30/08/2025
Kia ora koutou,
We’ve seen some recent comments on other pages about a little one who hurt themselves at the CPlay playground. Firstly, we want to acknowledge this and send our aroha. We’re sad to hear a four-year-old was injured. We’ve also received an email directly from the family, and have replied with our best wishes and guidance to contact TDC in the first instance. 💜
To be clear, CPlay was a community volunteer group that championed and fundraised for the project. The playground is now owned and operated by Timaru District Council (TDC). Any safety concerns, maintenance issues, or incidents need to go directly to them so they can be properly recorded and acted on:
👉 Lodge details via the Fix-it form: https://www.timaru.govt.nz/tell-us/fix-it-form
👉 Use the Snap Send Solve app (handy for quick reports with photos)
👉 For urgent issues, call Customer Services on 03 687 7200
For what it is worth... during the design and build, qualified playground specialists were involved at every stage, and the playground was audited before opening. It was designed to meet NZ Playground Safety Standard NZS 5828:2015, which focuses on preventing critical or fatal injuries. This standard does recognise that minor knocks, scrapes, and bruises are part of active play and learning risk awareness.
Natural elements like rocks and logs are permitted under the standard, provided spacing, height, and surfacing meet safety criteria... which were all very carefully considered, checked and signed off.
Our tamariki’s safety was taken extremely seriously throughout the process. While CPlay volunteers can’t speak on behalf of Council operations as they are the playground owner and operator, we want to reassure our community that professional safety standards were followed, and that TDC is the right team to respond to any ongoing concerns.
We hope the four year old is recovering well, and we send our warmest wishes to her whānau. 💜
Ngā mihi nui,
Roselyn Fauth
On behalf of CPlay Volunteers
[email protected]
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