The Prime Minister announced a review of risk management and safety in the adventure and outdoor commercial sectors in September 2009. The review will look at the existing regulations, safety systems and processes in the sector, and at any ways of improving risk management and safety.

The Department of Labour is leading this work, on behalf of the Minister of Labour, in consultation with key agencies and industry organisations. Terms of Reference have been established.

Public consultation

The Department moved into the consultation phase for the review and launched two questionnaires. One questionnaire was intended for outdoor and commercial sector operators, associations and organisations. The other was aimed at individuals.

The questionnaires asked for people’s views on:

• the strengths and weaknesses of risk management and safety in the sector
• what is working well
• what could be improved, and
• what are the six most important principles people believe underpin well managed risk.

The public consultation closed on 16 December 2009.

Review reports

The following review reports are now available.

• Summary of consultation responses
• International stock-take of risk management and safety in the adventure and outdoor commercial sectors
• Stock-take of risk management and safety provisions in the adventure and outdoor commercial sectors in New Zealand

More information will be made available as the review progresses. In the meantime, interested parties can contact David Mulholland at david.mulholland@dol.govt.nz. Media inquiries can be made to media@dol.govt.nz.