29 adventure tourists die in five years

Twenty-nine people died while taking part in adventure tourism activities in New Zealand in the five years to June 30 last year, a Department of Labour report on safety in adventure tourism reveals.

The report, released yesterday, was one of three from the first phase of the department's review.

The first phase included consultation with operators and compiling an industry overview.

The next phase will look at any gaps in safety and make recommendations for improvements.

The first report, a snapshot of the industry, shows there were 19 fatalities in the adventure and outdoor commercial sectors, with seven of these in one incident, the Mangatepopo canyoning tragedy, which is the subject of a coroner's inquest this week.

Six lives were lost in the wider maritime adventure sector and four in the aviation sector.

More than 540 incidents resulted in "serious harm" in the same period, the highest numbers in snow sports, followed by rafting and horse trekking.

The department's questionnaire prompted 142 responses, more than 70% of which were from industry operators.

Respondents noted the industry could provide more clarity on industry standards including operating practices and staff qualifications.

Concern was expressed about "inconsistencies" in instructors and guides' qualifications.

Some acknowledged different training organisations provided different courses, which could result in staff doing the same job differently.

Some said a greater commitment to learning and sharing the learning from incidents was needed and operational audits could be improved.

Two respondents said they had no compulsory standards, codes, local operating procedures, licensing regimes or other documents that guide their business.

One heli-skiing operator believed no scheme was available with the skills and knowledge to audit its operation.

Several respondents commented on high compliance costs.

One respondent noted: "Most clients see it as a nuisance ifthey are briefed about risks, and don't pay enough attention".

A few respondents raised concerns about the lack of recording and reporting of incidents because of fear of prosecution or losing a competitive advantage.

Several commented that regulatory agencies such as the Department of Labour and Maritime New Zealand could be more proactive in pursuing ways to improve risk management in the sector, rather than just responding when incidents occurred.

Several respondents said more operators were taking a pro-active approach towards safety management and most companies had a commitment to a genuine safety culture.

New Zealand has nearly 40 activities, 888 operators, most notably in the Queenstown area, which is the most popular destination for adventure tourists.

Nearly 850,000 international tourists took part in adventure activities while in New Zealand in 2008.