The 5-year-old was pulled unresponsive from the water at Waltham Summer Pool in Sydenham on Wednesday.
It's understood she was found by two siblings.
It was one of two emergency water incidents in Christchurch that day. A teenager disappeared after jumping into the Waimakariri River. A search for the missing swimmer has resumed this morning.
A Givealittle page set up for the family of the 5-year-old girl says her two siblings were the ones who found her in the water.
"Just three days before Christmas and in a terrible accident at Christchurch's Waltham Pool, a 5-year-old child lost her life," the Givealittle post reads.
"Two of her siblings found her so you can imagine the pain and trauma they must be experiencing. As the family face the worst possible nightmare, they will need financial support to lessen the load of what they are already facing."
And in an emotional post yesterday, the girl's father said it was a very sad day for him and his family.
"It hurts me so hard for me doing this she was only 5 year old an she gone from me an i can't do nothing about [it] to bring her back to me an my family i love her so much but i know she gone to safe place [sic]."
A woman told Stuff she was at the pool reading a book. As her children and two of their friends were in the pool when she heard a woman yelling "help my granddaughter, help my granddaughter".
"I saw a man lifting her granddaughter out of the water, but I knew when I saw her being taken out of the water, she was gone. She was so lifeless."
The man lay the girl on the ground beside the pool as the grandmother was waving her arms screaming for help, Stuff reported.
She estimated it was about a minute until a lifeguard arrived and began CPR as the grandmother yelled "save her, save her".
A police spokesperson said emergency services were called to Waltham Swimming Pool at 2.45pm after reports that a child had been found unresponsive.
"CPR was carried out, however tragically the child was unable to be revived. Inquiries into the circumstances are underway."
Fire and Emergency NZ and St John were also called to the scene.
At least four ambulances were at the scene, along with three police vehicles.
Search for missing swimmer resumes
Meanwhile, a search for a missing swimmer who disappeared after jumping into the Waimakariri River on Wednesday has resumed.
A police spokesperson told The New Zealand Herald police had resumed their search today, although this was shoreline-based only.
Police said emergency services were notified on Wednesday evening that a person had failed to surface after jumping into the river.
Flynn Parker was at the scene at the time and said police and ambulance staff were involved in the rescue at the popular rope swing site.
"A helicopter came in very swiftly and was searching for two hours back and forth in the trees. Around four boats, including the harbourmaster and kayaks, etc, all were looking in the water."
He said volunteers joined the search and police watched from the side.
"We didn't know anything was happening until the helicopter came swiftly in and hovered very low to the ground, that was around 7.15-7.30pm."
He said kayaks, boats and a bunch of people on little orange boats had been searching for the swimmer near the rope swing.
