About Principal Pools

Kia ora We're the Harsveld family, and we've been building Auckland's best backyards for over 15 years.

Growing up in Auckland, pools were just part of life for the Harsveld family.

On dad’s side, there was always a pool in the backyard. Summers meant jumping in after school, weekend BBQs where the whole family gathered around the water, kids growing up with that kind of freedom that only a backyard pool gives you. On mum’s side, it was the Coatesville Community Pool just down the road. Friday afternoons, school holidays, that familiar smell of chlorine and sunscreen that still takes you straight back.

Pools weren’t a luxury for us growing up. They were just where family happened.

That’s still true today. Edward and Gabby have watched their own kids grow up in the water, and now they’re watching their grandkids take their first swimming lessons in the same pools they once swam in. It never gets old. And it’s exactly why we get so much joy out of helping other Auckland families get there too.

Why Auckland Families Are Switching to Fibreglass Pools

Like a lot of Auckland families, we went through the concrete pool era. And look, if you’ve owned one, you know. The chemical bills. The constant monitoring. The resurfacing costs that seem to come around just when you’ve forgotten about them. The rough surfaces. The maintenance schedule that starts to feel like a part-time job.

We loved our pool, but maintaining it was a grind.

When fibreglass started taking off, we paid attention. Fibreglass isn’t new technology. It’s been used in boats, aerospace, performance vehicles, and high-stress engineering applications for decades because of one simple truth: it’s strong, it’s flexible, and it lasts. A material trusted to keep boats watertight in open ocean is more than capable of holding your pool water in a controlled backyard environment.

The difference in day-to-day ownership was night and day. Less chemicals. Easier cleaning. No resurfacing. A smooth, non-porous gelcoat surface that simply doesn’t give algae anywhere to grip. For a busy Auckland family that actually wants to use their pool rather than maintain it, there was no contest.

We were convinced. Then Leisure Pools called.

Why We’re the Right Choice

Choosing a pool is a big decision, and we know the worries that come with it—unexpected costs, overwhelming options, and the stress of getting it right. We understand these concerns and are here to make the process smooth and transparent. From the first consultation to the final installation, we’re committed to guiding you every step of the way, ensuring no surprises and a backyard that exceeds your expectations.

Expert Guidance

Trusted advice always

Total Transparency

Every step explained

Stress-Free Process

We handle it all

No Hidden Costs

Clear, upfront quotes

Best Warranty Available in New Zealand

Auckland's Exclusive Leisure Pools Dealer

When Leisure Pools approached us about taking on the exclusive Auckland dealership, it wasn’t a difficult decision.

Leisure Pools started in 2000 in a small warehouse in Yatala, Australia. What began as a passion project has grown into one of the world’s largest fibreglass pool manufacturers, with 130,000+ pools installed across 23 countries through a network of 500+ independent dealers. They didn’t get there by cutting corners. They got there by building a genuinely better product and backing it with a warranty that no one else in the industry comes close to matching.

In New Zealand, the best structural warranty you’ll find on most pools is around 15 years. Leisure Pools offers a 35 year Lifetime Structural Warranty and a 35 year Lifetime Structural Osmosis Warranty on every pool they make. That’s not a typo. Thirty-five years, on both the structure and against osmosis, backed by their patented Composite Armour technology and full Vinyl Ester Resin construction throughout every single layer of the shell.

Osmosis is something a lot of pool companies don’t like talking about. It’s the bubbling and blistering that can occur when groundwater works its way through cheap polyester resin layers, building pressure inside the shell over time. Leisure Pools use Vinyl Ester Resin throughout the entire construction process, not just as a single protective layer over cheaper materials. That’s why they can offer what no one else in New Zealand can.

When you’re talking about one of the biggest investments you’ll make in your home, that kind of backing matters.

Meet the Harsveld Family: Auckland's Trusted Pool Installers

Principal Pools isn’t a call centre. It’s not a franchise office with rotating staff. Every part of this business is run by the Harsveld family, and that shapes everything about how we operate.

Edward meets customers. If you’re coming in to talk about a pool, you’re talking to Edward. He’ll walk your section with you, understand what you’re trying to create, and help you map out a pool that actually works for your backyard and your family. He’s done it hundreds of times across Auckland and there’s very little he hasn’t seen.

Gabby runs everything else. Before joining the business full time, Gabby spent over 30 years as a Charge Nurse in the Emergency Department at North Shore Hospital. If you want to understand what that means in practice: she managed one of the highest-pressure, highest-stakes clinical environments in Auckland, coordinating teams, managing critical logistics, and doing it all with the kind of precision and care that keeps people safe. That’s the person handling your invoicing, your orders, your inventory, your customer communications, and your questions when you pick up the phone. People trust nurses, and for good reason. Gabby’s standards haven’t changed one bit.

Ashley handles the marketing and digital side of the business. Jacques, their son, mans the digger and works on installs. When our family says we stand behind every pool we install, we mean it literally.

Choosing the Right Inground Pool for Your Auckland Backyard

Auckland backyards come in every shape, size, and condition imaginable. A flat Papakura property is a completely different conversation to a steep Titirangi section or a tight inner-city lot in Ponsonby. What works beautifully in one backyard might not even be possible in another.

Before you speak to anyone, it’s worth spending ten minutes with our free Pool Builder tool. It’s designed to help Auckland homeowners get a realistic sense of what’s possible in their specific backyard, across different pool shapes, sizes, and configurations. No obligation, no follow-up sales call. Just a genuinely useful starting point so that when you do want to talk, you already have a clearer picture of what you’re looking for.

From compact plunge pools that transform a small urban section into a private retreat, to full-size family pools built for entertaining and growing kids, the Leisure Pools range has something for every Auckland backyard and every Auckland budget.

Fibreglass Pool FAQs for Auckland Homeowners

Most Auckland homeowners spend a while thinking before they reach out, and we think that’s completely sensible. A pool is a big decision and you should go into it informed.

Our fibreglass pool FAQ covers the questions we hear most often from Auckland homeowners. How long does installation take? What does council consent involve? How much does it actually cost to run a fibreglass pool compared to concrete? What’s the difference between pool shapes and which one tends to suit Auckland sections? What does the warranty actually cover and what do you need to do to keep it valid?

Honest answers, no fluff. We’d rather you come to us with the right questions than feel like you’re flying blind.

When you’re ready to have a conversation, get in touch. We’ll come to you, look at the section properly, and give you a straight answer about what’s possible.

We’ve been doing this in Auckland for over 15 years. We grew up swimming here. And we genuinely love helping Auckland families get to the same place.

Let’s build something your family will still be enjoying in 35 years.