Safety first for Heliski operators

The New Zealand Heliski Operators group has released the following statement to general media outlets:

Managing safety is a primary concern of all our members and we recognise our responsibility in representing New Zealand's adventure activity market as a proffessional and well run segment. We conduct over ninety percent of the Heliskiing activity taking place in New Zealand and we have continued the process of collabarativley improving standards since 2006. Many of our current standards reflect best practices from within New Zealand and around the world. Heliski companies in New Zealand are run by Guides qualified by the New Zealand Mountain Guiding Association, which is affiliated to an international body for guides working around the world including Canada, Europe and the United States.

We await the findings of coroner Richard McElrea following the two inquests held in Ashburton this week. Both incidents involved one of the groups' members who along with eight other heliski companies form the industry group. The recommendations from these inquests are extremely important and will be fully reviewed by the groups members in the following weeks. Any resulting changes from this review to the current Code of Practice will only serve to improve levels of safety in the Heliski industry in New Zealand.

ENDS

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