing.
Specific arrangements apply for squad swimmers. Any changes affecting squad participants will be communicated directly by the Aquatics Team.
No. These changes apply to the Aquatic Centre only. Supervision requirements at our community pools - Fitzroy, Inglewood, Waitara and Ōkato - are not changing. These pools are quieter, with fewer visitors per lifeguard, so their current supervision approach remains appropriate.
Speak to a member of our Aquatics Team or contact NPDC on 06 759 6060.
