AUCKLAND – New Zealand prime minister John Key said a letter from the father of drowned English tourist had persuaded him to better regulate the nation’s adventure travel sector.
Emily Jordan, 21, drowned in Central Otago’s Kawarau River in April last year after being trapped underwater for 20 minutes while riverboarding.
Queenstown’s Mad Dog River Boarding was last month fined $66,000 and ordered to pay $80,000 in reparation to the Jordan family after admitting two Health and Safety in Employment Act charges.
The prime minister said he believed most in the sector operated well, but there were concerns that there were some cowboys and that safety standards were not being monitored.
The investigation would involve a number of departments and ministers would report on the state of the sector and whether any changes would be needed.
"Tourism is critically important to New Zealand and we must do all we can to ensure visitor safety," Mr Key said.
Ms Jordan’s father, Chris, said safety investigators only looked into problems after accidents.
Mr Key said Ms Jordan’s was not the only fatality in recent years and while the vast majority of tourists had a safe and exhilarating experience, he could not ignore the concerns raised.
Source: Stuff NZ
