New Zealand’s workplace health and safety regulator significantly beefed up safety audits of adventure tourism operators following the White Island eruption disaster.
Since the death of 22 people during a tour to White Island a year ago, WorkSafe conducted 177 assessments of adventure activities.
This compares with only 225 over the last six years.
However, the government highlighted concerns over the agency’s oversight and will carry out an independent review of WorkSafe’s operations, said Safety Minister Michael Wood.
"After the terrible event on Whakaari (White Island), the government launched a targeted review of the adventure activities health and safety regime. The review shows that the adventure activities regulatory regime is performing reasonably well, but has identified areas which could be strengthened," Wood said.
"Post-eruption, WorkSafe evaluated its own role in the regime and is making changes to ensure that it’s administering the adventure activities regime effectively."
Ten organisations, which include government agencies, face large fines for their role in last year’s volcanic island disaster.
Written by Ray Montgomery, Asia Editor
