APOCALYPSE NOW
Inside the creepy water park that was once New Zealand’s largest but now left to rot after its billionaire owner fled
The park shut its gates in 2018 - and never reopened
ABANDONED, torn apart by weather and left to rot - one of New Zealand's largest and most adored water parks is now an apocalyptic wasteland.
The iconic Waiwera Hot Pools in Auckland was central to the local community before it became a haunting reminder of better times.
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After decades as a destination spot, the resort closed its doors in 2018 with the promise of a major renovation.
But its gates have stayed firmly shut, hiding what former visitors have described as a "horror movie".
Rubbish floats in green swamp-like pools surrounded by roofless, graffiti-covered buildings.
The whole site is littered with weeds, broken plaster, the remains of chairs, pool covers and dead palm trees.
But decay had long sunk in since its former Russian billionaire owner abandoned ship a few years ago.
Waiwera, known for the healing qualities of its water, was the site of the country's first tourist spa in the 1880s.
From the 60s onwards, the thermal resort was being constantly developed and upgraded as it catered to an increasing influx of tourists in summer months.
And by the 90s, it had been turned into a thrilling water park and in the early 2000s, truly hit its glory days.
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Up to 350,000 splashed about in its warm waters every year.
And by 2005, it boasted some major waterslides - the names of which are still well known by former visitors, including The Black Hole, Twister and Speedslide.
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In total, it now had 25 pools, including a movie pool and an adults-only pool.
The park also made money from bottling up the famous local water to be sold to restaurants, bars and shops.
Local news outlet, The Spinoff, described the Waiwera Hot Pools as "a place of hopes and dreams" for all the kids that grew up nearby.
A site that "put us on the map" until it was "mismanaged into oblivion," the outlet said last year.
It was referring to Russian Billionaire Mikhail Khimich who became obsessed with Waiwera after trying its water for the first time in 2008.
In 2019, he leased all the land and businesses associated with it, including the water park and hotel.
However, critics accused the businessman of only being interested in the water bottling plant as he ploughed his energy into taking the brand global.
Under his helm, Waiwera Artisan Water began to be shipped internationally and even once scooped an award for "world's best water".
However, the water park was neglected, underfunded and quickly losing its spark.
It began racking up one star ratings online as visitors despaired over "terrible" conditions.
Decay was creeping in, there was algae in the swimming pools, exposed nails near pool areas and children were getting hurt on the rusting waterslides.
A few upgrades were made in 2012 but its patrons said it was far too little, too late.
The resort continued to suffer as visitor numbers tanked and businesses shut.
In 2017, plans emerged for major and costly renovations to restore the park to its former glory and also add an entire new section that would include pirate-themed water slides and a cafe.
It was closed in December - and the public was told renovations could take up to two years.
But it never reopened.
Khimich reportedly laid off all the employers and construction workers were spotted at the site, but they appeared to be taking it down, The Spinoff reports.
All the slides were removed except the much-loved Twister and the rest of the park was left to rot.
It turned out that Khimich had gone bankrupt and had two years worth of unpaid bills on the resort.
He fled the country, abandoned the property and allegedly left behind hundreds of thousands in debt.
"It looks like something out of the Syrian war," one local man told the YouTube channel, The Department of Information.
"It should be bulldozed," another said.
"The place looks like a bomb site," a third said.
Now, it's back in the hands of its long-term owners who hope to carry out an entire renovation that is set to cost a staggering £120million.
Last year, The Sun told the pitiful story of L'aquatic Paradis water park, which has been dubbed the "world's creepiest".
The spooky Spanish theme park has sat abandoned for almost 30 years - rotting, decaying and terrifying the locals due to the grim urban legend behind its closure.
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And thousands of miles away, another eerie deserted water park has been terrifying those that live near to it.
Ho Thuy Tien park in Hue. Vietnam was abandoned to the jungle 17 years ago after only being open for two years.
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