A Dunedin mother says her daughter will be "disappointed'' at a ban on mermaid tails at Dunedin pools but, as a parent, she completely understands the ban.
The Dunedin City Council issued a ban on the swimming device yesterday after Moana Pool staff raised concerns over its dangers, especially for inexperienced swimmers.
Tina Stevens said she bought her 11-year-old daughter a mermaid tail as a gift about two years ago, as she had been fascinated with mermaids and saw the devices online.
"We've made sure we are always in the pool with her [when swimming],'' Mrs Stevens said.
"She's a competent swimmer ... but I know she will be disappointed.''
The Auckland Council banned the devices a fortnight ago.
"I can understand people getting into trouble with them. You have to be comfortable underwater. If you're a person that doesn't have the ability to swim under water ... then you might get into a bit of [strife],'' Mrs Stevens said.
DCC recreation planning and facilities manager Jendi Paterson said staff had seen about "half a dozen'' being used at Moana Pool and saw them as a danger to swimmers, especially as the manufacturer advised one-to-one supervision when the tails were being used, and that was "just not achievable'' at DCC pools.
She could not comment on whether staff had seen any near misses while the devices were in use but said they could be dangerous.
"When people have got their feet in them, it's almost like their feet are tied,'' Ms Paterson said.
The tails were put over both legs and mimicked the body shape of a mermaid.
The swimmer used the tail in the style of a dolphin flicking its tail to propel themselves.
"Both legs being encapsulated in the tail stops the swimmer from being able to use each leg freely,'' Ms Paterson said in a statement.
"We do not want our pool users to be injured or have a negative experience.''
The mermaid tails are also banned at the Mosgiel pool, St Clair Hot Salt Water Pool and the Port Chalmers pool.
