Waihi Beach Accessible Changing Facility Opens

          
♿ ACCESSIBLE WAIHĪ BEACH – TRUE COLLABORATION!

There’s been lots of coverage about our Accessible beach day and the opening of the new changing facility, but we wanted to take a moment to share a quick overview of the project and acknowledge the many people who worked behind the scenes to make it happen.

Firstly – we can confidently say we are New Zealand’s most accessible beach.

What does this mean? It means we currently have some of the best facilities located right by the beach, allowing people in wheelchairs, with mobility challenges, or with complex medical needs to enjoy a safe and full beach experience. It also strengthens emergency response on site, with the facility located inside the Surf Lifeguard Clubhouse, right next to the first aid room, giving the team additional space when needed to care for people while maintaining privacy and dignity.

At Waihi Beach we now offer:

  • Accessible beach mats
  • Two beach wheelchairs
  • An accessible changing facility with ceiling hoist, adjustable change table, shower and toilet
  • Accessible water fountain and picnic table
  • Plus, the Surf Lifeguard Clubhouse has a lift so everyone can head upstairs for food and drinks after a day at the beach.
Projects like this don’t happen overnight. The collaboration to reach this point has taken years, and we want to acknowledge the incredible local people and organisations who supported this project and our opening day, alongside Cindy and team from Live Well Waihī Beach and Donna and the team at Waihī Beach Lifeguard Services Inc.

 

A huge thank you to:
• Dave MacCalman – for his vision, accessibility advocacy and guidance
• Kelvin Blackwell, Andrew Cochrane and Kathryn Troughton – the team behind the scenes managing construction and processes of the Facility
• Tarsh Munro Waihi Beach Physiotherapy – for her input into the facility planning
• Gary from LJ Hooker Waihi Beach + Waihi – for donating a beach wheelchair, contributing funding for the mats, and running a sausage sizzle on the opening day
• Mike and Sheryl from Orokawa Bay Retreat – for cleaning and maintaining the beach mats for five seasons, and providing accommodation for Dame Catriona Williams
• Tasman Holiday Parks – for storing the beach wheelchairs and managing bookings
• Waihi Beach Surf School – for their ongoing support of the adaptive surfing days
• Mayor View Volunteer Fire Brigade – for helping wash down and maintain the mats
• Waihī Beach School – Te Kura Tātahi o Waihī and Te Whānau a Tauwhao – for their beautiful waiata and support
• Dame Catriona Williams – for visiting Waihi Beach to show support and officially opening the facility
• @emmetschaare – for travelling from Hamilton to open the facility and inspire rangatahi that anything is possible
• Ben Haarmann & Hollie from Waihī Beach for taking epic shots on the day
And of course – our amazing volunteers who showed up on the day to help with adaptive surfing!
And thank you to our major sponsors:
To everyone who has contributed their time, energy and support to this incredible kaupapa — together we’ve shown that when a community unites behind a shared vision, extraordinary things are possible.

 

Now spread the news about our accessible beach – head here for more info > https://livewellwaihibeach.co.nz/accessibility/
By Office Admin Membership