The Manawatu District Council is disputing a previously reported chain of events that occurred at Vinegar Hill campsite on New Year’s Eve, saying that a man was injured while holding a firework, not by tripping into the main fire-pit. Paul Stein of the District Council relays the New Year’s Eve incident involved a man who was badly burnt saying, “a person visiting the LGBTI site injured himself when he lit a firework that he was a holding in his hand. “Unfortunately there was a very small group of visitors who did not respect the other campers or the location and had be dealt with by Council staff and Police.” He says organisers from the LGBTI New Year’s camping crew met with Council and Police prior to the event where the activities, expectations, site safety, and how to handle any issues were discussed. Regarding the future of Vinegar Hill New Year’s festivities he concludes by saying: “The Council continually engages with groups that wish to use our reserves, and reviews the management of its Reserves and how they can be managed to best ensure that everyone who uses them can enjoy them.”
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 14th January 2016 - 11:51am