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Home / New Zealand

Water sheer act of madness

Herald on Sunday
23 Feb, 2013 04:30 PMQuick Read

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People left their worries behind to enjoy the thrills and spills on the 650m waterslide dug on farmland at Waimauku. Photo / Getty Images

People left their worries behind to enjoy the thrills and spills on the 650m waterslide dug on farmland at Waimauku. Photo / Getty Images

Muddy and happy people slithered 650m down a farmland slope yesterday on what was described as the longest waterslide in the world.

The event at Helensville, 30 minutes northwest of downtown Auckland, was a fundraiser for the Live More Awesome charity raising awareness about depression.

Organiser Dan Drupstee said about 950 people went down the three slides - there were also 90m and 60m versions - including some senior citizens.

A handful of brave punters bared all for the cause, opting to go naked while others wore cowboy outfits, colourful wigs and banana suits.

"It was a kids playground for adults," Drupstee said. "Being a non-alcoholic event we wanted to take people back in time to their younger days when there were no worries and life was fun and easy. I think we achieved that."

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As it was for those suffering from depression, it was okay for people frightened by the length of the slide to ask for help.

Discover more

New Zealand

NZ gets world's biggest waterslide

16 Jan 10:30 PM
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Testing begins on waterslide

06 Feb 09:15 PM
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