A dog owner says a sinkhole in Porirua is a serious injury waiting to happen, after her pet fell into the hole during a walk.
By Sammy Carter of RNZ
The fizzing sinkhole was coming from a leaking pipe on the Camborne Walkway. RNZ measured it as being just under a metre deep.
Jo Jones said her staffy, Missy, sank into the hole up to her neck.
"It looked like a puddle of water, and as we walked across it ... she just slid into it.
"My heart went into my throat."
Jones managed to pull her pet out before her head went under. The dog was left covered in silt and sand, and smelling like decomposing plants.
"She was very wide-eyed, it gave her a fright."
Missy had swelling on her paws on Friday, but was otherwise okay, Jones said.
The walkway was busy and needed to be cordoned off until it could be repaired, she added.
"It's a serious injury waiting to happen. It's not small, and if a small child or a small dog falls in there, I don't think you'd be able to get them out very easily."
A retaining wall sat beside the hole next to the beach shore, with water falling down it.
Residents told RNZ the leak had been growing for weeks, along with the hole, which they had reported to the council.
A Porirua City Council spokesperson said it was concerned about the area, and the section of the path would be closed for the weekend. But it was unclear whose problem it was to fix.
"There will be a further investigation as to who carries responsibility for the leak, which will include talking to nearby boatshed owners."
A spokesperson from the Parks team said Tiaki Wai had worked on repairs on the site last week, however, the hole had come back worse.
Tiaki Wai has been approached for comment.
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