NZCT Helps Waipureku Clive School Take the Plunge with $15,000 Grant

New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT) has awarded Waipureku Clive Primary School a grant of $15,000 to upgrade its community swimming pool. The funding will go towards fibre glassing the ageing concrete structure—reducing costly maintenance, extending the pool’s lifespan, and ensuring ongoing access to vital water safety education for students and the wider community.

Principal Chris Birch says “Swimming is not just about sport – it’s also about safety. Every child in our community should feel confident in and around the water and our pool teaches them how to swim safely and enjoy our incredible local environment. Fibre glassing means we can keep this learning process happening for the next thirty years, without costly repainting or maintenance shutdowns.”

The current concrete surface requires frequent and expensive repainting, which cuts into swimming time and strains the school’s budget. Fibre glassing will reduce maintenance needs and provide a long-term solution that benefits students.

Surrounded by rivers, estuaries, beaches, and a hazardous coastline, the Clive region demands strong water confidence. The school’s pool plays a key role in teaching this essential life skill and serves as a hub for school events.

Birch adds, “With growing numbers of children entering the school and national trends showing a decline in basic swimming ability, we see this project as a timely and necessary investment. This long overdue upgrade is not just about protecting the school’s infrastructure but also ensuring access to lifelong learning. It reflects a deep commitment to community leadership and hauora (wellbeing). The upgraded pool will equip our students with the confidence and respect needed to safely navigate the natural waterways that surround them.”

Board of Trustees Presiding Member H. Hargest adds, “We’re so grateful to have the support of NZCT in helping us protect the future of swimming education in our region.”

NZCT’s GM of Grants, Marketing and Communications, Ben Hodges, adds “The school’s swimming pool is a real taonga. It provides water safety and fun in equal measure. Grants like this wouldn’t be possible without the responsible gaming partnership we share with the Clive Hotel.