Pool burns girl in stable condition

A Rotorua girl who suffered burns to more than 40 per cent of her body remains in a stable condition in hospital.

The 12-year-old was taken to Auckland's Middlemore Hospital after suffering burns when she fell in a hot mud pool at a Froude St reserve last Thursday.

A Middlemore Hospital spokeswoman said the girl was stable in the burns unit after having surgery on Saturday.

Rotorua District Council parks and recreation manager Garry Page said council staff investigated the incident and had put up new warning signs.

"Unfortunately, this mud pool is one of thousands of geothermal hot spots that can be found right across the Rotorua district and obviously, it's simply not possible to fence off every single potential hazard," he said.

The location was well known to residents in the Whakarewarewa area and was also frequented by out-of-town visitors.

"We're placing more warning signs in the vicinity advising people to keep to formed tracks," Mr Page said. "However, we have to acknowledge that signage and fencing tends to have limited effect on active and determined youngsters."

No extra fencing would be erected and the new signs were put up as a precaution.