Public lashes out at council over cover

Members of the public grieving the death of Aisling Symes have sent abusive emails to Waitakere City Council.

The 2-year-old's body was found on Monday in a Henderson stormwater drain near where she was last seen at her grandparent's house. There has been criticism of the time it took the council to secure a cover on the manhole leading to the drain.

Council spokesman Wally Thomas said the authority had received about 20 complaints from people around the country blaming it for her death.

"We've received a few phone calls and emails and the main thrust of them was around how the council is culpable in terms of the drain and manhole cover.

"There's been people who are laying the blame firmly at the feet of the council."

A security guard posted at the manhole yesterday said it could not be accessed because it was a crimescene.

Thomas said the Department of Labour had indicated they were not going to prosecute the council but he did not know police plans.

Mayor Bob Harvey would not comment on any possible prosecution. He said he had received three "unpleasant" emails and said some staff, such as parking wardens, "have had a bruising time".

Harvey had also received about 100 emails explaining how to make a manhole safe "which I really appreciate".

Waitemata Police spokesman Kevin Loughlin declined to comment on whether the council could be charged, saying the case had been referred to the coroner.