Splash Planet

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Splash Planet is a combined amusement and water park in Hastings, New Zealand, on Grove Road. It covers about 6.5 hectares and has 12 attractions, including seven water rides. The park operates seasonally from November to March and uses the slogan “Hawke’s Bay’s Number One Family Attraction!”

History
The site began as Fantasyland, opening at Easter in 1967 with a miniature railway, mini-golf, a steamboat ride, play structures and other rides. By the early 1990s the park was aging, and the Hastings District Council decided to redevelop it into a waterpark to boost tourism and local business.

Redevelopment
Construction of Splash Planet was carried out by Alexander Construction and finished in 1998 in about 4.5 months, at a cost of NZ$4.7 million. Before it opened, the council held a public referendum and promised the park would be self-sustaining and would not cost taxpayers.

Financing and performance
Despite those promises, the budget for the 2024–25 season showed a planned taxpayer subsidy of about NZ$1.7 million (up from NZ$1.42 million). As of January 2025, visitor numbers were down about 15,000 from the previous season, and revenue was NZ$558,000 below budget, though some costs were cut. The park closed five weeks earlier than planned in March 2025 due to bad weather and staffing shortages.

Notable events
Splash Planet hosted the Battle of Hastings paintball event in 2013 and again in 2014, attracting players from across New Zealand.