Wero Whitewater Park

What Wero Whitewater Park does

Wero Whitewater Park is New Zealand's first and only artificial whitewater facility, located in Auckland and owned by the Waka Pacific Trust. The venue operates two engineered rivers: the Grade 1-2 Tamariki River for introductory rafting and kayaking, and the Grade 3 River Rush featuring a 4.5-metre waterfall for advanced rafting. A 9,000m2 lake supports additional paddle and group activities. The technical core is the proprietary river-design IP delivered through its partnership with Whitewater Parks International, combined with on-site pumping infrastructure that sustains regulated flow conditions year-round.

The facility is AdventureMark certified (renewed 2025) and serves a deliberately diversified customer base spanning families, schools, corporates, community groups, and birthday-party bookings. On-site catering is operated under an exclusive partnership with Collective Hospitality, and adjacent bundling with Wero Climb extends the per-visitor product surface. Cultural differentiation is anchored by a Pou Kapua Taonga carved by Master Carver Wikuki Kingi Jnr, described as the world's largest of its kind.

Revenue is generated through per-activity pricing (rafting, kayaking, lake activities), group and event bookings, and catering commissions, with school and corporate volume contracts providing mid-week demand. Pricing is activity-based rather than subscription or anchor-contract based, and the business carries no disclosed digital or recurring-revenue layer.

Name

Wero Whitewater Park

Legal name

Waka Pacific Trust

Website

https://wero.org.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2025

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Wero Whitewater Park is New Zealand's only artificial whitewater facility, operating two engineered rivers and a 9,000m2 lake for rafting, kayaking, and group activities serving families, schools, corporates, and community groups in Auckland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adventure Tourism Services

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Whitewater Rafting, Kayaking & River Adventures (THAJABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Whitewater & Paddle Sports Centers (Rafting, Kayak, SUP, Canoe) (THAAAKAF), Aquatic Family Entertainment Centers (Splash Pads, Aquatic Playgrounds, Swim Parks) (THAJAEAL), Water & Marine Guiding Services (Kayak, Canoe, Raft, SUP, Sailing) (THAAALAB)

Keywords

• Artificial whitewater rafting
• Adventure tourism activities
• Kayaking and paddleboarding
• Corporate team building
• Youth adventure programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Wiri

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Whitewater Rafting Activities: Primary revenue from guided and unguided whitewater rafting experiences on two river grades. Tamariki River (Grade 1-2) priced from $50-65 per person with family packages and exclusive raft options up to $410. River Rush (Grade 3) priced at $115-150 per person for adventure experiences including waterfall.
2. Kayaking Activities: Revenue from private kayaking lessons (1:1, 1:2, 1:3 formats from $145-205), whitewater passes for certified kayakers ($19-27), inflatable kayaking ($75), and assessments for river certification ($27).
3. Lake Activities: Flat water kayaking and paddleboarding at $32 per person, giant stand up paddle board at $155 per board. General public access on weekends.
4. Gift Vouchers: e-Gift cards sold at $45, $50, $75, $100, $150, $200, and $250 denominations, plus specific activity vouchers for River Rush Rafting, Tamariki Rafting, Flatwater Activities, Private Kayak Lessons, and Wero Climb.
5. Birthday Party Packages: Bundled adventure and food packages: Birthday Party Package at $450 (rafting + 4 pizzas + drinks for 7), Birthday Party Combo at $530 (adds flatwater kayaking/paddleboarding). Extra child packages available.
6. Corporate Team Building: Customizable corporate packages including activities, catering packages, meeting room hire, and add-ons. Revenue from team adventures combining fun, challenge, and collaboration for leadership retreats and staff events.
7. School and Community Subsidized Programmes: Discounted rates for schools (weekday, school term hours) and recognized youth development organizations/community groups. Subsidized rates approximately 50% of retail pricing, with minimum participant requirements.
8. Te Araroa River Safety Courses: 3-hour bespoke courses for Te Araroa walkers including theory and practical in-water sessions teaching basic hydrology, river assessment, crossing techniques, and river following.
9. Wero Climb Partnership: Onsite climbing facility (operated by Wero Climb, separate entity) offering Adventure Course (ages 6+, height 125cm+, max 120kg) and Kids Course (ages 3-8, height 100-140cm). Combo packages with water activities available via contact.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Wero Whitewater Park operates New Zealand's first and only artificial whitewater facility, providing guided and self-guided rafting, kayaking, and flatwater lake activities across two grade-segregated engineered rivers (Grade 1-2 Tamariki River and Grade 3 River Rush) plus a 9,000m² lake. The park sells admission-based adventure experiences directly to consumers and tailored programme packages to schools, corporates, community groups, and birthday-party customers.

Product overview

Wero Whitewater Park is a world-class artificial whitewater facility operated by Waka Pacific Trust, offering a unified platform of water-based adventure activities. The core portfolio centers on two engineered rivers: the Grade 1-2 Tamariki River for recreational users and families, and the Grade 3 River Rush for advanced adventurers featuring a 4.5m waterfall. Adjacent to the rivers, a 9,000m2 lake supports flatwater kayaking and paddleboarding. The activity ecosystem includes guided rafting, self-guided kayaking with certification assessments, inflatable kayaking, tubing, and the Te Araroa River Safety Course. The site also hosts Wero Climb as a separate sub-brand climbing facility. For groups, the park offers structured School Programmes, Community Group Bookings (with subsidized rates), Corporate Team Building packages, and Birthday Party Packages that bundle activities with catering. Additional offerings include Gift Vouchers and Whitewater Passes for certified independent kayakers. All activities are AdventureMark certified for safety.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tamariki River Rafting Family-friendly rafting on the Grade 1-2 Tamariki River, accessible to ages 5+ (with adult supervision for ages 5-7). Includes optional swim down the rapids. Sold per person or as family/exclusive raft packages.
• River Rush Rafting Grade 3 whitewater rafting adventure including a 4.5m Pump Waterfall drop, for ages 13+. Sold per person or as exclusive raft packages with combo options.
• River Rush Extreme Advanced 2-hour Grade 3 rafting challenge for ages 16+, including sports raft manoeuvring, river surfing and swimming, and two waterfall drops, operated in crews of four.
• Tamariki Inflatable Kayaking Unguided inflatable kayak rental on Grade 1-2 whitewater, for ages 13+ with water confidence required. No certification needed.
• Private Kayaking Lessons Tailored private kayaking instruction for beginners to experienced paddlers in 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3 formats with expert instructors.
• Whitewater Kayaking Assessments Skill certification tests for Grade 1-2 and Grade 3 rivers, including rolling-ability assessment, required for unguided whitewater kayaking access.
• Whitewater Passes Single-visit river-access passes for certified kayakers to paddle the Tamariki River or River Rush independently.
• Flat Water Kayaking and Paddleboarding Lake-based kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding on a 9,000m² man-made lake, open to all ages and abilities on weekends.
• Giant Stand Up Paddle Board Group inflatable SUP rental accommodating up to eight people for paddleboard experiences on the lake.
• Te Araroa River Safety Course 3-hour bespoke course for Te Araroa long-distance walkers covering river hydrology, dynamic river assessment, and crossing techniques, combining theory and practical in-water sessions.
• River Safety and Crossings Educational programme teaching river crossing techniques and safety skills on the Tamariki River, offered at subsidized rates to schools and community groups.
• Tamariki Tubing Whitewater tubing experience on the Tamariki River for groups of 20 or more participants, offered at subsidized rates.
• Corporate Team Building Customizable corporate adventure packages combining activities, catering, meeting-room hire, and add-ons for leadership retreats, team challenges, and staff days out.
• School Programmes Subsidized structured water-activity programmes for primary, intermediate, and secondary schools during school-term hours, including instructed flatwater kayaking, intro to whitewater, beginner whitewater, river safety, rafting, and tubing.
• Community Group Bookings Subsidized rates for recognized youth development organizations and tertiary students, including rafting, kayaking, tubing, and river safety programmes booked at least one month in advance.
• Birthday Party Packages Bundled children's birthday-party packages including Tamariki River rafting, four pizzas and drinks for seven, with optional flatwater kayaking or paddleboarding add-ons.
• Gift Vouchers e-Gift cards in fixed denominations ($45-$250) and activity-specific vouchers for River Rush Rafting, Tamariki Rafting, Flatwater Activities, Private Kayak Lessons, and Wero Climb.

Quantifiable outcome

• Adventure Activity Safety Audit Certified until 2028
• +1 more outcomes

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• AdventureMarkcoreOthers · 9 April 2025AdventureMark conducted safety audit establishing that the operator's Safety Management System and delivery of listed adventure activities complies with the Safety Audit Standard for Adventure Activities. Certification No. AAO 2104, valid until 08 April 2028.
• Whitewater Parks International (WPI)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerWPI was the design brain-power behind New Zealand's first and only artificial whitewater facility. WPI has worked on Penrith Whitewater Stadium, Lee Valley Whitewater Stadium and the Rio Olympic Whitewater Stadium. At Czech Technical University of Prague, WPI built a scale model to test and fine-tune the design.
• Master Carver Wikuki Kingi Jnr, QSMcoreOthersLed creation and project management of Pou Kapua Taonga, a significant Maori/Pacific Indigenous cultural arts project carved from ancient kauri. World's largest totem of its type.
• Tania Haerekiterā Wolfgramm-KingicoreOthersCo-led creation and project management of Pou Kapua Taonga with Master Carver Wikuki Kingi Jnr.
• Ted Ngataki MNZM (Ngati Tamaoho)coreOthersMaster Carver and Kaumatua who designed the 110 Pou Kaitiaki guardians along the two rivers. Also led carving of Waka Nga Hononga with Master Carver Anton Forde.
• Master Carver Anton FordecoreOthersLed whakairo (carving) project for Waka Nga Hononga waka installed at entrance of Wero Whitewater Park.
• Collective HospitalitycoreOthersWero's exclusive caterers. Community group conditions state individuals and groups cannot bring meals or beverages into the park (KFC, Domino's, Subway, McDonald's, etc.).
• Inuit Carver Frank Wolfhead (Glacier Bay, Alaska)minorOthersContributed to Pou Kapua carving on behalf of Inuit peoples from Glacier Bay, Alaska.
• Professor Anthony Dieter (Cree Nation, Saskatchewan, Canada)minorOthersContributed to Pou Kapua carving on behalf of Cree Nation from Saskatchewan, Canada.
• Tavita (Cook Islands Carver)minorOthersCook Islands carver who spent hundreds of hours carving Cook Islands stories and figures on Pou Kapua.
• Tomas Tukitepano and Luis Hey Chavez (Rapanui/Easter Island)minorOthersCarved two 3 metre high moai (Easter Island figures) from hinuera stone for placement at Wero.
• Wero ClimbcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOnsite climbing facility operated separately from Wero Whitewater Park but under Waka Pacific Trust umbrella. Offers Adventure Course (ages 6+) and Kids Course (ages 3-8). Water activity + climbing combo packages available via contact.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Go Ape: UK-based outdoor adventure operator offering high-ropes, zip lines, and adventure courses. Adjacent outdoor adventure category comparable to Wero's Wero Climb sub-brand and broader group/team-building positioning.
• Wet'n'Wild Water World: Auckland-based water park operator offering family water-based entertainment. Regional competitor for Auckland family leisure spend and birthday/group bookings, though differentiated as a rides-based water park rather than rafting.

Emerging players

• Augsburg Kanu (Eiskanal): Augsburg, Germany's historic artificial whitewater canoe slalom course used for the 1972 Olympics. Comparable engineered whitewater venue though more focused on elite training and competition than Wero's broader consumer-and-school model.

Direct peers

• Lee Valley White Water Centre: London-based artificial whitewater venue also designed by Whitewater Parks International and built for the 2012 Olympics. Direct comparable in product (engineered Grade 2/3 rapids, kayaking, rafting, courses) and target customer (general public, schools, corporates, elite training).
• U.S. National Whitewater Center: Charlotte, NC-based whitewater and outdoor recreation center with engineered rapids, kayaking, rafting, paddleboarding, and adventure courses. Comparable broad outdoor adventure venue with similar mix of recreational, training, and group bookings.
• Adventure Parc Snowdonia: Wales-based artificial whitewater and adventure facility featuring a 250m Olympic-standard course plus surfing and adventure activities. Closest European analogue to Wero's engineered whitewater plus adjacent outdoor activities model.
• Penrith Whitewater Stadium: Australia's artificial whitewater stadium built for the Sydney 2000 Olympics, designed by WPI. Offers rafting, kayaking, and recreational float experiences comparable to Wero's Grade 1-2 Tamariki and Grade 3 River Rush offerings.
• Nottingham National Water Sports Centre: UK-based water sports centre with artificial whitewater course offering rafting, kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding. Comparable operational mix of recreational, instructional, and school/corporate group bookings.

Regional players

• Rainbow's End: New Zealand's largest theme park located in Manukau, Auckland, near Wero. Comparable as a domestic Auckland-based family entertainment attraction targeting similar family, school, and birthday-party segments.

Others

• Czech Technical University Water Research (CVUT): Academic partner that scale-model tested Wero's hydraulics. Functions as an enabling/technical partner rather than competitor; relevant for understanding Wero's engineering pedigree and as a comparable validator for artificial whitewater facility design.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/werowhitewaterpark
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vector-wero-whitewater-park

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wero Whitewater Park