Editorial: Visitors must use sense

It would be a shame if we needed to put fences around all of our mud pools and geysers.

Newcomers to Rotorua who hit out about a perceived lack of signage around a local mud pool should be feeling pretty embarrassed right now.

The man and woman, who arrived in Rotorua in December, lashed out at the Rotorua District Council after the man was badly burned in a hot mud pool behind Puarenga Park, off Te Ngae Rd, on January 5.

They claim they didn't realise the area was dangerous and were surprised when the ground collapsed near the pool, resulting in the man falling in and getting burnt.

But their story doesn't quite stack up.

Their camera was handed in to Rotorua police. In the process of trying to rehome the camera, police found photos of the visitors posing next to a warning sign as well as on the edge of the mud pool. There is even a photo of them sticking their hands into the hot water.

Inspector Tim Anderson says this clearly shows the visitors' claims knew there was a risk.

The council's Parks and Recreation manager, Garry Page, was disappointed to see the photos, saying they showed a blatant disregard for the signs. He said they were lucky the injuries were not more serious.

The visitors have been caught out trying to blame others for their own mistake.

Rotorua is surrounded by an amazing natural resource - one that people all over the world come to see.

Currently that resource can be seen up close in many areas so long as people use their common sense and read the warning signs.

Imagine how ugly it would look if we were forced to put up big fences and barriers around every hot pool.

Likewise, imagine if the area was littered with warning signs.