Manuka Pools & Wellness was established in 2026 by David and Claire Bennison, bringing together nearly fifteen years of specialist experience in the commercial aquatic industry with a shared commitment to doing things properly.
David has worked across the New Zealand and Australian commercial aquatic sectors since 2012, from remedial pool projects following the Canterbury earthquakes through to major public aquatic facilities and high profile apartment developments across Australia. He spent three and a half years as Myrtha Pools' Australasian Business Development Manager, building strong relationships with the manufacturers and clients who would later shape Manuka Pools & Wellness.
In early 2026, after a short break from the industry, David was approached by former suppliers and clients facing challenges of their own. What began as informal support grew into something bigger: an opportunity to bring together trusted, familiar brands and build a dedicated New Zealand distributor for commercial aquatic and water treatment equipment. Claire came on board as General Manager, and together they committed to building the business properly from day one.
The Manuka name has a story of its own too. Over fifteen years ago, David and Claire purchased a piece of land on Manuka Terrace in Twizel, long before either of them imagined starting a business together. Manuka is also closely associated with wellbeing in New Zealand, from manuka honey to its long history in traditional Maori medicine, so when it came to naming a business built around aquatic wellness, the combination felt like the right fit.
We work with aquatic centres, hotels, resorts, gyms, spas and wellness operators across New Zealand to specify and supply pool construction systems, sauna and spa installations, aquatic fitness equipment, and water treatment technology, backed by decades of manufacturing experience from our partner brands.
Manuka Pools & Wellness is based in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Our People
David Bennison
Managing Director
+64 22 5494 348
david@manukagroup.co.nz
david.bennison@myrthapartners.com
David moved from Nelson to Christchurch in 2003 to study at the University of Canterbury, where he completed a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Marketing and Management. While studying, David was also a full time competitive triathlete, training daily at the original QEII Stadium and Aquatic Centre, which is where he met his now wife, Claire.
David began his career in the aquatic industry with a Christchurch based aquatics company, working across pool construction and water treatment projects throughout the South Island.
He then joined Myrtha Pools as Business Development Manager for Australia and New Zealand, a role he held for three and a half years. During this time he tripled the region's annual turnover and introduced four new distributors to the Australian market, work recognised with Myrtha's "Best Business Development" award for western countries, presented at the Myrtha Pools International Marketing Meeting (MIMM), a biannual gathering of Myrtha dealers from around the world.
David then spent several years leading a prominent nationwide aquatics company, growing the business from a single office in Palmerston North with a team of four to a team of twelve across offices in Christchurch, Auckland, Palmerston North and Tauranga by the time he left in December 2025.
After a short break from the aquatics industry, David founded Manuka Pools & Wellness in 2026 after a number of suppliers and customers approached him, keen to see his depth of aquatic industry experience continue rather than be lost.
Claire Bennison
General Manager
+64 21 163 4403
claire@manukagroup.co.nz
claire.bennison@myrthapartners.com
Claire studied Exercise Prescription at the New Zealand Institute of Sport, then spent a year tutoring there before going on to work for Les Mills, one of New Zealand's most successful gym businesses. She followed this with several years in marketing and media, gaining broad experience across advertising, media buying and broadcast advertising.
Claire then spent twelve years with the New Zealand Police as a constable, building a strong foundation in managing large caseloads with a high level of attention to detail, and in implementing and enforcing process and procedure, skills she now brings directly to Manuka Pools & Wellness. She went on to work as a Health and Safety Manager for a nationwide scaffolding company, gaining further experience across the construction industry.
Claire joined Manuka Pools & Wellness as General Manager in June 2026, bringing this broad and varied background together in a role focused on people, process and delivery.