Nor'West News: June 03, 2021

NOR’WEST NEWS Thursday June 3 2021 7
Derek’s daily visit to hot pools
a way to relax and meet friends
Going for a soak in the
seaside hot pools at New Brighton
has almost become a daily
relaxation ritual for retiree Derek
Lowe.
The 84-year-old visited He
Puna Taimoana hot pools for
the first time shortly after they
opened in late May last year and
enjoyed the experience so much
that he immediately bought a 30-
day pass.
Twelve months on and he’s
one of the hot pools most
frequent guests, visiting most
weekdays for a relaxing soak and
a friendly natter with staff and
other guests.
“I find it very relaxing,’’ says
Lowe.
On most of his He Puna
Taimoana visits he takes a book
with him. He has a favourite
corner in the hottest pool where
he likes to sit and read for 30 to
40 minutes before he goes into
the sauna.
After about 10 minutes in the
sauna, he cools himself off by
jumping in the cold plunge pool
before going for a quick swim.
THERAPEUTIC: Derek Lowe with his book in the seaside hot pools. PHOTO: NEWSLINE
It’s therapeutic for the body,
Lowe believes, but the physical
benefits that he gains are only
part of the reason that he keeps
coming back.
Lowe says he has formed new
friendships – and rediscovered
old ones – through his regular
visits to the hot pools.
“I used to live on Banks
Peninsula and I’ve met people
at the pools who I used to know
from there and it’s been lovely
to catch-up with them. I’m also
meeting new people all the time
– you get chatting away and meet
all sorts of interesting people.’’
In the year since He Puna
Taimoana opened, it has
welcomed about 120,000 people.
He Puna Taiamoana manager
Merryn Skipper says that like
Lowe, many of the regular guests
strike-up friendships with other
pool users.
“They often meet each other
while relaxing in the pools or
the sauna and end up socialising
outside the facility too,’’
Skipper said.
“We really enjoy seeing strong
community connections being
forged between our guests
because connecting socially is
so important for people’s
wellness, particularly in the
challenging times we’ve been
living through because of
Covid-19.’’
He Puna Taimoana is open
from 10am to 7.30pm, seven
days a week, with a late night on
Fridays. Bookings are essential.
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