LGOIMA Request Details: LG2483
Date received: 22/07/2026
Requested information: Playground Timber Safety - A request for detailed information and evidence regarding the safety, structural integrity, and compliance of playground timber at Kowhai Park and confirmation that the playground remains safe for public use.
Status: Complete
Date responded: 13/08/2026
Response:
Official information request - Playground Timber Safety
The information you have requested is below
Council has undertaken reasonable searches of its records to respond to your request. The Kowhai Park play tower was supplied and installed by Playground Centre Ltd in 2021. Some staff involved in the original procurement and installation are no longer employed by Council and, where information is not recorded in Council’s records, it cannot now be confirmed. Where Council states that no information is held or that a matter cannot be confirmed, this reflects the outcome of searches of Council’s records.
1. When did Manawatu District Council first become aware of the borer holes, soft timber, rotting/decay or other timber deterioration at Kowhai Park playground?
Council has identified no records confirming when this was first observed. The current Community Parks and Property Officer became aware of visible borer holes shortly after commencing employment in 2023.
2. Did Playground Centre proactively notify Council that the timber contained borer holes or evidence of insect damage or was the issue first identified by Council staff, Council’s inspection contractor or a member of the public?
Council holds no records indicating the supplier proactively notified council that the timber contained borer holes or evidence of insect damage.
3. Council’s earlier response stated that the supplier advised that “the borer holes were present when the treated wood was imported”. When was this first disclosed to Council and was Council advised of this before the timber was supplied or installed?
That statement was verbally communicated in March 2025. Council holds no recorded information confirming that Council was advised of this before the timber was supplied or installed.
4. What evidence does Council hold, apart from Playground Centre’s own assurances, to support the claim that the borer holes and timber decay are superficial and do not affect the internal strength of the timber?
None.
5. Has Council received any written assessment, report, calculation or producer statement from Playground Centre’s engineer or any other suitably qualified person confirming that the affected timber remains structurally adequate? If so, please provide this. all relent information previously supplied.
All relevant information previously supplied.
6. Has Council obtained any independent assessment of the timber condition from someone not engaged by Playground Centre? If not, why not?
No, the equipment is under the supplier's warranty.
7. Has any intrusive or below-surface inspection been carried out where the main support posts enter the safety surfacing, or where decay may extend below the visible surface? If so, please provide the findings. If not, how has Council satisfied itself that the bases of the posts remain sound?
No, MDC is satisfied after Playground Centre inspection on 21 March 2025, and that Council’s Open Spaces Contractor continues to undertake fortnightly inspections of the playground and reports any maintenance issues identified.
8. Has any independent assessment been undertaken of the foundations for the main towers and support posts? The Manufacturer Compliance Certificate supplied states that the foundations for the two main towers were prepared and poured by others and that all safety surfacing was by others. Please confirm who designed, constructed, inspected and signed off those foundations.
No. Playground Centre designed the foundations. Council holds no other recorded information.
9. Does Council hold any certification or producer statement confirming that the structure, including the main timber support posts and foundations, complies with the NZ Building Code? If so, please provide it.
No.
10. Does Council hold any independent post-installation audit or certification confirming compliance with NZS 5828:2015? If so, please provide it. If Council is relying on the Manufacturer Compliance Certificate, please confirm whether Council considers this to be independent certification, given that the installer was engaged by Playground Centre.
Council holds no recorded information confirming this. Council does not consider the manufacturer's/supplier's Compliance Certificate to be independent.
11. Playground Centre’s information refers to the timber as hardwood and appears to imply equivalence with Robinia-type durability. However, my understanding is that this is only meaningful where sapwood is excluded or adequately protected. Given that the deterioration appears to involve sapwood, what evidence does Council hold that sapwood was not present in critical structural areas, or that any sapwood present is adequately protected and structurally acceptable?
Council holds no recorded information confirming this.
12. Can Council categorically confirm that the affected structure is safe for public use? If so, please identify the specific technical evidence, certification, inspection report, engineering assessment or other document Council relies on for that conclusion.
MDC is satisfied that the Playground Centre inspection on 21 March 2025, and Council’s Open Spaces Contractor fortnightly inspections of the playground, provide the necessary assurance that the affected structure remains safe for public use.
Manawatū District Council may publish this response along with a summary of the request on our website. Requests and responses may be paraphrased.
To protect your privacy, we will not generally publish personal information about you, or information that identifies you.
If you wish to discuss this response with us, please feel free to contact the LGOIMA Response Team on 06 323 0000 or by replying to this email.
Yours sincerely,
Official information request - Playground Timber Safety
The information you have requested is below
Council has undertaken reasonable searches of its records to respond to your request. The Kowhai Park play tower was supplied and installed by Playground Centre Ltd in 2021. Some staff involved in the original procurement and installation are no longer employed by Council and, where information is not recorded in Council’s records, it cannot now be confirmed. Where Council states that no information is held or that a matter cannot be confirmed, this reflects the outcome of searches of Council’s records.
1. When did Manawatu District Council first become aware of the borer holes, soft timber, rotting/decay or other timber deterioration at Kowhai Park playground?
Council has identified no records confirming when this was first observed. The current Community Parks and Property Officer became aware of visible borer holes shortly after commencing employment in 2023.
2. Did Playground Centre proactively notify Council that the timber contained borer holes or evidence of insect damage or was the issue first identified by Council staff, Council’s inspection contractor or a member of the public?
Council holds no records indicating the supplier proactively notified council that the timber contained borer holes or evidence of insect damage.
3. Council’s earlier response stated that the supplier advised that “the borer holes were present when the treated wood was imported”. When was this first disclosed to Council and was Council advised of this before the timber was supplied or installed?
That statement was verbally communicated in March 2025. Council holds no recorded information confirming that Council was advised of this before the timber was supplied or installed.
4. What evidence does Council hold, apart from Playground Centre’s own assurances, to support the claim that the borer holes and timber decay are superficial and do not affect the internal strength of the timber?
None.
5. Has Council received any written assessment, report, calculation or producer statement from Playground Centre’s engineer or any other suitably qualified person confirming that the affected timber remains structurally adequate? If so, please provide this. all relent information previously supplied.
All relevant information previously supplied.
6. Has Council obtained any independent assessment of the timber condition from someone not engaged by Playground Centre? If not, why not?
No, the equipment is under the supplier's warranty.
7. Has any intrusive or below-surface inspection been carried out where the main support posts enter the safety surfacing, or where decay may extend below the visible surface? If so, please provide the findings. If not, how has Council satisfied itself that the bases of the posts remain sound?
No, MDC is satisfied after Playground Centre inspection on 21 March 2025, and that Council’s Open Spaces Contractor continues to undertake fortnightly inspections of the playground and reports any maintenance issues identified.
8. Has any independent assessment been undertaken of the foundations for the main towers and support posts? The Manufacturer Compliance Certificate supplied states that the foundations for the two main towers were prepared and poured by others and that all safety surfacing was by others. Please confirm who designed, constructed, inspected and signed off those foundations.
No. Playground Centre designed the foundations. Council holds no other recorded information.
9. Does Council hold any certification or producer statement confirming that the structure, including the main timber support posts and foundations, complies with the NZ Building Code? If so, please provide it.
No.
10. Does Council hold any independent post-installation audit or certification confirming compliance with NZS 5828:2015? If so, please provide it. If Council is relying on the Manufacturer Compliance Certificate, please confirm whether Council considers this to be independent certification, given that the installer was engaged by Playground Centre.
Council holds no recorded information confirming this. Council does not consider the manufacturer's/supplier's Compliance Certificate to be independent.
11. Playground Centre’s information refers to the timber as hardwood and appears to imply equivalence with Robinia-type durability. However, my understanding is that this is only meaningful where sapwood is excluded or adequately protected. Given that the deterioration appears to involve sapwood, what evidence does Council hold that sapwood was not present in critical structural areas, or that any sapwood present is adequately protected and structurally acceptable?
Council holds no recorded information confirming this.
12. Can Council categorically confirm that the affected structure is safe for public use? If so, please identify the specific technical evidence, certification, inspection report, engineering assessment or other document Council relies on for that conclusion.
MDC is satisfied that the Playground Centre inspection on 21 March 2025, and Council’s Open Spaces Contractor fortnightly inspections of the playground, provide the necessary assurance that the affected structure remains safe for public use.
Manawatū District Council may publish this response along with a summary of the request on our website. Requests and responses may be paraphrased.
To protect your privacy, we will not generally publish personal information about you, or information that identifies you.
If you wish to discuss this response with us, please feel free to contact the LGOIMA Response Team on 06 323 0000 or by replying to this email.
Yours sincerely,