Swings installed at Invercargill parks prior to recent severe weather have survived — for the most part.

In October, Invercargill City Council installed 20 new swings on trees around the city, bringing the total count to 26.

But that same month, a storm wreaked havoc in Southland, toppling trees and throwing the region into a state of emergency.

Council manager parks and recreation Caroline Rain said the wind event damaged one swing at Elizabeth Park which had been temporarily removed.

“This swing will be reinstalled nearby when a suitable location is found.

“The other 25 swings were not damaged and have been assessed as safe.”

Rain said the swings were permanent installations which were regularly audited for safety and damage to trees.

The total cost of installing them was just over $5000, or around $200 a swing, she said.

“The actual cost of each swing varies, as some are made from recycled materials repurposed from other playgrounds.”

A trial for the project began last year with six installations, followed by a further 20 in October 2025.

The council said the swings were attached to sturdy tree limbs which were assessed by council arborists to make sure they could support children and adults.

Some swings were not accessible at the moment due to parks still being closed following the storm.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air