Parents disappointed by news popular indoor play centre is to close

‘‘It’s just a good place to go with friends to have a coffee and catch up and just let the kids go, and know they’re safe.’’ Tambray Tucker

At least ten people will lose their jobs when a popular indoor playground in New Plymouth closes at the end of the month.

Chipmunks New Zealand’s Taranaki location will shut on January 31 after nine years of operation.

Owner Graham Paul had built the building specifically for the play centre years ago and remained as landlord until taking ownership in 2011 after former principal company Nesspaul Ltd went into liquidation due to insufficient cashflow.

Paul would not disclose the reasoning behind the closure. He said the site had been ‘‘trading okay’’ but there had been ‘‘a change in circumstances’’.

More than 10 mostly part-time staff would be affected by the closure, Paul said.

The site in Waiwhakaiho, which includes a cafe and is one of 19 franchise locations nationwide, would be used as a commercial building for industrial purposes.

Paul said there had been no discussion with Chipmunks New Zealand on whether a new location would open in New Plymouth.

News of the closure has left parents shocked and disappointed.

Single mum Tracy Fisher said her 19-month-old daughter Lily-Ann had just gained enough independence to enjoy the popular play centre. ‘‘We used to go every week since she was 6-months-old,’’ she said.

‘‘She had her first birthday there. She just loves it.’’

Fisher said she had spent the day at the centre with a dozen family members just last week.

‘‘As a single mum, you get a chance to sit down at Chipmunks and have a coffee and know they’re safe. I’m just absolutely gutted.’’

Mum Tambray Tucker was also disappointed to hear her children’s favourite playcentre was to close.

Son Topher, 6, had visited the site since he was a baby and 2-yearold daughter Cleo could run around safely in the under-4 area, Tucker said.

‘‘It’s just a good place to go with friends to have a coffee and catch up and just let the kids go, and know they’re safe.’’

There’s just one other play centre in New Plymouth with similar facilities – the Rumpus Room – and other venues such as MegaBounce Trampoline Arena and Airzone trampoline park offered a specific service.

Tucker said Chipmunks had a wide variety of playthings and could also accommodate adults who wanted to slide or climb around with their children.

‘‘New Plymouth is just so small,’’ she said.

‘‘You’ve got two options and then you take one away and it just feels like we’re always missing out.’’