A simple rope swing tied to a branch is giving pleasure to hundreds of youngsters at a popular beach - despite being banned by local council staff.
Residents say that for about 40 years a rope swing in various forms has dangled from a pohutukawa branch overhangingthe small beach at Jenkins Bay, South Titirangi.
At summer high tides it gives youngsters the bonus of being able to splash down over shallow water.
But recently the swing has fallen foul of Waitakere City Council staff, who fear someone may get hurt.
They say the tree could be damaged by the rope rubbing.
Brett McGill, chairman of the South Titirangi Residents and Ratepayers Association, said the swing was removed by a council worker late last summer.
"We were mystified at the swing's disappearance. No one consulted residents about it," he said.
"A council worker defended its removal by saying 'you can't engineer a tree'. When I asked for the bits of swing back, he said it had been thrown away."
Mr McGill said a residents' meeting supported putting a swing back on the tree, which he said was a sturdy specimen - and "someone" did, four months later.
It was not as cleverly designed as the previous swing, which had features such as cable sheathed in plastic hose to avoid rubbing on the branch.
"But it does the trick. People are having a brilliant time on it."
Mr McGill said the residents had appealed to councillors reviewing the management of foreshore reserves to allow a swing on the tree.
But he feared the response would be installing a standard playground steel swing on a bark safety pad, which would spoil the simple nature of the reserve.
Assid Corban, chairman of the council's community facilities and recreation committee, said the swing could be returned.
"The swing's okay. They are welcome to have it back."
But the council's parks and reserves manager, Grant Jennings, said it would be "bad practice" for staff to allow tree swings because of the risks to trees and people. Any swings found would be removed.
He said if there was a need for something for children to play on, an appropriate and safe structure could be provided.
