One of Rotorua's most popular tourist attractions, the Polynesian Spa complex, has temporarily closed eight of its hot water mineral pools after testing showed high levels of potentially lethal hydrogen sulphide gas.
Polynesian Spa managing director Martin Lobb said a test of two hot springs on Friday night had shown "higher
than acceptable" levels of the gas.
The tests were ordered by Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) and were carried out by Rotorua District Council staff.
Mr Lobb said the business had voluntarily taken the step of closing the pools until testing was completed to ensure the safety of customers.
The two springs tested would remain closed until the source of the problem identified by OSH was found, he said.
Geothermal experts would be brought in to investigate and resolve the situation.
The two springs involved make up eight of the 33 mineral pools at the popular bathing complex. The pools are shallow, acidic, spring water pools.
Mr Lobb said the other pools at the complex would remain open to the public because the water in them came from a completely independent source.
With the exception of the family spa -- which is a fresh water, chlorinated pool -- the other pools contain deep spring, alkaline water.
Exposure to large amounts of hydrogen sulphide fumes - the gas that gives Rotorua its distinctive rotten egg smell - can cause discomfort and be potentially fatal.
In the last 50 years, 11 deaths in Rotorua have been attributed to sulphur fumes.
The most recent case, of an Austrian actress who died from hydrogen sulphide poisoning in a Rotorua motel in February 2000, remains unexplained.
In a reserved decision at the time, Mr Dowthwaite said he was unable to resolve how Elenore Umlauf-Rueprecht came to be exposed to the high level of hydrogen sulphide gas which caused her death.
A recently-published Canterbury University study suggested chronic health problems could be 10 times worse in some parts of Rotorua because of the region's sulphur fumes.
The initial findings of the two-year long investigation -- by geographers Jeff Wilson and Michael Durand -- showed asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory diseases were five to 10 times higher in parts of the city closer to geothermal activity than other areas.
- DAILY POST (ROTORUA)
