{
  "id": 4726130,
  "title": "Revived Waiwera Thermal Springs in Auckland aims for 2028 opening date",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/revived-waiwera-thermal-springs-in-auckland-aims-for-2028-opening-date",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-31T21:46:45.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "RNZ Business",
    "slug": "rnz-business",
    "url": "https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/1206120/revived-waiwera-thermal-springs-in-auckland-aims-for-2028-opening-date"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Waiwera Thermal Springs, a once-thriving water park on Auckland's Hibiscus Coast, is set to reopen in 2028 after a lengthy restoration project. The developers, Brandon Batagol and Craig Mitchell, announced the successful acquisition of resource consent from Auckland Council, paving the way for the $58 million project. The restored site will span 1.7 hectares and feature 28 geothermal heated pools, saunas, landscaped gardens, pavilions, a café, and visitor parking.\n\nUnlike the old Waiwera Hot Pools, the new attraction will offer adult-only zones and areas for children. It will also incorporate unique rituals such as cold-plunge, mist-walk, and stone-walk experiences, bathing trails through native bush, and spa treatments. Construction is scheduled to commence in 2027 with an anticipated opening in mid-2028.\n\nBatagol and Mitchell are now focusing on securing the remaining private investment and finalizing the detailed design. They emphasized the significance of the project in preserving a place of importance to Aucklanders and their relationship with the local water. Batagol highlighted the commitment of the team to deliver a new landmark attraction that will benefit the region sustainably.\n\nAn economic impact assessment by BDO projected that the development could attract over 310,000 visitors annually, contributing up to $300 million to the region's gross product within its first seven years of operation. The restoration is expected to create 87 jobs.",
  "summary": "The empty 1.7 hectare site on the Hibiscus Coast was once the country's largest water park.",
  "key_points": [
    "Waiwera Thermal Springs to reopen in 2028 after restoration",
    "$58 million project with 28 heated pools and amenities",
    "Expected to attract 310,000 visitors annually, boosting $300M GDP"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}