If staff were confident the skaters had learned enough, they let them ride on the track. If not, they would continue riding in the grass area. Some skaters would return another time to build up enough skill to take on the track.
Mr Taute said they'd never had a skateboarding injury and the activity was safer than riding a traditional skateboard on the street. He said there were a lot of obstacles on the street such as people, traffic, stones and curbs.
That didn't mean skateboarders shouldn't ride in uncontrolled environments. Mr Taute said children had to be allowed to learn rather than "wrapping them up in cotton wool and not letting them do anything".
Nationally, 2130 ACC claims for skateboarding injuries were made in the year to March 29. Those claims had cost $592,132 to date.
Several skateboarders have made headlines for risky stunts in recent months.
Bay of Plenty police said a skateboarder being towed by a car at Mount Manganui last month was "high risk behaviour at its worst".
They travelled almost the entire length of Marine Parade, reaching speeds of 40km/h.
Footage of a longboarder riding down State Highway 1 on the southern side of the Brynderwyn Hills at high speed was posted to YouTube earlier this year.
Northland police called the ride "an act of stupidity".
Kapiti man Tristan Hunter died when he fell off his longboard while skating down Maungakotukutuku Road, near Paraparaumu, last month.
He was hit by a following car in what his family called a "freak accident".
The 21-year-old was regarded as one of New Zealand's best longboarders and had wanted to ride professionally.
Police media advisor Jillian Reid said skateboarders were allowed to ride on the road but police strongly advised them against doing so as there was significant risk of serious injury.
