Staff Qualifications and Training

Staff Qualifications and Training

Having appropriately qualified and trained staff is one of the core requirements of the Adventure Activity Regulations and your Safety Management System. This guide covers what you need to have in place.

Regulatory Requirements

Under the Health and Safety at Work (Adventure Activities) Regulations 2016, operators must:

• Have staff who are competent to deliver each activity safely
• Be able to demonstrate staff competency to an auditor
• Ensure Technical Advisors have appropriate qualifications for the activities they advise on

What "Competent" Means

A competent staff member:

• Holds the appropriate qualification(s) for the activity (e.g. NZOIA award, NZMGA guide certification)
• Has sufficient practical experience in the specific environment they are working in
• Holds a current first aid certificate at the appropriate level for the activity
• Understands the safety procedures, emergency protocols, and equipment specific to your operation

Qualification Bodies

Key qualification bodies for NZ outdoor recreation:

• NZOIA — NZ Outdoor Instructors Association. Awards for kayaking, climbing, abseiling, alpine, caving, and more. 5-year currency cycle.
• NZMGA — NZ Mountain Guides Association. Alpine guiding and mountaineering.
• Rafting NZ — River guiding and leadership awards.
• Maritime NZ — Requirements for commercial maritime operations (sea kayaking, rafting).
• NZQA — Unit standards and national qualifications.

First Aid Requirements

First aid requirements vary by activity and environment. In general:

• Remote activities: Wilderness First Aid or equivalent minimum
• Activities close to road access: Standard first aid acceptable
• Technical rescue required: Advanced first aid plus rescue training

First aid certificates must be current — typically valid for 2–3 years.

Training Records

Maintain records for each staff member:

• All qualifications (body, award name, date, expiry if applicable)
• First aid certificate (provider, level, date, expiry)
• Activity-specific experience log
• In-house training and induction records
• Annual competency review

Currency Requirements

Many awards require ongoing professional development to maintain currency. NZOIA awards use a 5-year currency cycle — holders must log activity days and complete continuing professional development. Check currency requirements with each awarding body.

Use the Professional Registry on this site to verify staff qualifications and track currency status.