Hot pool death investigations underway

Rotorua District Council (RDC) is conducting an investigation into safety measures at Kuirau Park following the death of a ten year old boy who fell into a hot pool on Boxing Day.

The council is also working closely with local Police and the Coroner who are undertaking a separate independent investigation into the accident.

RDC parks & recreation manager Garry Page said the city’s unique geothermal activity had been attracting visitors to Rotorua from all over the world for more than a century. It was one of the main reasons people came to Rotorua and most people understood the potential dangers that go with visiting such attractions.

“Literally millions of visitors have visited Kuirau Park over the years and we estimate more than 250,000 people walk through the area to view the hot water and mud pools every year.

“The Boxing Day tragedy was the first child fatality in Kuirau Park that I can recall in my 30 years with the council.

“We are keen to hear the outcome of the Police and Coroner’s investigations and to see if their findings recommend any additional measures be taken.”

Mr Page said that while checks had shown most warning signs to be in tact around the park and entrances at the time of the accident, he was immediately arranging for more warning signs to be installed around pool viewing points as additional precautions. The council was also investigating whether different or higher fences would further minimise risks to park users.

Mr Page said it appeared from a witness statement that the boy had climbed over a barrier wall around a small hot pool and somehow fallen into the hot water.

“But we’re not sure at this stage whether higher fences would necessarily deter any determined, active and unsupervised youngster from climbing; but it's certainly one of the measures we are looking at.

“We’re also conscious that if visibility is reduced as a result of higher fences being installed, human nature dictates that more people will climb these fences to get a better view. It’s a matter of getting the right balance between safety and access.

“With fencing, signage and the ever present steam, it is hard to imagine that anyone visiting this area would not be aware of the potential dangers. The existing safety measures appear to have proved adequate for many years to date.”

Kuirau Park is just one of many locations in and around Rotorua where people can freely view naturally occurring geothermal activity up close. There are nearly six kilometres of fencing around hot water spots and boiling mud pools in the park, and warning signs throughout.

Mr Page said that elsewhere throughout the Rotorua district there were "hundreds if not thousands" of hot spots with similar geothermal activity occurring. They included roadside areas, golf courses, Department of Conservation land, private geothermal parks, alongside lakes and rivers, and in a number of other parks and reserves.

“While most of these locations are publicly accessible it is simply not practical to fence them all as that would be logistically impossible - as it is impossible to fence off other potential water hazards like rivers, lakes and beaches. Hazard awareness, education and effective adult supervision therefore remain the key elements in optimising the safety of youngsters in any potentially dangerous areas.

“We will be seriously looking at any recommendations that may come from these investigations and if there are practical measures we can implement to significantly reduce risks in Kuirau Park, we will act accordingly,” said Mr Page.

“We certainly don’t want to see any more families suffering such a terrible tragedy as this. Our hearts and thoughts go out to the Toromon family.”