A young child's hand after being burnt on metal playground equipment. Photo: Supplied
Lack of shade casting a shadow on NZ playgrounds
Young children getting burnt by playground equipment has sparked a petition calling for every new or upgraded playground to have mandatory shade from the sun.
Founder of app Roam With Kids, Renata Wiles, launched the petition to parliament earlier this week and has just under 2000 signatures.
Speaking to Morning Report, Wiles said there were so many amazing playgrounds across the country that have recently been built or upgraded - but keeping them shaded from the sun was not a requirement.
A child's hands bandaged after being burnt on playground equipment. Photo: Supplied
She said all new or upgraded playgrounds should have shade sails - or mature trees providing equivalent shade from the sun.
It was not just about keeping children safe from getting sunburnt while out playing on the playground - but preventing the equipment getting so hot that it burns children.
"The equipment is actually unusable because it's so hot from the sun."
Wiles said it was "crazy" to her and other parents that shade was not already a mandatory requirement for playgrounds.
Lorna Irene Drive Reserve playground in Raumati South. Photo: Supplied / Kāpiti Coast District Council
"Since starting this petition and talking about shade more publicly on social media, I've had so many people send me photos of their kids that have been hospitalised or had to have medical attention for really, really serious burns - even little toddlers that have just touched something that's metal in a playground and ended up with terrible burns, like little kids skin is so sensitive."
Wiles said she has spoken to local councils in previous summers about the lack of shade at playgrounds - and said her now 5-year-old daughter was burnt on a metal slide when she was 18 months old.
This upgraded playground in Awanui does have shade sails. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf
"After that I spoke to our local council about getting shade and they did put shade up over that playground and they kind of said they just do it on a case-by-case basis, no real requirement, its not mandatory for them at all to take it into consideration.
"So I picked up the communication with them again ahead of launching this petition and I kind of got the same response. They are aware it's a problem but it's not a requirement and it's different for every single local board. There is no consistency."
Wiles said a lot of equipment at playgrounds is metal including slides, in-ground spinners and seesaws. But even plastic equipment can get so hot it burns, too.
The metal bottom of the in-ground spinner can get so hot in the sun that it burns. Photo: Supplied
In her communication with councils, Wiles said she has been told that sunshades are not budgeted for and equipment would have to be given up in order to provide it.
Wiles said councils should "absolutely" give up equipment in favour of shade.
"Give up another set of swings, or a slide, let's use some of that money that already exists, that's already been allocated for those playgrounds and put that into shade because that's really what parents care about."
Photo: Suppled / South Canterbury Drone Photography
Caroline Bay playground in Canterbury.
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