Parakiore: A new era for high performance sport in Christchurch

The Parakiore base represents more than just bricks and mortar; it’s a home for excellence. “It’s nice to be able to give athletes a space where they feel world-class, because they are, or aspire to be,” says Andrew Ellis, HPSNZ’s South Island Regional Manager.

The facility has been carefully designed to foster collaboration and innovation, ensuring athletes receive integrated support from performance health, strength and conditioning, and other athlete specialist teams.

The new base boasts a large, fully equipped gym—50% bigger than its predecessor with state-of-the-art Goldmine Innovation equipment, an 80-metre indoor running track, and an indoor throws cage.

These spaces allow for creative training environments that push athletes to new heights. There’s also a dedicated athlete performance support area, bringing all athlete-facing staff together to strengthen the cross-disciplinary approach that underpins high performance success.

Photo credit: John Davidson / www.photosport.nz

Nutrition has its own spotlight too, with a purpose-built kitchen featuring zones for athletes and staff. Athletes have access to their own fridges, freezers, and storage for shakes and smoothies, while staff enjoy their own amenities—creating a professional yet practical environment for everyone.

Beyond the physical spaces, Parakiore celebrates Canterbury’s sporting heritage. A striking Wall of Champions honours local Olympic and Paralympic medallists, past and present, inspiring today’s athletes to add their names to its future lines.

Meeting rooms named after Tom Walsh, Dame Sophie Pascoe, and Hamish Kerr further reinforce the connection to homegrown success.

While the HPSNZ base is the heart of the high performance hub, athletes will also benefit from the wider Parakiore complex, which includes competition pools, dive facilities, and indoor courts. These council-run spaces provide additional opportunities for training and recovery, particularly for water-based sports.

The journey to this point has been long—original plans date back to 2017—but the result is worth the wait.

“Keeping positivity alive over such a long timeline was a challenge,” Andrew reflects. “But now, seeing athletes walk through the doors and feel inspired makes it all worthwhile.”

For HPSNZ and the athletes who train there, Parakiore is more than a building—it’s a statement of ambition and a platform for future success.