Penguin Pools' large fibreglass pools often have to take flight before final installation in customers' backyards.

"We often have to crane them right over the house when the back of the section is inaccessible," Penguin Pools Waikato sales and installation franchisee Gary Rae said.

Mr Rae said the pools were cheaper than some other brands because they were made in New Zealand, in a factory near Hamilton International Airport and they were also high quality.

The cost of a pool varied and people had a number of related costs which had to be factored in, such as the installation, filtration system consents and fencing and landscaping.

"It can range between $10,000 and $25,000, depending on the type of pool," Mr Rae said.

Penguin Pools included installation of both the pool and the filtration system and could also look after the required safety fencing and any decking, he said.

The company is based in Hamilton after it was brought to New Zealand three years ago by the Cloke family when they emigrated from South Africa, where Penguin Pools has been operating for more than 50 years.

Matt Cloke now manufactures the pools, forming the fibreglass structures around a variety of moulds.

Mr Rae said the largest mould was 9 metres by 4.2m – "a fairly large pool" – but several different sizes and shapes, including a kidney-shaped design, were being developed.

"We are also working on a smaller model suitable for townhouses."

He said there had been increased interest over the year as the economy picked up, and there were plans to expand the company further with more franchises.

With growing demand, he expected more staff would be taken on both in sales and manufacturing.

"At this stage there are two people in manufacturing and two in installation [in Waikato] but we are in a growth industry so we will expand," Mr Rae said.

Mr Rae recommended people thinking of getting a pool for summer start the process in winter.

"Often people wait until the weather warms up.

"But by the time they get consent from the council and have everything installed they have lost a lot of their summer," he said.

- © Fairfax NZ News