Customers at Christchurch’s Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre have continued paying full admission prices despite its flagship Trap Door hydroslide being closed for a month.

The slide has been out of action since July 19 after a UPS unit failed.

A UPS, or uninterruptible power supply, is a battery backup system designed to keep critical equipment operating if normal power is interrupted.

Christchurch City Council Head of Recreation, Sports and Events Nigel Cox said the UPS at Parakiore ensures the hydroslide system continues to operate during a power outage.

He said a replacement unit was not available in New Zealand and had to be sourced from Australia. “We expect the hydroslide to reopen this weekend,” Cox said.

However, admission prices have remained unchanged throughout the closure.

Asked why customers were still being charged the usual entry price while the attraction was unavailable, Cox said people were being told which slides were operating before they entered.

“Customers have been advised of the range of slides that are in operation prior to entry,” he said.

The council did not indicate that any discount or partial refund had been offered because of the closure. The Trap Door, officially known as the Looping Rocket, was promoted as one of Parakiore’s major attractions before the centre opened.

It is the only trapdoor hydroslide of its kind in New Zealand and sends riders through a 75 metre tube at speeds of up to 40 kilometres an hour after the floor drops away beneath them.

The slide is one of five installed at Parakiore and launches from a 12 metre platform.

The council expects the Trap Door to reopen this weekend.