The Abandoned Water Park Ruined by a Russian Billionaire (Waiwera Hot Pools)

[@Harold_Flite]

That 45 minute drive from North Shore to Waiwera was a special one. What a shame my kids won't get to experience the excitement.

[@goomduy]

Agreed man, I was 7 and also living on the north shore when I first went to Waiwera for a school trip and the excitement my friends and I had on the bus ride there was unparalleled. Absolute gem of a park lost to time and money.

[@threefoureight3208]

45 mins from the shore LOL! with traffic yeah on a long day bud its about 25 mins on average.

[@Ixxlostinabox]

Now they can enjoy the 45 minute drive from the North Shore to 500m down the road still in the North Shore with todays traffic

[@aking9999]

This is a National disgrace ! These pools should have been taken over by the government on a compulsory purchase and then re-furbished . Too many people regret the closing of this wonderful facility and their life giving waters. I for one, when ever I was back in New Zealand, would always visit !

[@shadquirk607]

I worked there over 15 years ago, and at that point it was already declining. Visitor numbers were on a pretty serious downward trend and they had lost a few big water contracts due to limited production and supply issues. They had invested hugely in the bottled water, they'd neglected the park to focus on the water bottling and it didn't work out, that's why John was looking to sell it. He sold a dud, not a gem, everyone that knows anything about Waiwera knows that. Another thing everyone knows but that John, conveniently, left out, was that the Russian wanted the water, not the park. But as anyone involved with Waiwera knew, the water was a dead end. That sale was just the nail in the coffin.

[@mpf_agundipsht3619]

New owners, the investments into water and making it a priority to bottle and sell took over from the family friendly fun park. If it was uplifted to moved to the outskirts of the northshore it would make a killing. Kids under 16 can't drive to Waiwera so you miss out on an entire market full of money just because of its placement. Plus the brickworks in Walkworth has a mean as pond with a cliff to jump off

[@bumblebee8653]

Nothing like a bit of anti Russian rhetoric in the current propaganda delusion though, right?! Thanks for your comment to put the record straight. 👍🏻

[@vanw916]

Did they have street fighter arcade machine there? I'm trying to remember if this is the place I went to as a kid.

[@vbarcodev9714]

I feel like the biggest down fall was the toll tunnel opening redirecting almost all of the traffic. Before then going past waiwera was a must going in and out of auckland

[@Chaplin1219]

This place was my childhood haven, I still miss Waiwera hot pools and I believe it would still be an iconic waterpark today for families and tourists.

[@ThatguyFalcone]

This channel is going to be a break out hit, I can feel it. You guys are doing great work. Love your stuff!

[@TheDepartmentofInformation]

thanks so much!

[@GCEism]

I was working here for 2 months late 2020 setting up for Cowboy Bebop to come film and believe it or not, it was looking a lot worse before our locations guy helped clean it up. We got to meet the groundskeeper and he was a great fellow who showed us a lot of the bottling plant and told us a lot about the place. An interesting experience to be able to walk around and see inside all the buildings and stuff. Not from Auckland so not a lot of nostalgia for me but still sad seeing how munted it all was. Great video!

[@catchreload6708]

Brought back memories of the first time I got stoned over 20years ago at Waiwera. We are losing a few of our thermal pools, Miranda hot pools to name another. Hopefully Waiwera is restored this generation 🙏🏽

[@ceres800]

You've captured an original, yet nostalgic feeling with this video. People who are drawn to abandoned and defunct things are attracted to such uncomfortably beautiful and somber qualities, all of which you manage to gently pull towards the surface. Everything from the color palette, to your editing & the words of the locals -- I am so impressed. Wonderful work, thank you for sharing.

[@TheDepartmentofInformation]

thank you so much, means a lot

[@SkaYouth]

Felt the same thing. The cinematography language and editing is insane and unlike any normal youtube style editing.

[@axylvolaris2643]

This gave me too much nostalgia, I vividly remember my Mum taking me here as a kid, the Movie Pool, the Kids Pool, even the Black Hole which I remember was closed down multiple times for safety violations. Someone needs to document this place for urbex.

[@AwakenedAvocado]

I chipped my tooth on the black hole. It wqs the only one that had metal in the dam slide. R.i.p and also r.i.p to all casualties of Bobs mistake

[@OurFreeReflections]

The guys yarn at the end is brilliant... Fantastic! I used to love going here as a kid... Had many flashbacks. Cheers!

[@kiwigirljacks]

Wow I didn’t know it was closed. I used to go there a lot as a kid in the 70’s and 80’s. I have many great memories. From playing pacman in the small arcade they had, eating candy floss, going down the fast slide when it first opened which in hindsight was incredibly dangerous lol, watching movies on the big screen they opened by the hottest of the pools that I could never stay in for longer than a few minutes. That place was definitely a significant part of my childhood. Such a shame it’s no longer running.

[@tlc5317]

Oh my goodness 😯 👍😎 Thank You for your MOST Respectfull Interviews of our Locals 😉 I can say more profesional than many mainstreem meadia 😊 I would have Loved to have spoken to you and I am sad to have missed the chance of meeting you all . i am lucky to be able to stay up the hill just out of the Waiwera township .. I get to walk on the beach and soak my feet in the hot mineral water that flows out of the concrete pipe onto the beach 😉 I also have a family of memories connected to the pools taking my son 25 years ago my brother and I going 40 years ago and my Dad has storys of his child hood playing around the origional bath huts 75 years ago 😎 good memories are a wonderfull thing to hold on to and to treasuer at any age for sure 😍😙😘😚

[@xavierdickason5373]

Thank you so much for these videos! Love how you let the people tell these stories that otherwise would be lost. You're doing so much for NZ local history through videos like this. Keep doing what you're doing!

[@TheDepartmentofInformation]

thanks heaps

[@ynerrad9291]

Went there a few times for school trips as an Aucklander. It’s a huge loss, honestly. So many good memories.

[@1inamilli92]

That old fullah at the end was dropping some mad gems through out this vid, would love to sit down and have a beer with him. Loving the authentic content lads!

[@amritokhan1694]

Ikr who is that man and can he be my spirit animal

[@brutallyremastered4255]

I’d avoid that moribund bastard like the plague.

[@joshmc3620]

the videos on this channel keep getting better and better

[@ariabarkley4469]

So devastating to see it in this state :/ but this was such a great video! Love seeing what people have to say about the pools and you really captured it! Amazing work ❤️

[@velocity5646]

great job mate, you've earmed a sub. Loved the past/present side by side shots. Fantastic work. Where you ended it was hilarious!

[@TheDepartmentofInformation]

Thanks, really appreciate it

[@SoggySandwichGaming]

I used to go there every year as a kid, even split my knee open and still have the scar to this day. Crazy to see it looking like this.

[@brutallyremastered4255]

Ha-that’s interesting. I did the same at St Pat’s Silverstream back in the early 80’s.

[@lilykingdon4128]

Wow! I just stumbled across this video as your channel was recommended to me as the NZ version of Channel 5... Seeing what that slide tower used to look like brought me back to when I was 5!! I live in Chch but went to these pools once when I was 5 and loved it but couldn't remember where it was... My sister and I went up the tower and I went down a slide first not realising how deep the pool at the bottom was, I screamed at my sister not to come down but she couldn't hear me. She couldn't swim yet. I felt to embarrassed to inconvenience a lifeguard so watched my sister drowning BUT luckily a lifeguard saw what was happening , saved her and then yelled at us and told us off. Not a great end to a really fun day. Thanks for bringing that memory back, sad to see it not in use anymore.

[@chickentoucher55]

I thinks your talking about the old QEii (Queen Elizabeth the 2nd) pool I got ruined after the earthquake in 2011 or 2010 I used to go there as a kid aswell

[@chickentoucher55]

Or the abandoned Waterpark next to Waltham park

[@teedub3984]

@@chickentoucher55 that one in Waltham is still there, really nice and the slide is still operating or was for the summer 😊☀️

[@Dookitydook]

I remember going to Waiwera hot pools and watching Men in Black 1 at the middle hot pool with the projector screen. NZ was such a great place at that time.

[@telz11]

I've always wondered what happened to Waiwera pools over the years esp with how crowded and alive it used to be, to it suddenly being closed down..glad I stumbled upon this vid..love it, great job guys 👏🏼

[@Dazzyboy85]

Memories. I'm 37 now but we did a big family trip once or twice a year. It was tradition for us for whoever could make it. Some times up to 40 of us could be more. Auntys, uncles, Cousins, siblings, friends etc. Take food and have a BBQ for a good 10 or so years. Actually I'm gonna go count how many photos we have taken lol. We took a family photo in the front every year we went and even today we look through the photos and how everyone changed. A new face here, a new child there, hairstyles, clothing style, someone pregnant lol it was really cool. Slide races, movie pool and we would stay until closing and talk about how cool our day was together. I Miss those days.

[@brutallyremastered4255]

That’s great. 👊🏾

[@kevingarland1301]

This are awesome memories alright. 👌

[@benrobinson375]

Aww I had fond memories of this place as a kid. We only went there once a blue moon though. I hope one day something similar gets made again, but as one of the guys who were interviewed said, it would be a very expensive ordeal.

[@dodoxasaurus6904]

Man i only went there once when i was a kid and i still remember it so vividly, great doc but damn that last man really went into some existentialism

[@amritokhan1694]

He was a badass

[@squidmantics6303]

This was great! What a throwback seeing the shots from the glory days of Waiwera. Beautiful work.

[@Xevonarin]

I was born in '92 and Waiwera was a huge part of my childhood. I spent many great birthdays here with friends and have so many wonderful memories. It's downright tragic seeing it now and knowing those memories now resolve to little more than a dilapidated wasteland.

[@saymaname997]

Shit got real at the end

[@Nechokolate]

Didn't know this place existed 7mn ago and here I am investing all my attention to this haha! Nice video, keep 'em coming, but don't burn out!

[@Liam-sb8jj]

Loved this video. The interviews were a good touch and I loved the tone. Great editing too. It was concise but still captured peoples emotions well

[@TheDepartmentofInformation]

Thanks so much!

[@damuffla]

I wish this went on for longer! Intriguing and awesome video sad to see the pools in this state..

[@DarrylTalks]

I went there one time, at night, about 20 years ago. It was kinda fun. I liked that all the waterslides had warm water. The double helix slide was a weird ride, I remember it being fast. Loud music and video projection screens, there was a movie watching pool. Something like that.

[@AwakenedAvocado]

The twister

[@trustudy6083]

that last man was a vibe and a national treasure.

[@gaius_enceladus]

Great video! As a Wellingtonian who hasn't been up that way for donkey's years, I had no idea that the Hot Pools were in such a derelict state! Appalling!

[@jimbo6514]

Good video.. Wasn't expecting that ending tho.. Now contemplating my life even more then usual

[@phillgreen8792]

Very sad to see one of my favorite places to go as a child such wonderful memories when my dad use to take us when he was alive. When I was in nz last month a made a stop there on my way to Auckland from whangarei and it’s just such a shame the kids growing up now don’t get to experience such a fun wonderful place

[@shaneroberts6391]

I went there over thirty years ago , and it was a fantastic place , such a shame to see it close down !!

[@RedactedGaming97]

great video, i remember being about 5-6 years old and going in the movie pool and stepped off the steps and was abit of a oh shit moment not reaching the bottom. love that you talked to locals really added to the video

[@wlg685]

So sad seeing Waiwera as it is today. We lived in Wellington but every time we were in Auckland our whole family would make the drive north and I have so many great memories of going there as a kid. Bobs Mistake was my favourite slide as it ended short and we would fly off the end lol the movie pool was another favourite. Thanks so much for sharing this! Definitely took us down memory lane

[@shadowbanned5164]

I remember going to these pools in my teens it was a fantastic water park it had some really brilliant slides and the therapeutic pools were a great way to wind down after a session on the slides.

[@alexkarassavidis3023]

Cameraman thought he was well hidden in the bushes. Also, first video I am seeing of yours and it was great. Only criticism I would level is that the editing is a bit jumpy when interviewing people. Subbing and diving into the rest of your content from here!

[@Liam-sb8jj]

I think he’s edited out peoples pauses, ummms and ahhhs. I quite liked the fast snappy pace. When people recall stories on the spot they take time and can sometimes recall details out of order. By editing them it is much easier to listen to

[@alexkarassavidis3023]

@@Liam-sb8jj I find it has the opposite effect. It doesn't feel organic to me at all.

[@tazukiswift1588]

You are doing a great service to NZ

[@TheDepartmentofInformation]

thank u kindly

[@xpsylentzer_8039]

it’s so sad to see the pools like this, i used to go there at least once a year with my family and loved it. last year i was talking about how fun it was and if it was still open guess it’s not going to re open

[@Bryan-pz5up]

Omg I remember going here as a kid! Another recently abandoned spot to check out would be the Mueller hotel in Franz Josef.

[@malachidavie5764]

Amazing editing and shots ! This channel will definitely continue to grow ! Awesome work !

[@tobinbh3940]

awesome series of docs boys..really well put together and interesting ..good on you for telling this story.. so weird seeing "old footage" that looks so recent..reall shows what a failure this has been

[@tonymckeage1028]

Great Video, I have fond memories of these pools in the 90's thanks for sharing

[@Kyle-db5dt]

this place has a special place in my heart going with a group of 7 girls and partying afterwards as a teenager mate nothing but good memories

[@masterjenkins632]

mum and dad used to take us there in the early 2000s best water park in the country at the time, then we went to Waingaro hot springs for the smaller more chill days, such sad

[@Jaminwitu111]

Yo this is really good content brother! Can't wait to see more!

[@joshuaperry8729]

Honestly I loved going to waiwera as a kid. I have so many memories of that place running around there with my step brothers going on the slides. And seeing it how it is now it makes me sad.

[@Perditionist666]

I used to work there, was there for few years. I started in the bottling plant out the back and eventually drove the truck delivering pallets of Waiwera water all over Auckland. I remember the Russians walking around the place being super shady. I gotta say, that place is drenched in bad Tapu. that bottling plant wouldn't run for more than 5 mins without breaking down

[@leighblocks1175]

This is very well made, mate.

[@stephanieyoung500]

A master piece. I love what you’re doing here.

[@koanarec]

I remember going a few years ago, it is really sad to see what its like now :(

[@kenianfatherley5476]

Wow it got pretty deep at the end there ! Awesome video. Enjoying your kiwi 🥝 content and looking forward to more of it 👌

[@melissaponeka9284]

What lovely neighhood. We miss this place!

[@lenarobinson]

That is so sad. It’s an iconic place and I have many amazing memories of fun times there. I live in London and had no idea this had happened to it. How gutting. 😢 I hope it does get reopened one day.

[@sunsetlights100]

Great coverage ..used to go to the pools all the time chers

[@saanzacs]

Waiwera will rise again!!! 💔💔😢😢

[@t3chn1n35]

Awesome memories were made in the 90s as a teen

[@lottonthewizard4352]

I went there for my 11th birthday (am 23 now). Was a fun time but some of the slides were quite dangerous. Lots of kids were getting cuts and bruises from them. A shame it's gone now, though. Good memories.

[@notyetskeletal4809]

I think i was last there in 2001. Clocked street fighter 2 whole people were wondering where I was. That slide was coool. Good memories from every time I went there.

[@daveyboots79]

2.23: Damn that was cold... spare a thought for the kids. But yeah, I got busted trying to sneak into this place many years back 😅

[@d.p.l9623]

The nostalgia, good stuff guys 👌

[@Seawithinyou]

I pray and hope these poor locals do get to see their beloved Hot Pools reOpened once again 🙏🏼🌞❤️

[@laurenconnolly6179]

Amazing! Really well done :))

[@princemusky]

Love the channel. Keep up the good work. Remember me when your famous lol

[@silver9489]

This is solid, keep it up

[@ayron4428]

Great videos mate 👍👍👍

[@frateris1838]

I used to work at Waiwera. We got utterly screwed, weren't given supplies or anything. Didn't have any kind of budget, just bloody ridiculous how we worked how we did. Weren't allowed to purchase supplies for cleaning. Just shocking. Without the Russian billionaire buying this place it would've been a great place to work.

[@debstar6679]

It’s so sad that it’s like that now. I use 2 go there with my daughter when she was younger

[@southsidetoo]

knew a guy who was hired to repair it but they found out the concrete for the pools is bad and would have to be replaced which kind of killed off any repairs when u might as well do a whole new rebuild.

[@kiwibonsai2355]

Loved this place as a kid. On the list of "The Great Kiwi Road Trip" Back in the day when filling the gas tank didn't empty the wallet. To see the government having to remove tax off fuel that pays for infrastructure so the consumer can afford it is wrong. Basically giving it to oil companies. Result of putting profit above humanity.

[@craigmnz]

Im onboard. Great idea for a channel 👏 keep it up

[@cameron6730]

this presenter was great (and very handsome!)

[@Purplecat3444]

i was just thinking the same thing 👌

[@TheDepartmentofInformation]

sub for more

[@K1VV1939]

Dear Waiwera and New Zealand, Some years back a Russian investor wanted to developed your Town But The New Zealand Government and Agents chose to go to war against the Nation from whence the Investor came from - Russia! By now if the NZ Govt hadn't followed the States into a war against Russia Waiwera and New Zealand would have had a great tourism business with Russia and China but due to the fact that New Zealand is Subject to the USA and The USA steels boats and business from Russians Waiwera has this issue. I like to look at Kiwi's as Not Being Biased As Australians and 5000 times better than Americans so would the Anti-Russian slant take a look at the BIAS given the REALITY. Greetings from Northland K1VV1

[@achernar2724]

Omg 😳 I left NZ and moved to Australia and it was still running how sad

[@new.Creation.In.Christ]

intermittent fasting with the right spring water 💧 👌

[@thatoneperson2731]

4:56 THAT FROG! OH MY GOD. I was hoping you'd show that thing. As a little kid, I tried to copy my brother who climbed up to its eyes but ended up slipping and banging my chin against it. I have a scar under my chin now! Jeez, that frog has seen better days

[@Tim_Shu]

That's sad, didn't realise it had closed, was a cool place to go with the fams

[@kav_nz]

Great video 👍🏼

[@fayeramos8366]

i worked with the guy who wears yellow shirt for 2 months and I enjoyed working with him. I’m so sorry I forgot his name. When I started my first day of work, I thought he was the owner of Waiwera, I’m sad it closed down. 😔

[@SacredDreamer]

😲😔 man I LOVED going to those hot pools back in the 80's

[@ryanrubalcava4128]

Im gonna look forward to bragging about seeing these videos before this channel blew up.

[@AaronANZ]

Hey man great video, maybe just project your voice a bit louder, it can be a bit hard to hear you at times

[@neofox2526]

I never knew it got abandoned, I used to go there back in the day

[@amycrawford3248]

!!!! Great

[@Gangstatownz]

John St Claire Brown resonates with me on a whole different level. I am insignificant, I am dust.

[@visionarysneaks4781]

So sad. Remember having great times here

[@_Not.all.RC_]

i hate waiwera, lost teeth and cut my face open on the blackhole right before it got shut down, i assume partly cause i did a mischief lol

[@physic3524]

thankyou for reporting on something which is so familiar to me

[@timgray8815]

Would have been awesome if you could have got the new owners on camera or on record. How did the asset pass from the dead Russian? Some unanswered questions!

[@ingramfry7179]

Blue Polo Shirt man is my new religion. 1:57 6:49

[@jayseaandfriends]

Sad, there’s nothing really like this elsewhere in NZ, or at least know of

[@lia-w3m]

underrated channel

[@ajcox5402]

Good work lads! Get those mics sorted out!

[@brainfood8971]

Anyone remember one of the slides with a sharp turn and when you got the turn you hit your head on the sides. It was pitch dark, they called it The Black Hole but we called it The Headache cause when everyone came out of the slide they would be rubbing their heads.

[@ausafrointernational9913]

Nice one boys.

[@blairmulholland]

I don't understand how you can screw Waiwera up. It's the closest natural hot spring to Auckland. It was a cash cow. People used to flock there. It was fantastic. Surely just a little investment and a fresh coat of paint could set it up again?

[@barristanselmy2758]

Waiwera used to be awesome i remember going there years ago.