Napier’s $100,000 citizens’ assembly declines to recommend site for new pool

Napier's citizens' assembly was asked to recommend a location for a new aquatic centre in the city. Photo / Paul Taylor

Napier’s first citizens’ assembly has made a recommendation of what the city’s new aquatic centre should achieve when it is built.

But it hasn’t said where it should go.

The assembly of 40 residents met four times over the past four weeks, after more than 600 Napier residents put their names in the hat for it.

A citizens’ assembly is a group of people reflective of the community they live in, brought together to discuss and deliberate on important public questions for their area, town, or city.

The assembly was convened to discuss the plans for the future of the city’s aquatic centre, a controversial topic that has spanned the best part of a decade without a long-term council resolution.

A Napier City Council spokesperson previously said the council will endorse the assembly’s decision and then put it before councillors before a formal decision is made.

After hearing from a range of pool users, aquatic facility subject matter experts and council staff, the assembly deliberated and agreed on the type of aquatic facility that would best meet the needs, values and priorities of the Napier community.

The assembly’s recommendations primarily focused on affordability, sustainability, accessibility, and wellbeing.

Accessibility in all forms was recommended as a priority by the assembly, including considerations for the disabled community, as well as financial accessibility and ensuring a broad range of transport options to the location of the Aquatic Centre, wherever it may be.

But the assembly did not specify a recommended location, which was part of its brief, after agreeing that the available information in its deliberations wasn’t detailed enough to identify specific sites.

Instead, it agreed on the type of location needed for the aquatic facility.

This included being close to schools, sports groups, and high-density residential areas, with safe transport options.

Napier City Council’s promise to the assembly was to incorporate its recommendations on sites into planning, subject to confirmation of their feasibility.

It has also promised to keep the cost of the new aquatic facility in the Long-Term Plan budget from 2027 and to use the assembly’s advice to inform the design brief and desired community outcomes.

Napier Mayor Kirsten Wise said the assembly’s recommendations were an invaluable starting point in the journey towards a new pool for Napier.

“What is built from this assembly’s recommendations will be imbued with the sense of community and connection that you all embody,” she said.

“Its foundations will also be infused by your generosity in giving your time, energy, and intelligence to this endeavour.”

Assembly participants spoke on the experience, calling it a hugely rewarding information overload.

“It’s been fascinating, interesting conversations with great people from all walks of life,” said a participant who wished to remain unnamed.

Another participant said it had been fascinating having interesting conversations with great people from all walks of life, while another said it was an empowering opportunity to be part of council engaging with its community.

“It’s an important part of the democratic process, a great way to deal with a complex issue,” another assembly member who wished to remain anonymous said.

The assembly had a total budget of $100,000 – which included an $800 participant fee that each member of the assembly received.

Jack Riddell is a multimedia journalist with Hawke’s Bay Today and has worked in radio and media in the UK, Germany, and New Zealand.