$125m 'wellness centre' for Waiwera

By WAYNE THOMPSON




The Waiwera hot pools are to have a $125 million facelift.

Plans by tourism entrepreneur John St Clair Brown for the seaside site north of Auckland include a luxury "wellness centre" and four-star hotel wrapped up by a meandering river around the 1.7ha site.

Mr St Clair Brown bought the Waiwera Thermal Resort and Spa in 1990 soon after selling Mount Hutt Skifield company, which he developed by introducing modern skiing equipment and snowmaking machines.

Before that, he and Alister Johnson created the Victoria Park Market from a derelict city council rubbish site.

Waiwera spa, 6km north of Orewa, has been on the tourist map since 1875 and steamers once brought Aucklanders on excursions in their droves.

Adding a luxury hotel to Waiwera's mix of motel and apartment accommodation, has been talked about for decades.

Meanwhile, resort improvements have been waterslide rides, an outdoor movie theatre and 26 naturally heated indoor and outdoor pools.

Mr St Clair Brown said yesterday that he intended a staged redevelopment over five years.

The Rodney District Council had given resource consent for the first stage - 120 apartments on the site of the modest Waiwera Hotel.

Work was to start in September.

Resource consents would be sought to incorporate stages two and three which will include a four-star hotel, a spa wellness centre, conference facilities and "enhanced water experiences".

Staffing was expected to rise from 150 to about 400.

About 350,000 people visit the pools each year, making it one of the biggest tourism attractions in the Auckland area outside of the War Memorial Museum.

The resort would be based around the natural mineral water which is bottled on site.

About 19,000 bottles of Waiwera Infinity has been shipped to Greece to keep the New Zealand Olympic team hydrated.

Mr St Clair Brown said the brand was popular in overseas markets such as Japan. The resort will change its name to Waiwera Infinity Spa Resort.

Its owner is Zentrum Holdings, of which Mr St Clair Brown is chairman.