Following
two recent deaths the government has announced new laws affecting
commercial adventure tourism and outdoor education operators in New
Zealand.
From November 1, operators who provide activities
designed to purposely expose people to a managed risk of serious harm
will have six months to notify the Department of Labour about their
company.
They then have three years in which they must undergo a
safety audit and be registered - unless the department asks them to do
it earlier.
The April 2008 death of English tourist Emily Jordan -
who drowned after becoming trapped by a rock during a Mad Dog River
Boarding trip - triggered the review into adventure tourism.
Mad
Dog's parent company Black Sheep Adventures pleaded guilty to two health
and safety charges, and was fined $66,000 and ordered to pay $80,000 in
reparation.
In a separate incident, Massey University student
Catherine Peters died when she fell over 20 metres onto a riverbed
during a bridge swing over the Manawatu Gorge with Crag Adventures.
The
company's director Alistair McWhannell was found guilty of manslaughter
over the March 2009 incident, and the police and Department of Labour
launched investigations.
Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson says
safety is already a top priority for most of the industry's companies,
but the regulations will make sure operators are consistent and
strengthen out international reputation.
The laws do not apply to companies that don't charge fees such as schools or voluntary clubs, she says.
NZN