Wanganui firm tackles slide issue

A Wanganui company which makes playground equipment has moved swiftly to ease fears after children were hurt on one of its slides.

Playground Centre, based in Wanganui since 1994, designed the Tree Tops Play Space at the Tui Glen reserve in West Auckland, which has three towers from seven metres tall to 11m, with three tunnel slides running off them.

The biggest slide was boarded up after parents raised concerns last week when two young children suffered bumps and bruises riding it.

Playground Centre chief executive Simon Filleul met Auckland Council parks manager Grant Jennings last Friday to discuss how to fix the design. The slide, the longest and steepest of three, features a sudden drop.

Mr Jennings said the slide was designed for older children and it would be modified before being reopened in two weeks.

Mr Filleul said the council has been good to work with: "They haven't taken the stance of closing the whole place after one accident."

The incident had been the only blip at a playground Henderson-Massey local board chairwoman Vanessa Neeson described as "a huge success".

Ms Neeson said children, including her own grandchildren, enjoyed the thrills the park offered - it also boasted flying foxes and a climbing tower with rope "nests".

"It's about taking risks, which helps kids grow in confidence and self-esteem."

Mr Filleul said in the past children played on high ropes and climbed trees. "I encourage that behaviour, but in a safe environment," he said.

Playground Centre is a family operated business that moved from Auckland to Wanganui. It has 22 staff and 75 per cent of its equipment is manufactured in Wanganui and the Manawatu area.

The company has built play areas in schools around Wanganui and in Carlton Park, and recently revamped the playground at Kai Iwi beach.

However, Mr Filleul wouldn't change a thing about Wanganui's popular Kowhai Park - his kids love it.

"If something's working, what are you trying to do? Spending a lot of money and putting in the wrong equipment defeats the purpose," he said.