Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board, councillor Lotu Fuli and community members have welcomed a council decision around the future of pools and leisure facilities.
The service delivery model for Auckland Council’s pool and leisure services was confirmed by the Governing Body last week, with the Mayor and councillors deciding to proceed with an enhanced, partially outsourced model for running the regionwide network.
It was agreed to support a partially outsourced model for pool and leisure services, allowing for future savings, increased revenue, and improved efficiency.
The Governing Body also signalled that any further outsourcing should involve engagement with union partners and staff and be based on clearly defined considerations.
Manukau Ward Councillor Lotu Fuli told the Governing Body how pools and leisure staff selflessly served Aucklanders during COVID, the floods, and Cyclone Gabriel, despite their own families being affected.
“They worked around the clock at evacuation centres, demonstrating the difference between dedicated council staff and profit-driven private companies. In our time of greatest need, their commitment turned our pools and leisure centres into shelters and made the staff the true heroes," says Fuli.
In the 48 hours before the decision, over 1,000 messages were sent to council by the Ōtara-Papatoetoe community expressing concern about a recommendation to councillors to privatise the facilities being privatised.
Manukau ward councillor Lotu Fuli praised the work of dedicated pools and leisure staff, saying, “We heard the voices of thousands from South Auckland, and we're glad our pools will remain in council-owned hands and under council control. This is a significant win for our community, reflecting the strong input from Ōtara-Papatoetoe, Māngere-Ōtāhuhu, and South Auckland.
“Special acknowledgement to the Ōtara Youth Hub for their incredible effort in collecting almost a thousand submissions within 24 hours.”
Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board chair Apulu Reece Autagavaia applauded the community for making their voices heard.
“This is exactly what the community was asking for. The board is especially impressed with the overwhelming response from our diverse communities,” he says.
“In Ōtara-Papatoetoe, our council-run facilities, like Ōtara Pool and Leisure Centre, are consistently praised, with high survey scores reflecting community appreciation. Why change what works? In the face of high living costs, especially in lower-income areas, maintaining free pools is key to community health and recreation. Changing the model could have meant the loss of great staff and the trust and enjoyment we've developed.”
The council will keep setting the direction for the entire pool and leisure network, including access, hours, and fees, with no changes.
In keeping with the requirements of the Local Government Act (Section 17a), the council undertook a review process to look at the delivery model for pool and leisure services and ensure the council is getting value for money.
The review explored several service delivery models, including options for third-party operators managing more, or all, services.
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