A King Country adventure tourism company is in the Te Kuiti District Court facing two charges following the death of an English backpacker near Waitomo Caves last year.
Sarah Bond, 24, died after losing control of a quad bike, which plunged down a 50-metre bank on a farm. She died after the bike landed on her.
Ms Bond was part of a tour group riding quad bikes owned by the Waitomo Big Red Quad Bike Company, which is being prosecuted in a defended hearing by the Department of Labour.
One charge relates to the Health and Safety in Employment Act; the other is laid under the Machinery Act.
Father wants more proactive approach
The case has gained fresh topicality with the announcement of a Government review of adventure tourism safety standards.
Prime Minister John Key, who is also Tourism Minister, set up the review after receiving a letter from Chris Jordan, father of English tourist Emily Jordan, who drowned on the Kawarau River in Central Otago last April while on a trip with Mad Dog River Boarding. The company was fined $66,000.
Mr Jordan says he does not believe existing regulations are comprehensive or pro-active enough to ensure high safety standards.
He would like adventure tourism operators to be vetted by an authority - as happens in Britain - before they set up.
Mr Key says that over recent weeks he has become aware of a number of concerning cases related to events in the sector and he was spurred to take action by Mr Jordan's letter.
Labour minister to lead review
Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson will lead the review, which Mr Key expects the Civil Aviation Authority, Maritime New Zealand, the Tourism Ministry and the Tourism Industry Association to be part of.
The association says tourism operators should not feel threatened by the review.
Advocacy manager Geoff Ensor says it is part of New Zealand's responsibility as a host nation to ensure robust safety levels and Mr Jordan asked some fair questions.
Queenstown Rafting managing director Vance Boyd says operators are already very safety-conscious, but it's useful to look again at safety issues.
