Wheelchair user labelled a fire risk
A Fly My Pretties fan missed Sunday’s concert in Wellington after a series of blunders by TSB Arena meant she could not get her wheelchair where she wanted.
First, the venues lifts were locked, so Susi Wassong, her husband and her son had to head out into the wind and rain to find another way in. Then a woman on the door refused to let them in, saying Wassong and her chair were a fire risk.
‘‘It’s sickening,’’ Wassong, of Waikanae, said. ‘‘I’m a person, I’m not a fire risk. How can somebody say that to you?’’
Sunday night’s show was moved at short notice to the TSB Arena from the Botanic Gardens because of the poor weather forecast. Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency (Wreda), which manages the arena, has apologised to Wassong and admitted the locked lifts were an error.
‘‘This was due to the last-minute change of venue and this was one detail that was overlooked,’’ Helen Glengarry, head of performances, said.
Wassong and her family were offered three options to watch the concert. ‘‘Unfortunately, these weren’t what she wanted, as she was really keen to sit in front of the stage,’’ Glengarry said.
‘‘With general admission ticketing, we’re unable to make provision for disabled seating in front of the stage, as this could be a health and safety risk in the instance people dance.’’
When asked to clarify what spaces Wassong was offered, a Wreda spokeswoman said one was ‘‘at the back’’, another ‘‘down the side by the bar, which would have been slightly elevated’’, and the other on the upper level, ‘‘with a restricted view, so not ideal’’.
According to Wassong, who has multiple sclerosis and has used a wheelchair for 18 years, she was taken to the upper level, where she said it was impossible to see, then she was left ‘‘in an exit hallway, where I couldn’t see or hear anything’’.
Promoters have refunded her three tickets, in addition to the Wreda apology, but Wassong said the venue managers had failed in their legal obligation to provide her with adequate seating.
‘‘It’s a legal right anyway, but if it’s stated there is wheelchair seating, it should be there.’’
Wreda urged anyone in need of disabled access to ‘‘call ahead and let us know their requirements’’.
However, Paul Curry, a former director of advocacy for the health and disability commissioner, said disabled people should not be made responsible for ensuring there was seating at an event.
‘‘Whoever runs the shows or the venues should have it flexible enough to accommodate people with disabilities without having to do pre-bookings.’’
Curry, a paraplegic for 47 years, said: ‘‘We are the only group in society that are striving to be ordinary. In this case, it’s the venue that is making me and others disabled.’’