"As well as enabling our pupils to have swimming as part of their summer curriculum, we have a local person who provides after-school lessons for all children, including preschoolers.
"We also offer all community members access to the pool outside of school hours throughout summertime."
According to Moke, the school had been hoping to upgrade the pool area for more than a year.
"We had a grassed area that wasn't pleasant to sit on, and there was no shade for pool users.
"Seating for spectators at our annual swimming sports was meagre and our change sheds could use a lick of paint."
As a small rural school, funds are always tight and the committee decided to apply for funding through NZCT.
Their grant was accepted.
"One of the most important things we've realised with this grant is the installation of a shade sail that covers the entirety of the supervisor and spectator area.
"This helps us to keep all our children, staff and community members sun safe. We have also been able to concrete the grassed area and install comfortable seating.
"It's great that we can now enable more swimming hours which are sun safe and embark on more regular water safety programmes for the community."
Moke says the upgrade is a work in progress because it's being done by members of the Tutira community at no charge and will be some time before it's completed.
During the 2016/17 financial year, NZCT distributed $43.3 million through 2168 grants to amateur sports clubs, rescue and life-saving services, education, health, the arts, and cultural and community groups across New Zealand.
