Meet the Team
Jana
Pool Manager
Tēna tātou katoa, Ko Jana tōku ingoa.
Kia Ora! I’m Jana, and I’m absolutely stoked to introduce myself as the new Pool Manager for the Whangamatā Community Pool.
A bit about me! - Well i’ve been lucky enough to experience many different roles throughout my career so far - from serving in the Royal New Zealand Navy, working within Logistics, studying Te Reo Māori, to becoming a Kapa Haka Kaiako at our local kura. I've even worked as a lifeguard here at the Whangamatā Community Pool along the way!
With my background in logistics and a love for all things water-related, I’m excited to continue managing the organised chaos that is a swimming pool , with the ultimate goal of keeping those smiles flowing through our facility doors.
So pop in, say hi! Kia Ora! I’m looking forward to meeting you all.
Stay groovy pool goers, and I'll see you at the pool!
Hannah
Senior Lifeguard
We’re super excited to introduce Hannah, who joined the team earlier this year. Hannah has transitioned into her new role here at the pool swimmingly and word on the street is she also makes an amazing carrot cake! Hannah is Jana's 2IC and Senior Lifeguard at the pool, and we couldn’t be happier to have her on board.
Here’s a bit more from Hannah - "Looking for a lifestyle change, I decided to leave the busy city behind and come back to the Coromandel where I’d spend my summers. I love a physical lifestyle, being outdoors, and soaking up the small-town vibes. With a qualification in Sports Management, I’ve worked with sports organisations and schools as a Coordinator, and have been involved as a volunteer within my local sports club and events.
I’m loving the environment at the pool, especially the supportive community and the great team I work alongside. I’m excited to meet even more friendly faces!"
Nau mai haere mai Hannah, we love having you as part of the team and we’re sure you'll all love her too!
Lyndon
Lifeguard
Meet Lyndon. He’s our new part-time casual, whos truly been an absolute legend over the past month. While juggling his studies, he’s been holding it down here, making sure everything runs smoothly as the rest of our team works towards getting qualified and trained.
Lyndon’s dedication has been next level, and we’re lucky to have him on board! A man of few words, but I’ll let him introduce himself a bit more…
"Hey Legends, I'm Lyndon. Keen on any activities that has me outdoors , so I'm pretty stoked to be working here and I can't wait to meet you all!”
E mihi ana ki a koe Lyndon! Keep up the hard work and banter, we're all here for it!
Denise
Lifeguard
Denise, our house mom, super cleaner, and team baker! . Denise brings so many fabulous qualities to our team. She’s always filling our puku with outstanding home baking, and our facility is kept sparkling clean thanks to her expert cleaning tips and tricks! Most of you have probably met Denise by now, but for those who haven’t, here’s a few words from her...
"Hi, I'm Denise! I’m a lifeguard at the Whangamatā Community Pool, and I also teach Aqua Fit and Aqua Aerobics classes. We’ve got an amazing group of Aqua Holics who come along, and it’s not just about the exercise—they also sing along to the classic hits in the programme! . The pool is my happy place. I love being part of the community here, and it’s so rewarding to see both kids and adults enjoying all the great programmes we offer. Some people even just come to chill out and play in our beautiful, classic pool, enjoying 27°C crystal-clear water. Make the most of it - don’t miss out!"
Denise, you are truly the gem of our team! We’re so lucky to have you making our pool facility shine and keeping us all well-fed with your delicious baking.
Hunter
Lifeguard
Hunter is one of our school students, and most of you will already be familiar with his friendly face. He’s been with us for a few summers now, and he really has the pool operations down on lock! Unfortunately for us, this is Hunter’s last year at school, but we hope to pass on as many life skills, tips, and tricks to him as possible before he heads off on his next adventure. Before that happens though, let's get to know Hunter a little better!
"Kia Ora, I’m Hunter. I’ve been working at the Whangamata Community Pool for over a year now, so I may be a familiar face. I am in Year 13 at Whangamatā Area School and also on the Student Leadership Team. I really enjoy working at such a cool place with awesome people, and I’m always keen to meet more friendly faces!"
Tēnā koe Hunter! It’s evident from your mahi at the pool why the school chose you to be a part of their leadership team. Kia kaha, kia māia, kia manawanui – keep up the awesome work!
Kaitlyn
Lifeguard
Kaitlyn is our permanent part-timer, and we couldn’t be happier to have her on the team. You’ll see her around the pool with her friendly face, ready to help where needed and always keeping things running smoothly. She’s our girl of many hats, juggling several roles and working hard to achieve her goals. So let's hear more from the busy woman herself!
"Kia ora, I’m Kaitlyn! You may have seen me at Whangamatā Pharmacy or at Whangamatā Area School as a student teacher. I started working at the Whangamatā Community Pool in February and am loving it so far! I thoroughly enjoy having a chat with our pool goers and sharing yummy baking with our amazing team! Hint hint – please bring us baking anytime and of course come on down! "
Kaitlyn, we love having your bubbly personality as part of our team. You are going to be a fantastic teacher and we’re so lucky you've joined us. We know you'll all feel the same!