Charges over monster slide collapse

INJURED: Amelia Peck, 12, of Ashhurst, one of the victims of February's monster slide collapse at the Wairarapa A&P show. PHOTO/FILE

The owner of a monster slide that collapsed at a Masterton fair in February, injuring children, faces obstruction charges in court this month.

A spokesperson for WorkSafe New Zealand said Event Fun Unlimited manager Eric Gerritsen is being charged under Section 48 of the Health and Safety in Employment Act.

The section says no person can obstruct, delay, hinder or deceive a safety inspector while the inspector is carrying out his or her duties.

On February 21 the 8m tall inflatable slide, called "The Mammoth" and touted as "the world's tallest in New Zealand", abruptly tipped on its side at the Masterton A&P Show, spilling over a dozen children to the ground.

Six children were taken to Wairarapa Hospital with cuts and bruises. Witnesses described the slide "caving in" and falling to one side, before reinflating upright again.

The slide was closed, with a WorkSafe inspector spending several hours looking over the slide with Mr Gerritsen.

WorkSafe says no plea has been entered by Mr Gerritsen, who will appear in Hamilton District Court on September 18.

The Times-Age left a message for comment on the company's answerphone, but received no response before going to press.

This was the first year the company's inflatable attractions had been used at Masterton A&P show, after Solway Showgrounds cut its contract with Mahons Amusements, which supplied rides for more than 60 years.