Adventure tourism welcomes safety rules

Waikato adventure tourism operators say the Government's proposed new rules will not affect the way they work.

On Monday, Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson outlined plans for a compulsory register and safety checks for all adventure tourism companies.

The moves follow a review of the industry, which found that 39 people died in adventure tourism accidents between 2004 and 2009.

But Waikato operators spoken to by the Times said they already had a range of safety measures in place and doubted the rule changes would affect them.

Taupo Bungy general manager Scott Bason said he welcomed any changes that made the industry safer, but added they already had a rigorous programme of internal and external audits.

Adventure Waikato owner Simon Worsp said he was in the same position and hoped the rule changes would weed out the less-reputable companies.

"It would put them under pressure to amend any imperfections and those thinking of taking it up [an adventure tourism business] would have a set of rules or guidelines to follow," he said.

Waitomo Adventures managing director and founder Nick Andreef described himself as "an operator with robust safety practices" and was less enthusiastic about the influence of the new rules.

"If it can provide protection at the low end of the scale I'll welcome it, but I don't think it'll stop the fly-by-nighters. We've seen how these people operate – they're hard to track down."

The plans were given a cautious welcome by the father of first-year Massey University student Catherine Peters, who died during a swing from the Ballance Bridge in the Manawatu.

Bosco Peters said compulsory safety checks and registration would have saved his daughter's life.

But Chris Jordan, the father of British tourist Emily Jordan, who drowned in a river-boarding accident in Queenstown in 2008, said the Government was yet to nail down crucial questions about who would do the checks and what sanctions would apply to failing.

"Unless you have sticks to back up the carrot, it doesn't work. You have to have clear guidelines, which are then enforced with penalties, if it's going to work," Mr Jordan said.

Mr Jordan, whose concerns prompted the review after he wrote to Prime Minister John Key last year, said he wanted a formal licensing agency independent from the industry.

There were thought to be about 1500 operators, and 850,000 foreign visitors took part in some form of adventure tourism each year. The industry was thought to be worth about $3 billion annually.

The Labour Department had been told to report on details on how the checks and registration would work by November 30.

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