The father of an English tourist killed during a river-boarding accident has set up a group to lobby for urgent changes to the adventure tourism industry, but has been urged to take part in a major review already under way.
Chris Jordan, whose daughter Emily (21) died while river boarding in the Kawarau River in April 2008, said he was frustrated with the Government review of safety in adventure tourism being extended by two months.
The review is being led by the Department of Labour and a final report, including options and recommendations, is to be presented to the Government by May 31, instead of March 31.
Mr Jordan said three English families who all suffered tragedies in 2008 had joined forces to support one another and lobby for change.
The parents of Sarah Bond (23), who died while quad-biking near Waitomo, and Thomas Sewell (19), who died in a 4WD vehicle crash at a Katikati orchard, are also members of the group.
"The group [members] talk to each other about things that have happened, so it's a help group in that way, but it's also to put pressure to get things changed.
The review we believe is happening too slowly," he said.
He called for a licensing system, as in the UK and many other countries, to make safety audits mandatory before companies are allowed to operate.
Queenstown's Mad Dog River Boarding was fined $66,000 and ordered to pay $80,000 in reparation to the Jordan family after pleading guilty to two Health and Safety in Employment Act charges.
"The investigation into my daughter's death has gone far too slow without any real action or change taking place.
"Part of the legacy of our children's deaths must be for change to take place.
"I believe blindingly obvious changes need to take place a lot quicker," he said.
Personal flotation devices, which were still being used by Mad Dog, were inadequate, he said.
"All I get is, `we're looking into it'.
"That's not acceptable.
"It's ridiculous.
"It shouldn't take so long to look into this," he said.
He also had an issue with the New Zealand coronial system.
"There still hasn't been an inquest into my daughter's death and no coroner is recommending change to the legislation.
This is extraordinary and not acceptable.
I shouldn't have to fight for an inquest.
"I have waited for change.
"I haven't jumped on the band wagon a week after her death.
"It is now five months since Mad Dog were prosecuted and nothing has changed," he said.
Coroner David Crerar said he had not decided whether to proceed with Ms Jordan's inquest.
"Normally, when there has been a prosecution it is deemed unnecessary to continue to a hearing," he said.
It had been inappropriate to hold an inquest while a case was before the courts.
"It also may be inappropriate for an inquest to be held whilst the ministerial review is taking place," he said.
He would be in Queenstown today to seek more information regarding Ms Jordan's death and had kept Mr Jordan informed, he said.
Tourism Industry Association of New Zealand advocacy manager Geoff Ensor said Mr Jordan's group should "feed solutions" into the review process.
"I understand Chris and his group want to speed up the process.
"I can sense their concerns and frustrations, but I would urge them to put their thoughts and energy into the review," he said.
He disagreed the review should be completed more quickly.
"We would be open to criticism if it was done in a short time because it would result in ill-conceived conclusions or would not be done in a thorough, professional manner.
"Let's get it right," he said.
He warned against a knee-jerk, reactive approach.
Department of Labour group workplace policy manager Craig Armitage previously told The Otago Daily Times the extension was to give operators sufficient time to engage more fully with the review, given the summer period would be particularly busy.
Acting group workplace policy manager Paul Barker said families of those who had recently died while doing adventure tourism activities had been contacted about the review and asked to contribute to it.
Public consultation closed on December 16, with 142 questionnaires returned from a wide range of adventure and outdoor commercial sector operators, related organisations and individuals, he said.
A report on submissions would go to the Minister of Labour by the end of this month.
He said operators in the sector continued to have legal obligations under the Health and Safety in Employment Act and other legislation and regulations to operate in a manner that protected the safety of customers and members of the public.
