The driver of the jet-boat carrying 14 passengers which hit a rock face on Monday afternoon has been stood down from work, while one passenger remained in Lakes District Hospital last night, Ngai Tahu Tourism southern region general manager David Kennedy said yesterday.
The company's boats were back on the river yesterday morning after Maritime New Zealand gave the company the all-clear on Monday night, but Mr Kennedy said he did not know when the driver would return to work.
"It's standard procedure for us to stand the driver down and make sure he's all right, and investigate the incident.
"It's fair to say he's a bit upset by the incident - he's been driving with us for several months, so he's quite experienced."
The incident happened on the Lower Shotover River near Tuckers Beach about 3pm on Monday.
Five passengers were taken to Lakes District Hospital to receive treatment for reported spinal injuries, chest trauma and whiplash.
A young woman in her 20s, originally from Ireland but working in the resort remained in Lakes District Hospital last night for observation of a swollen hip, Mr Kennedy said.
A 60-year-old tourist from the United States, a 20-year-old woman, a 59-year-old woman and a 26-year-old man, who works at a hotel in the resort - all from Queenstown - were released from hospital on Monday.
Nine other passengers, including tourists from Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States and New Zealand, were taken by another boat back to the Shotover Jet jetty on Monday afternoon after being treated by ambulance officers at the scene.
The company was also in contact with all of the passengers, some of whom were "a bit shaken up", Mr Kennedy said.
While it was "too early" to comment on the cause of the incident, safety was the company's "utmost priority". Shotover Jet had begun an internal review into the incident, while Maritime New Zealand had also commenced a review.
Sergeant Mark Gill, of Queenstown, said police would be assisting MNZ investigators this week.
Shotover Jet debriefed its drivers on Monday night, which included a discussion on how the company's emergency management procedures worked.
"We have an annual `mock incident' to test emergency procedures - that was six days ago," he said.
