Half adventure firms finish audits

Skyline Rotorua

Only half of the Rotorua adventure tourism businesses affected by new audit and certification rules are so far registered, WorkSafe says.

A list of companies which have passed the Adventure Activities Certification Scheme and are registered is on the WorkSafe website, including nine Rotorua businesses.

Eight have not registered.

Worksafe could not comment as to what stage the unregistered businesses had reached, but said some were yet to begin the audit process; some were making improvements to safety systems so they could register; some were seasonal and were planning to register closer to their season; some have stopped the adventure activity part of their business but kept their other activities open; and others had closed.

Operators were recently granted a short extension to be registered under the Adventure Activities Regulations.

Skyline Rotorua was the only local business listed online to be granted the December 12 extension to complete its audit and become certified. It is yet to be registered. Skyline Rotorua would not comment on what stage it had reached.

Rotorua Adventures Ltd has completed the certification scheme, which lasts for three years.

Co-owner and operator Joann Hutton said the audit process was strenuous.

"We at least knew the hoops that we might have to go through, but even those were more than we expected.

"There will be yearly site visits but the certificate lasts for three years, so we don't have to go through the whole process every year," she said.

WorkSafe chief executive Gordon MacDonald said the audit had been successful.

"The new Regulations have increased the levels of professionalism and standards of safety across the adventure activities sector. To date almost 260 operators nationally have worked hard on their safety management systems to pass their safety audit and get registered. View registered businesses at www.dol.govt.nz/Tools/AAOAudit/Audit/Register.