Kaukau Mōmona: Fat Swim - Wellington 13 April

Kaukau Mōmona: Fat Swim

Get together with other fat babes for a joyful swimming experience. Swim, play, lounge, and relax in a room full of people who look like you.

Join us at the Aquadome in Mt Victoria, Wellington, from 7pm-9pm on Saturday 13 April.  We've hired out the whole pool. Grab your tickets here. 

A Gentle Glow

To keep things interesting and cos we deserve beautiful things, this swim will be divided into two parts. From 7pm until 8pm, it'll be the Fat Swim you already know and love, with overhead lights and tunes pumping. 

At 8pm, we'll be turning off the overhead fluorescents and out will come fairy lights, colourful LEDs in the water, glow sticks and other pretty things, for a very softly lit mellow vibe. Could this end up being the new Willy Wonka Experience? We hope not! 

Other than the two lighting schedules, there's no timetable or structure for this event, just show up, get in the water and have a good time. There'll be plenty of fat babes to meet & greet, or just do your own thang.

The main pool will be for frolicking, ball games and loudness, and we'll keep the kiddy pool for soaking relaxing. This will be (gently) policed so those of us who need a quieter space will be able to enjoy their time too.  

There are two ticket levels: Paid and Community. If you can afford it, please choose a paid ticket to help with the pool hire costs. If you can't pay $12, please choose a community ticket for free, so that we know numbers expected. 

If you want to support this and other fat swims, but are unable to attend, feel free to select a donation ticket.

As this is an indoor space, we are still in a pandemic and it’s hard to swim in a mask, please take a RAT before attending. 

Questions and answers

Hey, this has gone up $2 since the last swim

Yes it has! The pool has raised their hire rates from $100 p/h + GST to $120 p/h + GST because their gas bill increased 48% last year, and I price tickets at selling 20 to break even. But if you don't have $12 spare, there are still free community tickets of course. 

What’s the Aquadome? 

It’s the covered heated pool at Wellington East Girls’ College. Find out more about its history here: https://www.cityswim.co.nz/about-the-aquadome.  

Isn't "Fat" a bad, insulting word?

No it's not. I'm tall, brunette-ish and fat. These are all neutral descriptors. Take the word back and reclaim its power.

Tell me about accessibility

Unfortunately the pool is not as accessible as Karori Pool where we have had swims in the past. 

• The Aquadome is at the very back of Wellington East Girls College, so it is a bit of a hike up a hill from the gate. 
• There is plenty of parking available on the netball courts and by the pool entrance.
• We will put mobility stairs in the water to assist with getting in and out, and are happy to lend a hand as well if you need it. The pool is not wheelchair accessible, unfortunately. 
• If you're disabled and need to bring a companion, of course their ticket is free.
• There are male & female changing areas as well as gender neutral toilets - please feel free to use the space that best works for you, and please respect other people's decisions. 
• We will probably be playing pop music. Please contact us in advance if this would make the event inaccessible for you.
• If you don't have togs, feel free to swim in whatever is most comfortable for you.
• While we will do our absolute best to make sure there's still safe amounts of lighting in the Gentle Glow Hour, if you have low vision in dim light, the first hour of the swim may be a better experience for you. 
• Everyone is required to take a RAT before attending, because community looks after each other. 

Why aren’t you doing this at Karori Pool with the hydroslide and spa and the good access? 

Because Wellington City Council don’t want to hire out public pools for private events anymore. 

Is this event only for fat people? How are you defining that?

You know if you're fat or not, there's no minimum size or tape measures here. We want to create a space where we feel comfortable in our bodies, where we can swim and play and frolic without having to think about our size.

• Trans & nonbinary babes of any size: you're very welcome - unruly bodies solidarity! 
• Single cis men: This probably is not the right space for you unless you are the fat partner of a fat babe - in which case you are very are welcome!  
• Children: This event is designed for grown-ups, however we don't want childcare issues to exclude anyone. If you're bringing a child, please add the free children's tickets to your cart so we can let the lifeguards know in advance. You will be responsible for your child the whole time.
• Allies: If the only way you’ll feel comfortable to attend is if you can bring one non-fat friend, that's okay, but they must be very respectful about the fact that this is a safe fat space especially for fat people.

• Paid tickets: This (hopefully!) covers your share of the cost of hiring the pool for two hours. 
• Community ticket: Can't afford the $12 right now? That's cool, you still deserve to be in a lovely safe space with other fat babes. Please select a community ticket so that we can track numbers.
• Child ticket: if you are unable to get childcare, bring them along. Tickets are free, but again, please add a child ticket to your order so that we can track numbers.
• Donation: If you want to support the kaupapa of providing fun safe spaces for fat people but can't come along, please feel free to purchase one or more of these donation tickets (or add one to your regular ticket if you're feeling flush.

Wait, House of Boom is a commercial business, why are you asking for donations?

Selling clothes IS a commercial business, you're right. But the fat swim is an extension of Camp Boom work for fat liberation. Taking on the financial risk of hiring out a venue to provide a space for people to be themselves in is not a for profit exercise. Any money that's raised by this fat swim will go to lowering the cost of the next one.

What if I've bought a ticket and now I can't come? Can I get a refund?

Sorry, no refunds unless you test positive for COVID. You are welcome to pass on your ticket to another fat person though. In the unlikely event that the event is canceled, your ticket will be refunded. House of Boom is not liable for any of your travel costs.

I can't make Saturday 13 April. Will there be other fat swims?

Hopefully! Watch this space.