When Pickleball Trumps Play: Christchurch Families Speak Out Over Gymnastics Displacement
A group of Christchurch parents is raising serious concerns following a decision by Christchurch City Council to relocate a long-standing Preschool Gymnastics programme from the main stadium at Pioneer Recreation and Sport Centre. The change, made without consultation, has displaced the structured, developmental children’s programme in favour of casual Pickleball sessions, prompting allegations of poor planning, legal breaches, and the marginalisation of vulnerable children.
This term, families attending the popular Preschool Gymnastics programme were blindsided by a sudden and disruptive change. Without warning, the programme was moved from its usual location in the stadium to a small, unsuitable upstairs room known as the Den/Lookout, lacking key equipment and space necessary for children's physical development.
The change left children confused and distressed. On the first day of Term 2, the class began as normal, only to be interrupted when Pickleball players, already occupying the stadium, took over most of the space. The noise, disruption, and sensory overload were deeply unsettling, especially for children with neurodiverse needs.
While Week 2 saw a return to the stadium following parent complaints, families were told, without consultation, that the programme would be permanently moved upstairs from Week 3 onward.
And then the worst happened.
In Week 3, the most vulnerable child in the group, who already struggles with sensory processing, became so overwhelmed by the new environment that they couldn’t participate. After just 15 minutes, they left the session in distress. Their parent was left wondering: What do we do when a paid service is no longer accessible, or delivered as promised?
This situation raises serious questions not just about programme delivery, but about compliance with New Zealand law.
The Christchurch City Council appears to be in breach of:
The Consumer Guarantees Act 1993, which requires that paid services are delivered with reasonable care and match their description.
The Human Rights Act 1993, which mandates public services to make reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.
Council’s Recreation and Sports Services Manager, David Bailey, claimed the decision was intended “to accommodate the needs of all users,” stating the alternative venue was appropriate and that only one parent had complained. He further suggested that Pickleball sessions attract an average of 45 people, while the gymnastics class has just seven participants.
These claims are misleading:
In reality:
Multiple parents have voiced concerns, not one.
The original session disruption wasn’t a scheduling clash but a takeover. Pickleball was already running when the gymnastics class began.
The claimed participation numbers are unsubstantiated and have been challenged by parents and Pickleball members.
Crucially, even Pickleball players have offered workable solutions—including capping player numbers, rescheduling to alternative time slots, and installing soundproofing—all of which have been ignored by the Council.
In a meeting with Mandy Anderson, Manager of Recreation Programmes, she acknowledged that “children should take priority as a paid programme” and that they are “the future of our community.” These words are powerful, but her actions, and those of her department, reflect a failure to follow through.
Council staff have been offered training in neurodiversity and inclusive practice—resources designed to help them better support all community members. Yet there is no evidence that these opportunities have been embraced or applied in this case.
This is not just a poor decision. It is an ethical, legal, and developmental failure. The current arrangement excludes the very children the programme was designed to serve. For some, participation has been impossible.
We are calling on Christchurch City Council to:
Immediately reinstate the Preschool Gymnastics programme to its original Pioneer Recreation and Sport Centre stadium space.
Engage in transparent consultation with families and community members.
Implement long-term planning that centres the well-being of children, particularly those with additional needs.
Because when casual convenience takes precedence over childhood development and legal responsibility, we must ask:
What kind of community are we really building?
This issue was highlighted in the Christchurch Press on Friday, 16th May 2025
Feedback from the public on the Press Article has shown that all the Christchurch City Council cares about is money and not the community.
