Splash Planet

Last updated
Splash Planet
Previously known as Fantasyland [1]
Splash Planet.jpg
LocationGrove Road, Hastings, New Zealand
Coordinates 39°38′39″S176°51′49″E / 39.644041°S 176.863649°E / -39.644041; 176.863649 Coordinates: 39°38′39″S176°51′49″E / 39.644041°S 176.863649°E / -39.644041; 176.863649
StatusOperating
OpenedOpened as Fantasy Land in 1967, Splash Planet in 1998
SloganHawke's Bay's Number One Family Attraction!
Operating seasonNovember–March [2]
Area6.5 ha (16 acres) [3]
Attractions
Total12
Water rides7
Website www.splashplanet.co.nz

Splash Planet is an amusement park and water park located in the city of Hastings, New Zealand. The park was opened in its current form in 1998.

Contents

Fantasyland

Fantasyland first opened in Easter of 1967. [4] It contained several attractions, including a miniature railway, mini-golf, a steamboat ride, play structures, and flat rides. By the 1990s, the park was beginning to show its age, and the Hastings District Council proposed that it be redeveloped into a waterpark. At the time of its conception the council had decided that the park would be a money spinner and was certain that it would supplement the taxes that local residents paid. The park was also hoped to attract people from outside the region to visit the region and spend money not only at the park but also at local business within the city.

Construction

Construction of the new waterpark facilities was done by Alexander Construction, a local company who has worked on many other large attractions within Hawke's Bay. Work began in July 1998, and finished before the new year, taking only 4.5 months to complete. This was done at a cost of $4,700,000. [5]

Referendum

Before Splash Planet left the drawing board the Hastings District Council put the decision on whether or not Splash Planet would be built to public referendum. The referendum outlined a number of policies in an attempt to gain the locals' confidence. These policies included the fact that Splash Planet would be self-sustaining and would not cost the taxpayers any money.

Financial Woes

Despite being sold to rate payers as a money making venture plash Planet will lose about $800,000 in the current 2009 fiscal year. In fact, the soon-to-be-released LTCCP projects it will lose about $800,000+ each year for the next ten years that’s $8.3 million. [6] Covid19 [7] and staffing issues [8] forced the park to close for a period and close early exacerbating losses to rate payers.

Attractions

Splash Planet's "Sky Castle" Sky Castle, Splash Planet, Hastings.jpg
Splash Planet's "Sky Castle"

The park contains several wet and dry attractions.

"Wet" attractions

"Dry" attractions

The Pirate Ship at Fantasyland in 1979 which was a victim of arson in 2015. Fantasyland Pirate Ship.jpg
The Pirate Ship at Fantasyland in 1979 which was a victim of arson in 2015.

Former attractions

Battle of Hastings Paintball Event

In late 2013 a major paintball event known as the Battle of Hastings took place at Splash Planet. It drew players from around New Zealand to compete in massive paintball battles. The event was held again in October 2014

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References

  1. ↑ Ramsay, Heather (2008-04-07). "School holiday hints to keep all the family happy". The New Zealand Herald . p. 2. Retrieved 2010-04-16.
  2. ↑ "Splash Planet Opening Hours".
  3. ↑ "All About Hawkes Bay - Splash Planet...fun... wet and wild". Hawke's Bay. 2008-01-30.
  4. ↑ "Community Link May 28, 2005". Hastings District Council. 2005-05-28.
  5. ↑ "Splash Planet".
  6. ↑ https://baybuzz.co.nz/instead-of-blank-we-get-splash-planet/
  7. ↑ https://www.hastingsdc.govt.nz/home/article/2185/public-health-risks-too-great-to-open-splash-planet-this-summer
  8. ↑ https://www.hcamag.com/nz/specialisation/recruitment/splash-planet-waterpark-to-close-2-months-early-due-to-staffing-woes/435182
  9. ↑ "Pirate ship at Hastings' Splash Planet burns down". The Dominion Post. Fairfax. 5 April 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
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