The iconic whale pool in New Brighton is demolished in November 2018 to make way for hot pools.

After 47 years of being enjoyed by thousands of children, New Brighton's original whale paddling pool has been demolished.

The pool and surrounding playground is making way for a $11.2 million hot salt water pool complex in the seaside Christchurch suburb.

A replica has been built in the $5m neighbouring playground, which opened in December 2017, but seeing the original whale go had been hard for some people, North Beach resident and Coastal Burwood Community Board chairwoman Kim Money said.

IAIN MCGREGOR/STUFF The new playground, with a replica whale, is next to the old one.

"It's hard for some people to let go, but we've got a new whale that will take us into the next 50 years."

Money has fond memories of taking her children down to the whale with some fish n' chips in hand.

IAIN MCGREGOR/STUFF The site has been cleared to make way for New Brighton's new salt water hot pools.

"They'd have a great old time."

On Friday, she took her grandchildren to see it being demolished.

"We have to look at what they are replacing it with."

IAIN MCGREGOR / STUFF Moses Thompson, 4, Honor Moke, 4, and Ezra Moke, 11 months, watch the demolition of the whale pool in New Brighton.

The whale's popularity was made clear when 90 per cent of people who responded to a Christchurch City Council survey said they wanted the whale paddling pool to be a feature of the new community playground.

Development Christchurch Limited (DCL) chief executive Rob Hall said the original whale was too fragile and would not have survived the move to the new playground, so a mould was taken and a twin produced.

"We know many people will be sad to see the old whale go, but the development of the hot pools is set to be an exciting project for New Brighton."

IAIN MCGREGOR / STUFF The remains of the old whale pool in New Brighton, which was demolished on Friday.

Once demolition was finished, work would get under way early in the new year to drill bores for the water that would be used to heat the pools. Construction of the pools would follow once building consent was obtained.

Construction was expected to take about a year to complete, Hall said.

DCL, which is leading the regeneration of New Brighton for the council, was granted a resource consent for the pools in November.

IAIN MCGREGOR/STUFF The whale pool in New Brighton is demolished to make way for the new salt water hot pools.

The complex will sit on 1900 square metres of land and include five hot salt water pools ranging in temperature from 40 degrees Celsius to 28C for the fitness pool and a small circular plunge pool will sit at 12C.

The pools will be split into four zones, including passive therapeutic, fitness, family passive and family active zones. There will be two buildings either side of the pools housing changing rooms, the steam room and sauna, toilets, a plant room, and a cafe.

"The hot pools will be more than just an exciting recreation facility for locals and visitors: the development is part of wider plans to regenerate New Brighton and bring life back to the village," Hall said.



"The aim is to create a regional attraction that kickstarts New Brighton's revitalisation, drawing people into the village centre."

IAIN MCGREGOR/STUFF Thousands of children have enjoyed the original whale paddling pool at New Brighton since it was built in 1971, including Mikayla Mauer, 9, left, and Hana McMillan, 6, who are pictured here in 2013.

JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON/STUFF The whale's identical twin lives on in a new neighbouring playground.