Excellent reaction to Super Swim initiative in Napier

Super Swim card holders make the most of the Napier Aquatic Centre. Photo / Supplied

A special offer for Napier senior swimmers has received a phenomenal reception.

Texas-based couple Phil Krueger and Judy Newman made a unique contribution to the Napier Aquatic Centre, meaning that over-65s who are SuperGold cardholders would be able to use the Napier Aquatic Centre for just $1 a time from September 1.

Napier City Council manager for sports and recreation Glenn Lucas said the Super Swim was available on both single entry and a 10 visit concessions.

"The early results show a pretty huge increase in senior usage, which is awesome and exactly what Philip, Judith and NCC were hoping to achieve."

Between August 1-10 this year the Napier Aquatic Centre sold 13 10-visit Gold Card concession cards and 12 single admission Gold Card entries.

Since Krueger and Newman made their contribution, sales from September 1-10 saw 40 10-visit Gold Card Concession Cards and 90 single admission gold card entries sold.

The couple have a special connection to Napier and spend January and February there each year.

They wanted to use some of their retirement money to do something for their adopted country.

The subsidy for senior swimmers is the latest initiative they have put their money towards.

Others include efforts to save kiwi via Cape, restoration of the old Napier Cemetery on Napier Hill, and upkeep of Napier's Botanical Gardens.

The initiative has brightened the day of many Gold Card holders, with one pool user writing in to the Aquatic Centre expressing her gratitude.

The 80-year-old woman, who suffers from arthritis, uses the pool five days a week and wrote to express her "appreciation for the kind gift."

She said due to daily use of the swimming pool, it enabled her to continue daily care.

"Our seniors are an important part of our community, and thanks to the kind support of Philip and Judith, we can remove a key barrier for our seniors to be more active within our aquatic centre," Lucas said.