THE SUPERSWIM INITIATIVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP OLDER ADULTS ACTIVE WORDS NAPIER CITY COUNCIL
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cross Hawke’s Bay we have a significant and growing population of older people. As our population ages, it is critical for their ongoing health, wellbeing, independence, and quality of life that a good level of appropriate physical activity is maintained. Water is the perfect medium for this, through swimming, water-walking or other water-based activities. We also know, for many of our older adults affordability is an issue. If we can reduce the cost of facilitiy use, then one of the key barriers is minimised. To address this issue in Napier, the Napier City Council has, for almost two years, been running the SuperSwim initiative: providing $1 (NZD) entry to the Napier Aquatic Centre for SuperGold Card holders. The special offer first became available in Napier in 2018, thanks to the generous financial support of Texas-based couple Philip Krueger and Judith Newman, who call the city their
second home. The couple has a special connection to Napier and spend January and February there each year. Philip and Judith wanted to use some of their retirement money to do something for their adopted country. The subsidy for senior swimmers is one of the latest initiatives they have put their money towards. Others include a kiwi breeding programme at The Cape Sanctuary at Cape Kidnappers, restoration of the old Napier Cemetery on Napier Hill, and upkeep of Napier’s Botanical Gardens. Prior to the start of SuperSwim in Napier, seniors were charged $3.50 per visit. Under SuperSwim, seniors pay $1 per entry, with the per visit subsidy of $2.50 provided by Philip and Judith. The $1 rate applies to single visits and to concession cards. Data on the total number of SuperSwim visits is being collected within the operating system of our aquatic centres and has shown that the number of seniors using the facility has
14 AUSTRALASIAN PARKS AND LEISURE | Summer 2020
increased by 33 percent in the first year. The initiative has brightened the day of many SuperGold Card holders, with one pool-user writing to the Aquatic Centre expressing her gratitude. The 80-year-old woman, who suffers from arthritis, uses the pool five days a week and wrote to express her “appreciation for the kind gift.” She said due to daily use of the swimming pool, it enabled her to continue daily care. The reduction of entry prices for senior swimmers to the Napier Aquatic Centre has been hugely successful since its launch, and now the initiative is coming to Hastings pools. Napier City Council Sports and Recreation Manager Glenn Lucas said local benefactor, the Colgan Foundation, saw what Philip and Judith had done and wanted to jump in to support SuperSwim. “Because Napier was already underway, and due to the fact that Philip and Judy had expressed an interest in seeing SuperSwim spread
