Huia Pool+Fitness — Attraction in North Island

Swim school is disappointing. I've spoken to the staff about my concerns over the last 7 months, so none of this should be a surprise to them, and I'd like to be more than thanked for my feedback, I'd like to see improvements made. Here are most of my concerns: Invoicing for swim lessons is not individualized - it's a bulk email, and you get reminders even if you've already paid - if ever there was an ad for using Xero, this is it. If you overpay due to this then they say they have to repay it, but then don't, even when reminded several times. Make up vouchers expire in just 6 months, and when you want to use them they aren't particularly helpful in finding a suitable time to fit into a class. Administration in general seems poorly organised, with a lack of comms to families - it's taken a year of attendance to find out they alternate focus on skills each week, and have a 'no aids' week in each term (even when assessing skills that require aids - an unfair assessment), and if a child is ready to move up a class after week 6 in a term, they won't change them, so you pay for 4 lessons you potentially don't need. I can only wonder what else is assumed to be known, or deemed not important to share. It wouldn't take much to improve all of this considerably, as they have a FB page, but that only seems to be used for notification of pool closures. Teachers are lovely. BUT they have a very prescriptive way of teaching they need to follow, and cannot/do not give any additional support for a child lacking a particular skill, and will not advance a student until ALL the skills at a level are mastered, which can hold kids at a very low level for a year or more, which can't be helping their confidence as swimmers or interest in swimming - my kid has had 2 terms where they are clearly lacking challenges and making up their own during the class. Asking the teachers in the pool or the assessors for help on building those skills most often results in 'some kids just need more time', rather than look at how they can support and scaffold that learning more appropriately. After asking for more help to master the skill for several weeks running (and failing to have them deliver), I taught my child what they needed to pass in 5 minutes, and I am not a swim teacher. This hasn't been a one off event for us, and other parents have commented the same frustrations as all of the above. There is only one other space kids can use outside of lessons, and that can be very crowded and noisy at times, so it's hard to consolidate skills when dodging kids (some are very big teens) dive bombing, playing frizbee with kickboards etc. They had a spa pump fail a few months ago, and it isn't being fixed until a refurbishment later this year (2024), but they won't change the rules around the use of the other spa for under 15yo's, so forget relaxing/warming up after a swim with your kids after a swim. I hope they will use the down-time for refurbishment to also review and improve all of the things that have frustrated me and other families, as this could be an absolute gem. As for us, we are seeking other avenues for learning to swim. There isn't enough value in...

I would just like to say that the new extension is fabulous. I have one complaint though! I was under the impression that the new extension was for not only for rehabilitating clients in the 43 deg Hydro Therapy Pool but also the other half was for kids learning to swim etc. I am very disappointed as I use the Aqua Jogging Lanes in the old complex for about 30 minutes and then soak in the Spa Pool for Ten minutes and this is after working all night long. I was told today to get out of the main pool at 10am and told I couldn't use the Spa Pool as children were coming in. I have know problem with children learning to swim etc. and believe that's what the new 19 million dollar extension was for. Not only does the main pool get shut down to the public so does the Spa Pool which I might add children under a certain age aren't allowed in there. Who ever makes these decisions is not considering the older population which pay and use it regularly. This event between 10am and 12pm Monday to Thursday which is for children was or is not publicized and a total waste of my money. If this event was never going to change because that's what it was before the extension why wasn't the Spa Pool moved into the new area so we/adults can use it. This whole event is a joke and needs to be reconsidered especially as I'm a rate pay and obviously contributing to the cost of this...

Shared care of your child? Then avoid Huia pool!!! I enrolled/paid for my sons swimming lessons. Despite me paying the bill & having shared care of my son the staff at Huia deleted my contact details & replaced them with the other parent. Twice now times have changed & I have had no notice or communication as to the change in times as the notification was emailed to the other parent. Despite explaining how not all shared care parents have amicable co parenting & asking to have my email back on the contact list for my son, they refused. Apparently in this day in age they can only have one contact parent on thier email list. Once again the other parent has changed classes/times & I am in the dark again. Appalling Huia!!! Go somewhere else if ur have shared...