New Zealand award-winning Theme Park - Rainbows End was more than a little scary when the Power Surge ride stopped and left some of the riders hanging upside down. Dangling up in the air after an employee shut down the ride were thrill seekers that included Children who were "left hanging in their harnesses," report Stuff NZ.

Theme Park in New Zealand confirms ride stopped

According to a statement quoted by the press Chris Deere, the chief executive for Rainbows End, said there had not been any malfunction and it had been stopped by an employee of the park as the school children riding on the Power Surge were "spitting." The operator had stopped the ride which temporarily left the passengers stranded - some of them upside down - according to witnesses.

The operator then manually lowered the big ride to the ground. Deere assured the public that the ride is functional and working and still safe.

Rainbow's End tweeted that the children had been warned about spitting before the ride was shut down.

There were several comments on Twitter where people agreed that the children were unruly and the park did the right thing.

This was not a breakdown but they can happen

There were some nervous moments as Theme Park rides that break down can cause injury or even death.

In February 2008 the New Zealand Herald reported that 21-year-old park worker Michael Ross Stuart died whilst working on the Ferris Wheel. Firefighters had to rescue a woman who got trapped and suffered injuries on the log flume ride in 2012. The worst was a death in 1990, where an accident as a result of operator error resulted in the death of Thomas Wayne Hemi, a 19-year-old.

The operator forgot to attach the Bungy cord to his feet and he later died from his injuries.

The Theme Park has been awarded many times, and in 2015 was a finalist in the Tourism Industry Awards in the categories of "Visitor Experience" and "Business Excellence" The people left dangling upside down on a ride described on the Rainbows End Website as "not for the timid" and "aggressive," might not agree with the accolades in terms of "Visitor Experience." Then again, those being spat on would not have enjoyed the experience either.

Spitting is culturally offensive in New Zealand

Spitting is considered socially taboo across many of the world's cultures. New Zealand's Southern Institute of Technology warns students that spitting is considered extremely "offensive." Apart from being offensive, the act of spitting is also unhygienic and can spread diseases, some of them serious and life-threatening - such as Viral Meningitis.

See video of the park rides below
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