'No issues' with review

Mad Dog River Boarding director Brad McLeod said he had "no issues with anything" contained in the Department of Labour's report into the adventure tourism and outdoor commercial sector in New Zealand.

Mr McLeod told the Queenstown Times he had "skim-read" the 95-page report.

"It all seems fine to me."

In addition to the Department of Labour review, Maritime New Zealand had been involved in an ongoing update of the rafting and jet-boating rules.

It had also implemented safety guidelines for river-boarding about 12 to 18 months ago.

"They're good. We have no issue with them.

"We had a review meeting a few months ago with all of the operators in New Zealand and it's all going well."

Maritime New Zealand senior media adviser Sophie Hazelhurst, of Wellington, said the guidelines for river-boarding had been reviewed and would be out for consultation next month.

Once the industry had been consulted, it was hoped to have them in place for summer.

A year ago Black Sheep Adventures, trading as Mad Dog River Boarding, admitted two Health and Safety in Employment Act charges in the Queenstown District Court related to the death of British backpacker Emily Jordan.

Miss Jordan (21) drowned after being submerged in the Kawarau River for 20 minutes in April 2008 while on a Mad Dog River Boarding excursion.

The company was ordered to pay a $66,000 fine along with $80,000 reparation to the Jordan family.

Miss Jordan's father, Chris, prompted the national review, writing a letter to Prime Minister John Key asking for an inquiry into the sector.

Mr McLeod did not want to comment on Mr Jordan's criticisms of the sector as a whole, or Mad Dog specifically, other than to say "Chris Jordan is entitled to his opinion and that's perfectly fine."

 

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