Spa for one a no-go: council
By NICOLA BRENNAN - Waikato Times
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One of Te Aroha's premier attractions has been declared off-limits to solo bathers â and the decision has angered residents and some councillors who say it is political correctness gone mad.
Solo bathing at Te Aroha Mineral Spas was outlawed this week by the Matamata-Piako District Council because of concerns that there was no supervision in the event of a bather collapsing.
A Paeroa resident whose husband died at the pools in 2005 called it a "great idea" that should have been implemented years ago.
Mirjam Poot told the Waikato Times yesterday a solo bathing ban could have prevented the death of her husband Dirk, 68, who passed out in the very hot water.
"Why didn't they do that before?" she said. "My husband wouldn't have died if they had."
However, Te Aroha man Graham Bennett, a long-time solo bather, labelled the move "stupid". Mr Bennett, who has arthritis, has bathed by himself for 35 years.
"I really enjoyed it because it allowed me to exercise without weight," he said.
But he has been unable to do so since the pools banned solo bathing in August on the back of new national Aquatic Facility Guidelines.
This week Matamata-Piako District councillors made that decision permanent, voting to restrict unsupervised bathing at the pools to two or more people.
People could still bathe by themselves, but would be required to have someone supervising.
"But I've being going there by myself for so long I don't want anyone else there," Mr Bennett said.
The council's decision came after they sought legal advice on the ramifications of not outlawing solo bathing.
Legal adviser Michelle Hawthorne said it had a duty of care and as such should follow the guidelines. If it did not and somebody died, the council could face prosecution.
She said the council had to take all practical steps to minimise harm to pool users.
Two fatalities have occurred at Te Aroha Mineral Spas since 2005, both involving solo bathers. There had been other cases of people fainting.
Coroners' reports found that high water temperature contributed to both deaths.
Mr Poot was found floating face down in the pool in "uncomfortably hot" water in August 2005.
Mrs Poot hoped these new rules would prevent other people dying.
"It doesn't bring (Dirk) back, but it could save others."
Several councillors were against the new rule and wanted the council to fight to get the guidelines amended.
"I'm really angry about it," councillor Bob McGrail said.
"It's a real intrusion into people's privacy."
He would rather see solo bathers sign a declaration saying they entered at their own risk.
That way the council would be protected.
Mr Bennett agreed that could be a plausible solution.
Do you think banning bathing alone at Te Aroha Mineral Spas is political correctness gone mad? Leave your comments below.
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As AN ex resident I can not beleive this stupid rule people die thats nature how do you expect single people to use your spas in future civil liberties have screwed up in N.Z or the the Matamata council needs to pull there head in and have another think about it.
I phoned Te Aroha Mineral Spas this week, unaware of this recent rule of no solo bathers. I was going with a friend who was unable to make it so cancelled my booking. I then made a decision I would go anyway by myself and was really looking forward to it. I phoned and asked for a spa booking and they asked how many people, I said one and I was then told of the new rule which meant I could not go and have a hot mineral spa by myself unless I took someone with me, they didn't have to bath, they could sit in the room. I have been informed that there are heavy fines for breaching this new law. To be honest I was firstly surprised and then I felt highly offended. I can have a bath at home and am fine, I can jump out of a plane or bungy jump, ski on an active volcano but I can't soak in a commercial hot tub by myself? I find this an obstruction of my human rights. To save me from possibly drowning in the hot pool I can't have one at will. Relaxation is a big part of soaking in a spa and it is better achieved by yourself. I would like to be able to soak in a hot pool whenever I like, not whenever I and whoever else, if they can come then, also wants to, assuming I can find someone. I'll need a list of potential companions to call everytime I would like a mineral spa and hope one of them will accompany me otherwise it is illegal for me to go. This soda spa water is a natural resource not found commonly, with therapeutic properties, this restriction of single bathers is oppressive . I'm sorry to say people pass away doing any number of things, this doesn't mean we should make rules to say we aren't allowed to do it anymore or we would not have much left to do ie driving a car to the hot pools I would think is more hazardous than having the spa yet we have the 'right' to do this. I would be more than happy to be made aware of the risk of solo bathing, sign a declaration and have the right to still bath solo than not.
Yet another instance of the stupid behaviour of controlling bodies in NZ. A tiny problem is turned into a major interference. PC gone mad is an understatement. It should be a requirement on all councils etc, that any new restriction on freedom of behaviour should be balanced by the removal of at least two comparable restrictions. That way we might eventually get back to being a nation of free thinking, responsible citizens.
Ok, so now this law is in place. What about walking alone or cycling alone on council-run land, seems not to be the full deal of it is only in the pools, surely people can faint elsewhere. What about outlawing unsupervised shopping or cinema going too?
Oh once again the nanny state raises its ugly head,and the idiots that make up these rules are feeling gratified.These grey mice have stopped children from playing bullrush,climbing trees and now they are going to stop adults from swimming without supervision. Believe it or not people also die in swimming pools with supervision.Perhaps the grey mice will now outlaw swimming pools as well. Remember if your time is up you die.God controls that not mortal grey mice.
I can see both sides. Surely if the 2 deaths were both attributed to the high water temperature, is there no way that temperature could be altered? (I am aware that these are natural pools) Some people need privacy for personal reasons, and shouldn't have supervision pushed on them. Kids - yes, absolutely - no solo bathing. but ADULTS??
Bathing gone mad. Does this mean that when I am at the beach that I require adult supervision. I am 30 and don't need someone watching over me. Common sense should prevail here. Next thing is that will be asking me to have someone accompany me to the toilet in case I slip over and drown in the urinal.... The rule should apply for children but not adults.
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As an ex Te Aroha resident I can only say what a sad day for the freedom of individualism, I suppose the next step will be to ban unsupervised playing of solitaire.