Feedback on Adventure Activities – Managing the risks from natural hazards good practice guide

Recreation Aotearoa works in partnership with Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA) on a range of resources for the Adventure Activity sector. Recreation Aotearoa and the TIA have served on the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s (MBIE) Expert Reference Group for the Adventure Activities review. Many Adventure Activity Operators (AAOs) are members of Recreation Aotearoa.

Overview of general comments

Recreation Aotearoa highlights the success of Activity Safety Guidelines (ASGs) in standardising practices and audits within the adventure sector. Despite the initial partnership funding from WorkSafe, which has since ceased, the sector struggles to sustainably develop and maintain these guidelines. The decision by WorkSafe to manage ASGs in-house has resulted in inadequate and outdated guidelines, especially in areas like open water paddling, white-water activities, and kite surfing.

Recreation Aotearoa stresses the importance of flexible guidance over strict regulation, noting that the adventure activities sector encompasses diverse risks and contexts. WorkSafe’s guidance often becomes de facto regulation, limiting operators' ability to adapt and innovate. We support the new Natural Hazard Risk Management guidance but emphasise the need for it to be concise and relevant.

The 2016 performance review found the adventure activities regime effective, with operators well-versed in managing natural hazards. The Whakaari/White Island tragedy is cited as a unique event, cautioning against broad regulatory changes. Recreation Aotearoa advocates for a balanced approach, avoiding over-regulation and ensuring that critical safety guidance remains accessible and practical, particularly for new entrants to the sector.

Read our feedback

For more detail, including specific commentary, please read:

Feedback on Adventure Activities – Managing the risks from natural hazards good practice guide

Questions or feedback

If you have any questions, or want to share your views, contact our Advocacy Manager, Sam Newton by email: sam@nzrecreation.org.nz.