Good Practice — What It Means and Where to Find It

Good Practice

What Does Good Practice Mean?

Good practice refers to what is currently accepted by the sector and regulators as meeting your legal responsibilities to manage risk. You must operate at good practice or better to meet your legal responsibilities.

Good practice is ideally documented through Activity Safety Guidelines, Good Practice Guidelines, codes of conduct, professional association guidelines, and qualification syllabuses.

Finding Reliable Information

Understanding where to locate and identify trustworthy good practice resources is essential. This typically combines technical expertise with written materials.

In some cases, formal good practice documentation may not exist — in those situations, your Technical Advisor's knowledge becomes the definitive source.

Technical Advisors

Adventure providers must have access to sufficient technical knowledge tailored to their specific activities for sound safety decisions. These specialists — called Technical Advisors — may work directly for the provider or be contracted independently.

Required qualifications: Technical Advisors must demonstrate high competence, typically through advanced-level qualifications. They must understand current sector standards and possess knowledge sufficient to advise on policies, procedures, hazards, risks, and planning reviews.

Evaluating Written Resources

When evaluating any safety document, consider:

• Whether it has regulatory linkage
• Whether it was developed by experts
• Whether it is current
• Whether the industry accepts it as representing good practice
• Whether it covers your topic completely (supplement with other materials if gaps exist)

Professional activity organisations may offer safety guidance — quality varies. Apply the same criteria above.

Natural Hazards

WorkSafe published specific guidance (April 2025) on managing risks from natural hazards — flooding, landslips, and snowfall. This applies to all outdoor activity and adventure providers. See the Natural Hazards section.

Activities With Activity Safety Guidelines (ASGs)

ASGs exist for: abseiling, bridge swinging, canyon swinging, via ferrata, canyoning, caving, coasteering, heli-skiing, high ropes courses, high wire courses, ziplines, mountain biking, off-road vehicles, quad biking, trail biking, scuba diving, and trekking.

Activities Without ASGs

For activities without a specific ASG, you must use a combination of:

• WorkSafe best practice guidelines
• Professional body guidelines (NZMGA, NZOIA, etc.)
• Related ASGs from similar activities
• Your Technical Advisor's professional judgement

Mountain activities (glacier hiking, ice climbing, mountaineering, snow shoeing) — use NZMGA guidelines, NZOIA alpine qualifications, and avalanche standards.

Open-water activities (canoeing, kayaking, SUP, waka ama) — use Maritime NZ guides, maritime rules, commercial operator codes, and NZOIA qualifications.

Whitewater activities (rafting, kayaking) — use WorkSafe whitewater rafting guidance and NZOIA qualifications.

Good Practice Guidelines for Non-Adventure Activities

Good Practice Guidelines (GPGs) cover organised outdoor activities NOT under the Adventure Activities Regulations. They are designed for youth organisations, recreational clubs, schools, outdoor centres, and commercial operators.

Activities with GPGs include: adventure-based learning, archery, beach and surf activities, campfire cooking, flatwater paddling, inland waterway swimming, low ropes courses, overnight camping, tramping, and more.

Who Developed These Resources

Recreation Aotearoa and Education Outdoors NZ led collaborative development with specialised working groups. Initial funding from Sport NZ, Tourism Industry NZ Trust, and others. Ongoing support from EONZ and Recreation Aotearoa.