Wet weather traps vehicles, reserve ripped up at Puketāwhero Park tournament

The muddied entrance to the reserve on Dickens St was closed on Monday. Photo / Andrew Warner

Rugby league fans tore up a reserve at Puketāwhero Park over the weekend but tournament organisers say it was unavoidable.

On Saturday, wet weather trapped several vehicles parked on the grounds and to leave drivers had to cut up the grass of the Dickens St reserve.

Bay of Plenty District Rugby League secretary and treasurer Jenny Nahu was on her way to clean up the park when she spoke to the Rotorua Daily Post yesterday.

"There was a space there roughed up by vehicles. Cars did make a mess and cut up the grass," she said.

"It was unavoidable in the conditions, they got stuck and they had to get out. It'll grow again. There's a 100 per cent chance of recovery.

"I understand that residents of Dickens St have been upset ... We understand where people are coming from."

Entrance to the Dickens St reserve as photographed by Google Maps in 2019. Photo / Google

Rotorua Lakes Council sport, recreation and environment manager Rob Pitkethley said the council had received one complaint about the damage.

"The sportsfields are currently being assessed," Pitkethley told the Rotorua Daily Post.

"Given the heavy rain over the weekend, the fields are closed to allow water to drain before any repairs can be carried out."

Pitkethley said the council will not know about costs until a full assessment has been made.

New Zealand Māori Rugby League secretary Titia Graham said 43 teams were set to compete in the weekend's Teina tournament with more than 860 children aged 13 and 14 years old registered to play.

"They were having a great time. The kids have been practising for four months," Graham said.

"We had teams coming from all over New Zealand, including three from Christchurch."

Graham said each team was only allowed to park one vehicle on the grass. All other spectators used concrete car parks or parked on the street.

"Everyone was all parked up before the [heavy] rain started."

But with rainfall increasing into the afternoon, the Rotorua Lakes Council advised the tournament organisers that all fields across town were being closed.

"We had to make a tough call. It was either that or close down the whole tournament," Graham said.

The organisers decided to reduce the number of games played on Sunday.

"We had to go straight to semi-finals and finals, and some teams had to miss out."

Graham said when the announcement was made many children were disappointed.

Vehicles stuck in the mud due to the wet weather had to cut up the grass to get out. Photo / Andrew Warner

However, by the time players and their whanau were made to leave the reserve, many of the vehicles were stuck in the mud.

"Of course [the grass] is going to get cut up," Graham said.

"It was nothing more than the fact that it was torrential rain and everyone had to get out."

New Zealand Māori Rugby League chairman John Devonshire said the tournament had been a "great carnival" before the rain intensified in the afternoon but he felt everyone did the best they could in the circumstances.

"We've been coming to Rotorua over the last 10 to 15 years and that was the wettest weekend we've had.

"No amount of planning or management can beat the weather. Naturally [in rain like that] there's going to be damage to the grass."

Devonshire said New Zealand Māori Rugby League would learn from this experience for future events.

"Rotorua's the home of Waikato Māori Rugby League. We come back every year and we bring revenue to the city.

"We have a respect and a regard for the community and the facilities and we're happy to talk and look at alternative options for [parking]."