A review into the Outdoor Pursuit Centre canyoning tragedy has found that instructor Jodie Sullivan lacked the experience to lead a group into the gorge in the weather conditions on the day of the tragedy.
The Department of Labour report says Ms Sullivan, who declined to be interviewed by the department as part of the investigation, lacked adequate experience of the gorge and catchment to make a safe decision about taking the trip.
Six students from Auckland's Elim College and a teacher were killed in April last year when they were swept down the Mangatepopo Gorge, near Turangi in the central North Island, after heavy rain caused the river to rise rapidly.
The report, which has been released to parents of the dead students and seen by Radio New Zealand, also found that the outdoor centre could have obtained more adequate weather information and closed the upstream gorge walk. It says the centre should have clarified with Ms Sullivan the route of the trip she was planning to take.
The Department of Labour has refused to comment on the report, which has not formally been made public.
The college says the department's report shows the decision to send the students on the canyoning trip was flawed from the start.
Elim Church Pastor Luke Brough said on Thursday it has been important to see the full report into the tragedy and the full truth needs to be there so it can bring healing to the families.
Last week, a judge ordered the Outdoor Pursuit Centre to pay $480,000 in reparation and fines for failing to ensure the safety of the group.
