Hastings Splash Planet is facing a major turning point, with an estimated $34.7 million needed in the next 15 years to maintain the theme park's facilities.
By Linda Hall, Local Democracy Reporter
But as Hastings District Council asks the community for feedback on the park’s future, there are echoes of a decision made nearly three decades ago.
In 1998, the struggling Fantasyland theme park was transformed into the water-themed Splash Planet in an effort to give the attraction a new lease of life.
Now, 28 years later, Hastings faces another big question: what comes next for the site?
Mayor Wendy Schollum said the $34.7 million was mainly to maintain what’s already there, not add new attractions.
“Keeping Splash Planet much as it is could see the contribution on an average Hastings rates bill rise from about $50 a year now to an estimated average of $125 a year over that period,” she said.
“So should we keep investing in Splash Planet as we know it, or plan for something different?”
The question is one Hastings Council is asking ratepayers to consider as part of its Long Term Plan survey.”
Splash Planet has faced challenges in recent years with wet summers and fluctuating visitor numbers.
In the 2024/2025 season – after a wet, cold summer that included rare snowfall on the Ruahine and Kaweka Ranges on January 5 – the council closed Splash Planet 14 days earlier than scheduled.
There had been fears it may have to shut down after a spate of issues. (Source: 1News)
At the end of January 2025, visitor numbers were down more than 15,000 on the previous season and revenue fell $558,000.
The council said effective operations management cut costs by $232,000, reducing the loss to $326,000.
The 2025/2026 season proved better with 53,000 visitors by mid-January, 5000 more than during the same period the previous season.
Despite operating for 13 fewer days after an initial weekends-only opening, revenue increased by about $150,000 (ex GST).
Schollum said the council knew people loved Splash Planet.
Around 81,000 people visited last financial year, and independent analysis identified $11.4 million in spending across Hawke’s Bay associated with visitors from outside the region between October 2023 and March 2025.
But those benefits came at a cost. Ticket sales and other income didn’t cover the park’s operating costs, leaving Hastings ratepayers to contribute around $1.6 million a year.
Lawrence Yule, who was mayor of Hastings when Splash Planet opened and took the first ride down a slide, said the council was facing a familiar challenge, recalling the difficulties surrounding Fantasyland when he first joined the council.
“And now, decades on, it’s being reassessed, and I think that’s the right thing to do,” Yule said.
He said gate sales were never going to fund these types of facilities.
“Without a ratepayer cost, you simply wouldn’t have it.”
'Losing it would be a shame'
Splash Planet was unlikely to ever be commercially viable, but “losing it altogether would be a shame”, Yule said.
Hawke’s Bay artist Martin Poppelwell, grandson of Fantasyland founder Harry Poppelwell, said he believed it was time to consider whether the site still served the community in the way it once did.
He said he felt as if the whole thing could be a little worn out.
“Is Splash Planet a resource to the city anymore? I would possibly suggest that it’s not as much of a resource as it once was.
“We’re not the same culture as we were when Fantasyland started in the late 60s and then when it was turned over in the late 90s into Splash Planet.
“Whatever takes place there has the opportunity to tell a story about how we begin to adapt to perhaps a changing environment and a changing world.”
But he said it needed community buy-in.
“If it doesn’t have community buy-in, it’s not going to work.”
Schollum said they had trialled winter weekend opening and run off-season events such as Illuminate and Spooky Planet, which attracted more visitors.
“That’s encouraging, but it doesn’t remove the need to replace the ageing water park facilities.”
The council had also looked at leasing or selling the Splash Planet business while retaining ownership of the land, but so far had not found a suitable commercial proposal.
The council was now asking the community if it should keep Splash Planet much as it is, with ongoing visitor and ratepayer funding, or gradually move away, keeping attractions while they’re safe but not replacing them, and transitioning towards a simpler community park.
To have your say, visit myvoicemychoice.co.nz with consultation open until Sunday, November 29.
Hard copies are available at libraries in Hastings, Havelock North and Flaxmere, and at the Customer Service Centre on Lyndon Road, Hastings.
– LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air
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