The Superswim Initiative

AN OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP OLDER ADULTS ACTIVE

WORDS NAPIER CITY COUNCIL

Across Hawke’s Bay we have a signifi cant 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 aff ordability 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 off er fi rst became available in Napier in 2018, thanks to the generous fi nancial 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 increased by 33 percent in the fi rst 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 suff ers from arthritis, uses the pool fi ve 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

more widely, I approached the team at Hastings District Council to see whether they were interested. “They were, and we were able to partner up and get this going.”

From 1 October 2020, the SuperSwim $1 discounted entry price will be off ered at both Flaxmere Pool and Clive War Memorial Pool.

Hastings District Council acting aquatics manager Peran Hutchings said keeping up a good level of physical activity was critical for ongoing health, wellbeing, independence and quality of life for Hawke’s Bay’s growing population of older people. “Through the generosity of the Colgan Foundation, we aim to increase the number of seniors visiting our indoor facilities by 15 percent on last year’s visits,” pledges Hutching.

“The results from Napier show this is more than possible. We are really happy to provide the opportunity for more seniors to enjoy a dip, keep fi t and healthy and socialise.”

Philip, Judith, and the Colgan Foundation are passionate about the health and wellbeing of our older adults and about water-based recreation. They are very keen to see this be picked up in other regions. The intention with SuperSwim is to not leave it with Napier 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

and Hastings but to challenge other regions to get onboard to grow the initiative into other regions. If you are reading this and think it may have value in your region, and you are in a position of infl uence, then please start having some conversations with the right people about bringing SuperSwim to your region.

Napier City Council and Hastings District Council are more than happy to provide any information and assistance they can to help more of New Zealand’s seniors reap the benefi ts that aquatics-based recreation can provide.

Currently, Ministry of Health and Sport NZ strategies are focused on children and young people. Accordingly, much of the funding to support people and organisations working in this space is focused here. Older adults, unfortunately, do not benefi t in the same way through national funding, though there is so much to gain from older adults being active in terms of quality of life and being able to get the most out of their later years.

Providing aquatics facilities is expensive. While the SuperSwim initiative is simple in concept and application, it enables councils to provide greater benefi ts to an important part of our population, while not increasing the ratepayer burden of operating aquatic facilities. A further advantage is many seniors use the pool during off -peak hours, which increases utilisation while not adding capacity pressures during peak times. Initiatives like this, with support from private backers, are so important to fi ll provision gaps and enable increased community wellbeing. Now is the time to connect with local philanthropists and foundations to ensure our older adults stay active and connected in our communities.

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