Kawarau Jet
Queenstown adventure tourism company Kawarau Jet is due
in court next month to face safety-related charges over two
incidents last December.
Maritime New Zealand refused to confirm whether charges had
been laid, but Kawarau Jet co-director Andrew Brinsley told
the Southland Times that his lawyers had been notified of the
authority's allegations.
Mr Brinsley said he did not know the specifics of the charges
but that they related to the firm's alleged failure to report
an engine cut-out incident and charges of operating unsafely
in poor weather.
The company faces 10 charges involving two drivers who are
accused of operating unsafely by allowing tours to go ahead
in high winds on December 18.
One of the drivers no longer worked for the company, Mr
Brinsley said. No-one was injured during the December 18
incident on Lake Wakatipu, which included an engine cut-out
in rough weather.
Jet-boating safety has been in the spotlight in recent times
after a spate of accidents and near-misses.
Mr Brinsley said he was aware of how damaging court action
could be.
"It's something we have to be conscious of and we have to
manage that just like any other things that happen in the
marketplace."
The company, or a representative, is expected to appear in
Queenstown District Court on August 23.
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