50 Years of Mayfair
It’s no secret that Kiwis have a strong affiliation with the water. As a remote, island nation we are drawn to the water for relaxation, recreation and connection. It’s not a surprise to anyone, then, that a part of the Kiwi dream for many is owning a pool.
For 50 years, Mayfair Pools has been turning those dreams into a reality as one of New Zealand’s largest and most successful swimming pool designers and builders. With more than five decades of technical innovation, superior craftsmanship and ground-breaking engineering solutions, Mayfair Pools is ringing in their 50th year with a trip down memory lane.
Trusted by Kiwis as pioneers, delivering state-of-the-art swimming facilities for 5-star hotels and resorts, Mayfair Pools rose from humble beginnings in the city of Hastings in the 1960’s by brothers Keith and Colin Atkins. What originally started as a fibreglass caravan manufacturing business quickly saw the pair identify other areas in which they could expand including, swimming pools.
In 1970 Mayfair Pools celebrated the build of its first swimming pool at Hasting’s Apple Motor Inn. It wasn’t long after that a restructure saw Keith take over the swimming pool arm of the business under the Mayfair Pools brand.
The business went from strength-to-strength as demand soared and with it, the Mayfair Pools reputation reached new heights, so much so that an innovative licensing system was developed that enabled the business to continue expanding across New Zealand.
The year was 1974 and it was a busy and exciting time with experimentation at its core. Keith continued to develop new ideas, including inground construction methods governed by strict civil engineering and local authority requirements. Protecting their design and innovation, the company became protected by Australasian-wide patents.
The following year, the Mayfair swimming pool system was awarded a patent for New Zealand and Australia and the first licensee was established further down the island, in the town of Levin. International growth followed as Mayfair Pools entered the Australian market in the city of Darwin.
The 1980’s welcomed exponential growth with licensee’s opening in Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and Canberra. Mayfair Pools also entered the South Pacific market, with operations in Fiji, Samoa and Rarotonga.
In 1983 Mayfair’s first rooftop swimming pool opened on the roof of Auckland’s Sheraton Hotel.
The 2000’s showed no signs of slowing down and in 2013 the remarkable milestone of the company’s 40th anniversary was celebrated. Continued innovation and a nod to the company’s ‘always innovating’ ethos saw the introduction of swimming pool insulation as an option for all pools. In 2015 the company celebrated its 12,000th build and used the occasion to take stock of the journey and achievements to date, of which there have been many.
Now, in its 50th year, Mayfair Pools continues its rich and enduring legacy. Still proudly entrenched in the Atkins family, Keith’s son Clint oversees all operations, with 16 licensees holding 32 licenses across New Zealand and the South Pacific.
Shunning the status quo in favour of continued innovation, Mayfair Pools possess a true pioneering spirit built from a desire to provide a premium product every time. Their reputation is one of superior quality and craftsmanship with numbers that reflect their position as leaders in their field.
There are more than 40 commercial Mayfair swimming pools located in the Auckland CBD alone and more than 15,000 pools across New Zealand, Australia and the South Pacific.
50 years on the company still lives and breathes what they do. Their enthusiasm and drive to remain at the fore of their industry is unwavering and the Mayfair brand continues to be synonymous with quality and design. Happy Birthday Mayfair Pools – and here’s to the next 50.
