Portable pool provides valuable lessons

A portable pool has been installed at Western Heights Primary School for kids to learn water safety as part of the Kia Ora Maori water safety initiative. (left-right) Summer Dhillon 10, Potua Morgan 1

Almost 800 children from three Rotorua primary schools will "get a second bite of the apple" learning valuable swim and survival skills in a portable pool.

The pool, part of ActivePost's Kia Maanu, Kia Ora Maori water safety initiative, is based at Western Heights Primary School for term four and St Michaels and Aorangi Primary have been invited to use the facilities.

Western Heights Primary School principal Brent Griffin said it was a "great opportunity" to have the pool stationed at his school.

"We are super excited to have it here and it will give pupils a second bite of the apple in terms of swimming lessons."

Mr Griffin said pupils took part in the swimsation programme at the Rotorua Aquatic Centre at the beginning of the year and the portable pool would build on those lessons.

"It is incredibly important that our youth know how to be safe on and around the water. In the school holidays many of our pupils spend their time at the lake so we want them to be equipped with the necessary skills to avoid any accidents."

Mr Griffin said for the first four weeks, senior pupils would be working on their swimming, and for the last four weeks, junior pupils would work on their confidence in deeper water.

"The junior pupils will have life jackets on so they can get used to being in deeper water."
ActivePost spokeswoman Nicola Airey said New Zealand Post was delighted to bring a portable pool to Rotorua.

"Hundreds of kids have already learned to swim using the pools and we're looking forward to hearing some great stories about the 800 kids from these Rotorua schools."
At the end of term four the pool will move to a school in the Waikato.