Adventure Activities — WorkSafe Guidance Hub
Full index of WorkSafe's adventure activities regulatory guidance — everything from registration and safety audits to sector-specific guidance for schools, contractors, maritime operators, and event organisers.
WorkSafe's adventure activities guidance
WorkSafe administers the Health and Safety at Work (Adventure Activities) Regulations 2016. Their guidance hub covers everything operators need to understand and meet their regulatory obligations.
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Is my operation an adventure activity?
What we mean by 'adventure activity'
How to determine whether your operation meets the definition in regulation 4(1)(a) — and whether you need to register. Includes the six elements of the definition and a table of activities likely and unlikely to be covered.
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Getting registered
Apply for adventure activity operator registration
How to register as an adventure activity operator, or amend or renew an existing registration. Handled through the Registrar (currently SportNZ under delegation from WorkSafe).
→ Visit: worksafe.govt.nz/topic-and-industry/adventure-activities/apply-for-adventure-activity-operator-registration
How we apply Adventure Activity regulation 8A
WorkSafe's policy on how they apply Regulation 8A — relating to registration conditions and operator obligations.
→ Visit: worksafe.govt.nz/topic-and-industry/adventure-activities/how-we-apply-adventure-activity-regulation-8a
What changed in the 2024 amendments
The Adventure Activities Amendment Regulations 2023 came into force 1 April 2024. Key changes to registration, safety audits, and sector requirements.
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Sector-specific guidance
Information for schools, education providers and clubs
The regulations include an exemption for registered schools, tertiary education providers, and clubs (or associations representing clubs) under specific circumstances. This guidance explains when the exemption applies and what obligations remain.
→ Visit: worksafe.govt.nz/topic-and-industry/adventure-activities/information-for-schools-education-providers-and-clubs
Guidance for commercial white water rafting operators
Sector-specific advice on keeping workers and participants safe in commercial white water rafting operations.
→ Visit: worksafe.govt.nz/topic-and-industry/adventure-activities/guidance-for-commercial-white-water-rafting-operators
Information for commercial mountain-biking operators
For businesses offering mountain-biking activities that may need to register as an adventure activity operator.
→ Visit: worksafe.govt.nz/topic-and-industry/adventure-activities/information-for-commercial-mountain-biking-operators
Information for providers of maritime activities
If you provide a maritime-based activity, this guidance helps determine whether you are subject to the adventure activities regulations.
→ Visit: worksafe.govt.nz/topic-and-industry/adventure-activities/information-for-providers-of-maritime-activities
Information for contractors and organisations using contractors
Determining whether contractors need to be registered, and the obligations of organisations that use contractors for adventure activities.
→ Visit: worksafe.govt.nz/topic-and-industry/adventure-activities/information-for-contractors-and-organisations-using-contractors
Information for event organisers
When events include adventure activities under the Regulations, and whether event organisers need to register.
→ Visit: worksafe.govt.nz/topic-and-industry/adventure-activities/information-for-event-organisers
Information for land owners and land managers
Landowners and managers who allow access to land for adventure activities may have duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.
→ Visit: worksafe.govt.nz/topic-and-industry/adventure-activities/information-for-land-owners-and-land-managers
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Guidance for PCBUs (businesses)
Guidance for PCBUs
Information to help businesses involved in adventures understand and meet their duties relating to the Adventure Activities Regulations.
→ Visit: worksafe.govt.nz/topic-and-industry/adventure-activities/guidance-for-pcbus
Notifiable events for adventure activities
PCBUs (including adventure activity operators) must notify WorkSafe as soon as possible after a notifiable event arising from their business. This page explains what counts as a notifiable event and the reporting process.
→ Visit: worksafe.govt.nz/topic-and-industry/adventure-activities/notifiable-events-for-adventure-activities
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Natural hazards
Adventure and outdoor recreation — managing risks from natural hazards
WorkSafe's April 2025 guidance on flooding, landslips, and snowfall — applies to all adventure activity operators and outdoor recreation providers.
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Register of operators
Register of adventure activity operators
The public list of currently registered adventure activity operators in New Zealand.
→ Visit: worksafe.govt.nz/topic-and-industry/adventure-activities/register-of-adventure-activity-operators
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Documents and resources
WorkSafe provides a range of downloadable documents including the Adventure Activities decision tree, guidance notes, and audit frameworks.
→ Visit: worksafe.govt.nz/topic-and-industry/adventure-activities/documents-and-resources
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Note: Always verify current regulatory guidance directly at worksafe.govt.nz as regulations and guidance are updated periodically.
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Notifiable events
Notifiable events for adventure activities
What counts as a notifiable event under HSWA and the Adventure Activities Regulations — including the adventure-activity-specific incidents and injuries that must be reported to WorkSafe immediately (Regulations 19A and 19B). Includes how to notify, site preservation duties, and 5-year record-keeping requirements.
Source: WorkSafe New Zealand — reproduced with attribution.. Original: supportadventure.co.nz