About

Swimming in the Bay of Plenty — our story.

We're a member-based regional body supporting nine clubs, hundreds of swimmers, and the coaches, officials and volunteers who make it all work.

Our purpose

Making swimming fun — and a life skill.

Swimming can offer many things to many people — recreation, sport, enjoyment. But one thing is often overlooked: the need for swimming to be seen as a life skill.

Fewer than 25% of New Zealand 12-year-olds can swim 200 metres. More than 100 New Zealanders drown every year. We believe swimming confidence is a gift every child deserves — and competitive swimming is one of the most rewarding ways to build it.

From learn-to-swim to national qualifiers, Swimming Bay of Plenty exists to help swimmers, coaches and clubs at every stage of that journey.

The original Bay of Plenty centre, NZASA, was formed in 1936 with patron Mr C H Burnett, president Mr Tai Mitchell and secretary Mr Les Clarke. Six clubs were affiliated – Waihi, Te Puke, Tauranga, Rotorua, Ohinemutu and Whakarewarewa.

During the second World War from 1941 to 1946, the centre was affiliated as a sub-centre to the South Auckland centre. In 1947 the Bay of Plenty centre was reformed and given full centre status from NZASA. Seventy-eight pounds was handed back to the centre, money which represented the accumulated profit for the sub-centre during its existence.

It was decided then that the official colours of the centre would be grey with black stripes, which was later changed to silver grey and maroon. In 2005, the present colours of blue and gold were adopted.

At the time of the 50th reunion in 1986, there were 20 clubs affiliated to the Bay of Plenty centre. Currently there are 9 clubs, Evolution Aquatics Tauranga, Kawerau, Liz van Welie Aquatics, Mt Maunganui, Papamoa, Swim Rotorua, Te Arawa, Taupo, and Whakatane.

The work of the Bay of Plenty region has been managed by many hard-working, dedicated and long-serving members and officials who have taken part in regional, inter-regional, national and international meets. It is the work of these committed and volunteers and our athletes that bring credit to the Bay of Plenty region, striving together towards the same goal, bringing the joy of swimming to everyone