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International Tourists Plead for Stiffer Rules in NZ’s Tourism Sector
Tom Sewell is sorely missed by everyone who knew him
Last month an inquest was held in Britain into the death of young rugby player Tom Sewell.
Five years ago Tom Sewell started his first day of a working holiday in New Zeaalnd and was killed whilst riding a quad bike on a farm in Katikati, on the North Island.
It’s sad that it has taken this long for the coroner to reach a judgement about accidental death but when he did it was pretty damning and another nail in the coffin for NZ’s reputation for taking safety seriously.
There have been 37 deaths in quad bike accidents since 2008 and 3 since Boxing Day last year (source) Chief coroner Neil MacLean is said to be “frustrated by the large number of quad bike deaths around the country.”
We’ve blogged many times about the high numbers of deaths, serious injuries and near misses in New Zealand’s tourism industry, the egregious lack of safety awareness and attitudes that can be best described as “she’ll be right”. Read posts tagged Adventure tourism or see our adventure tourism and safety Wiki for further details.
A report into the inquest by Getsurrey.co.uk showed how both the NZ and UK coroners highlighted a serious lack of duty of care and health and safety awareness at the farm. What they found has wider implications for workplace health and safety, and the whole of the tourism industry in New Zealand, especially working holiday providers.
“Mr Travers explained there were no written instructions and no crash helmets, which he said would indicate problems with health and safety.
At the first inquest into Tom’s death, held in New Zealand in November 2009, nine recommendations were made by the chief coroner, which Mr Travers has agreed to support following his findings.
Among the nine were recommendations for a clear written policy on the use of all-terrain vehicles and that helmets should be worn when driving these vehicles.
He added that when employees were working in orchards, there should be supervision and a nominated person responsible for the health and safety of workers.
In addition, visitors and potential employees should not be permitted to start work without a health and safety induction and a proper introduction to the site.
Tom’s father thinks it is clear that health and safety in New Zealand needs to be assessed…” read more here
The report went on to mention a number of tourist deaths in New Zealand, all of which we’ve covered in this blog in the past, saying
Tom’s death is just one of many tragedies involving Britons taking gap year visits to New Zealand.
Bradley Coker died in the Fox Glacier aviation disaster
- Tom Donaldson died on a work’s day out whilst sandboarding
Sarah Bond, killed in a quad bike accident
The mother of Sarah Bond spoke about New Zealand’s “she’ll be right” attitude,
What underpins all of this is the lack of safety and lack of care out there,” said her mother, Elizabeth Bond. “It feels like ‘accidents happen’ is their mantra.”
Enough is Enough
Now a group of 200 international families have decided enough is enough and are campaigning for a tightening up of New Zealand’s perceived lax safety standards. This is probably a continuation of the campaign that was started in 2010 by the families of British tourists Emily Jordan, Sarah Bond and Tom Sewell .
Emily Jordan and Jonathan Armour, Emily died in a riverboarding accident
Furthermore, the majority of the NZ public agree with them that something must be done because it’s not just international tourists that are suffering.
This article in the Herald was published days after Auckland man Clifford Brabet died on a team building exercise at the Treetops high ropes activity centre at Woodhill, Auckland.
There have also been other New Zealand deaths, not least the tragic deaths of student Catherine Peters, the 6 highschool students and a teacher who died in a canyoning exercise with the Sir Edmund Hilary Outdoor Centre and the Kiwis who were killed in the Fox Glacier plane crash (9 dead) and the Carterton hot air balloon disaster (11 dead)
Clifford Brabet was killed this month when he fell from at high ropes activity park in Woodhill.
Catherine Peters died when her rope wasn’t tied off at the Ballance Bridge Swing in the Manawatu Gorge.
The Herald ran an on-line survey
From an article in the NZ Herald we learn that Tom Sewell’s mother had contacted her former MP, Sir Humfrey Malins who had
“written to the NZ High Commissioner in London two years ago on the family’s behalf expressing concern – but had not received a response.
Linda said that silence was “very disappointing”. The family would now be writing to Key, asking him to adopt the UK Coroner’s safety recommendations.
The international letter-writing campaign to draw attention to New Zealand health and safety problems is spearheaded by two other British dads: Chris Coker, who lost his son Brad in the Fox Glacier plane crash, and Chris Jordan, who lost his daughter Emily Jordan in a riverboarding tragedy. Chris Coker has set up a website to warn people about the risks in New Zealand.
Brad would have turned 27 tomorrow. “I couldn’t go to work for nearly a year and now I go to work and see an empty chair,” he said. “Why is it my job as a grieving parent to fight the terrible injustice of my son’s death because it was preventable?”… more here
We wish them all the best with helping to improve safety in New Zealand, it’s not an easy task given the degree of under-regulation of safety in the country.
In the meantime and until such time as things have improved, if you, or a family member, is planning an adventure tourism or working holiday in New Zealand perhaps you should consider somewhere with higher standards and where safety is regulated properly.
You may also be interested in
NZ workplace safety a ‘national disgrace’ – consultant (NZ Herald Jan 2013) “New Zealand’s health and safety record has been labelled as ‘woeful’ and a ‘national disgrace’ by a consultant with two decades’ experience in the sector…Robyn Levinge says New Zealand has never prioritised health and safety like it has with road safety, domestic violence and drink driving…”As a country, we have simply not given health and safety the priority it deserves at any level…”
One Way Ticket (60 minutes TV, Oct 2012) “Every year, thousands of young Australians fly off for a gap year adventure. Their travels take them all over the world, often to poor and dangerous places that make their mums and dads fret…But the world capital of adventure tourism can be a deadly place as Glenn (Bourke) and eight others so tragically discovered…”
New Zealand Adrenaline Nation (ABC News, Oct 2012)”not everyone walks away from an adventure tourism experience in New Zealand. Over the past eight years at least 50 visitors have died when things went dreadfully wrong. Many more have suffered crippling injuries…In a forensic examination of New Zealand’s adventure tourism industry and safety regime, correspondent Dominique Schwartz exposes significant flaws in regulation and safety awareness. She investigates the activities of a prominent ballooning operator with a troubling track record and hears evidence that NZ’s taxpayer-funded accident compensation scheme (ACC) may be enabling poor practice.”
Man falls to his death whilst participating in team building fund day in Woodhill (NZ Police, March 2013)”A 57-year-old man fell to his death yesterday while attending a team building fun day at Treetops Adventures, Woodhill, Auckland. A Doctor and an Advanced Paramedic were participants on the course nearby and rushed to assist the man. He died at the scene as a result of his injuries. OSH attended the scene and are working closely with Treetop Adventures to investigate how the the fatality occurred.” The man was later named as Clifford Brabet. People at the park voiced concerns about safety and overcrowding before the fall.
“No Accountability in New Zealand” – The Fox Glacier Aviation Disaster (August 2012)
Harness Failure Leaves Woman Dangling At Nevis Bungy Swing (May 2012)
UK Families Form Group To Push For Tougher Extreme Sport Standards In New Zealand (Jan 2010)
Emily Jordan’s Father Writes To John Key: Safety Regulations Are “Third World” (Sept 2009)
Carterton Ballooning Tragedy, Urgent Checks Follow Air Worthiness Concerns (Feb 2012)
Thrillseekers Adventure Ltd Fined For Bungy Fall (May 2011)
Tom Donaldson Inquest – Coroners Says ‘Warn Tourists’ (Nov 2010)
Wellington Reverse Bungy Closed Amid Safety Fears (Dec 2010)
Tourists Seriously Injured In Bay Of Islands Boat Incidents (April 2011)
Alistair McWhannell Guilty Of Manslaughter In Swing Bridge Death (June 2010)
Fox Glacier Plane Crash, Nine Dead Including Four Tourists (Sept 2010)
Tourists Injured in Queenstown Jet Boat Crash, Another Died Swimming With Dolphins (Nov 2010)
Australian Tourist Seriously Injured By Dophin Boat (Dec 2010)
Tourists seriously injured in collision between Outward Bound cutter and a Dolphin Watch Ecotours (Feb 2011)
Adventure Tourism Safety – Kiwis Have Their Say (May 2011)
Australian Tourist Injured In Bungy Accident, Another Has Collapsed Lung – Updated (May 2010)
Another Tourist Dies in New Zealand – Trainee Doctor Tom Donaldson killed at sand dunes (Feb 2009)
NZ guiding industry failing to manage risks properly (Jan 2010)
Another Adventure tourism death results in prosecution – Tor Prestmo (Dec 2009)
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How Widespread Is Cannabis Use in NZ’s Adventure Tourism Industry
Cannabis use may be widespread in New Zealand’s adventure tourism industry
After the shocking revelation that Lance Hopping, the pilot involved in the Carterton Ballooning tragedy in which 11 people died, was found with cannabis in his system we’re asking how widespread is the use of this illegal drug in New Zealand’s adventure tourism industry, and how much of a factor does it play in the industry’s high accident rate?
Yesterday a report into the Fox Glacier Sky Dive NZ crash also found that two of the jump masters were also found to be under the influence of cannabis.
We think its time for New Zealand to require mandatory drug and alcohol testing for everyone employed in the adventure tourism industry. With more frequent testing of people involved in high risk activities where operator error may lead to serious consequences for thrill seekers.
Additionally, drug and alcohol testing must be carried out on operators immediately after an accident or fatality.
If New Zealand’s reputation as a safe tourism destination is have any degree of credibility the government will take this issue seriously and deal with it swiftly to allay public concerns.
From Stuff
“Balloon crash pilot had smoked cannabis – report
The pilot of January’s balloon tragedy in Carterton was flying with cannabis in his system when he crashed, killing all 11 people on board.
Toxicology tests performed on the body of Lance Hopping, 53, four days after the crash returned positive for cannabis, with the discovery described as “concerning” by investigators.
The findings were part of an interim report issued by the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) this morning, four months after the balloon struck powerlines, caught fire and crashed into a field on January 7…
…yesterday TAIC called for an alcohol and drug testing regime to be implemented for people performing activities critical to flight safety, after announcing that two tandem skydive masters had smoked cannabis before a Skydive New Zealand plane crashed after takeoff from Fox Glacier in September 2010.
While this morning’s report contains a number of details about what happened on the day, it includes no analysis of those facts, nor any recommendations or key lessons to be learned from the crash.
Instead those findings would be reserved for TAIC’s final report due in March next year.
The families of the victims were briefed on the report last month, and it is understood several people have had drafts of the report for weeks, including the balloon company owners, members of Hopping’s ground crew, and his fiancee Nina Kelynack.”
read more
New Zealand has highest cannabis use
According to data compiled by the site Nationmaster.com New Zealand has the highest rate of cannabis use:
Other blogs tagged Cannabis
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Another Hot Air Balloon ‘Accident’ In New Zealand
Another ballooning 'accident' in NZ
We’re deeply concerned that there has been another hot air balloon accident in New Zealand, fortunately on this occasion no one was killed or seriously injured.
On Saturday 24 March 2012 a hot-air balloon coming into land with 18 passengers on board, crashed into pine trees which tore holes in the balloon. The snagging caused the balloon to tip onto its side.
“Passenger Savannah Hyssong says at least half the balloon hit the tree.
“There were massive holes. It freaked me out. The only thing I was thinking was should I jump out and grab a branch,” she told reporters.
A man was hit on the head by a branch and his seven-year-old daughter cried through the ordeal, Ms Hyssong said.
“There were sudden screams of panic. I think a lot of people were terrified.”
The balloon landed really hard. The basket tipped over with passengers landing on their backs, she said.
“It was insane. Freaky – scary as hell. That’s not the way it is supposed to be.” …read more Balloon passenger thought about jumping
The incident occurred in a field in Downs Rd near Eyrewell Forest. We believe that Ms Hyssong, who lives in Christchurch is originally from Chelsea, Michigan.
Details are sketchy and this may be all that you’ll be allowed to know as it is unlikely that a report into the crash landing will ever be made public. If we manage to find out more we’ll bring it to you.
This report appeared in The Press
“Civil Aviation Authority spokeswoman Emma Peel today said the weekend’s crash was being treated as a serious incident rather than a higher-level accident as it appeared there was no injury to passengers.
“Accidents findings were released only because they could be beneficial to the wider aviation industry, but incidents with hot-air balloons could often be related to an incorrect assessment of the weather, she said.
Investigators would talk to witnesses, the pilot and the company.
Peel said the investigation would be conducted from a desk in Wellington. No investigators would visit the site.
No action was being taken against Balloon Adventures Up Up and Away Ltd and it could operate flights as normal, Peel said… ” read more Balloon crash findings may never go public
In February of this year The Civil Aviation Authority recommended urgent checks of all hot air balloons in New Zealand after an inquiry revealed possible air worthiness problems.
The inquiry was launched after 11 people were killed in a hot air balloon fire in Carterton. Read blog Balloon Clips Powerlines, 11 People Killed In Fireball.
Until all hot air balloons in New Zealand have been checked to ensure they meet maintenance requirements our recommendation is to postpone or cancel your ballooning experience.
If the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) chief commissioner John Marshall, QC wouldn’t get into a balloon whose maintenance requirements hadn’t been met, why would you?
“The CAA said it had launched an investigation into the maintenance of hot air balloons in the wake of the TAIC report.
“The apparent breaches of the manufacturer’s procedures and the civil aviation rules are obviously sufficiently serious for us to make a recommendation,” Marshall said.
If he was a passenger and knew about the breaches, he would not have been willing to continue the flight.
“If I had known as a person about to get into a balloon that maintenance requirements had not been complied with, obviously, personally, I wouldn’t get into that balloon.”
Earlier, acting director of Civil Aviation John Lanham said the findings of the report were very serious…”
Find a safer way to enjoy New Zealand, and never assume that the safety standards that apply in your own country also apply there.
For more about hot air ballooning incidents in New Zealand read our blogs tagged accordingly, for adventure tourism ‘accidents’ in general read our Adventure Tourism and Safety page.
Carterton Ballooning Tragedy, Urgent Checks Follow Air Worthiness Concerns
The Civil Aviation Authority has recommended urgent checks of all hot air balloons in New Zealand after an inquiry revealed possible air worthiness problems.
The inquiry was launched after 11 people were killed in a hot air balloon fire in Carterton last month. Read blog Balloon Clips Powerlines, 11 People Killed In Fireball.
According to a report in today’s Stuff headed Carterton tragedy Balloon airworthiness questioned
“The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has launched an urgent inquiry following “serious” findings of a report into the Carterton balloon tragedy.
The balloon, which crashed in Carterton on January 7 killing 11 all people on board, might not have been airworthy, investigators found.
The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) has released preliminary findings showing several maintenance requirements were not followed by those operating the balloon, including procedures for inspecting the balloon’s burners and fuel system, and a “grab test” to test the strength of the balloon material.
As a result TAIC has recommended that Civil Aviation make an urgent check of New Zealand’s 74 hot air balloons to test for airworthiness…” read the full article here
Our thoughts are with the families and friends of those who died, this must be a very difficult time for them.
Until all hot air balloons in New Zealand have been checked to ensure they meet maintenance requirements our recommendation is to postpone or cancel your ballooning experience.
If the transport Accident Investigation Commission chief commissioner John Marshall, QC wouldn’t get into a balloon whose maintenance requirements hadn’t been met, why would you?
The CAA said it had launched an investigation into the maintenance of hot air balloons in the wake of the TAIC report.
“The apparent breaches of the manufacturer’s procedures and the civil aviation rules are obviously sufficiently serious for us to make a recommendation,” Marshall said.
If he was a passenger and knew about the breaches, he would not have been willing to continue the flight.
“If I had known as a person about to get into a balloon that maintenance requirements had not been complied with, obviously, personally, I wouldn’t get into that balloon.”
Earlier, acting director of Civil Aviation John Lanham said the findings of the report were very serious.
Find a safer way to enjoy New Zealand, and never assume that the safety standards that apply in your own country also apply there.
For more about New Zealand’s record for adventure tourism ‘accidents’ read our Adventure Tourism and Safety page.
Balloon Clips Powerlines, 11 People Killed In Fireball – Update: Urgent Inquiry Launched
Update: 23 February 2012. Balloon may’ve not been airworthy and urgent checks of all of New Zealand’s hot air balloons has been recommended
Carterton tragedy Balloon airworthiness questioned
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has launched an urgent inquiry following “serious” findings of a report into the Carterton balloon tragedy.
The balloon, which crashed in Carterton on January 7 killing 11 all people on board, might not have been airworthy, investigators found.
The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) has released preliminary findings showing several maintenance requirements were not followed by those operating the balloon, including procedures for inspecting the balloon’s burners and fuel system, and a “grab test” to test the strength of the balloon material.
As a result TAIC has recommended that Civil Aviation make an urgent check of New Zealand’s 74 hot air balloons to test for airworthiness…” read the full article here
Eleven people, including the pilot, have been killed in a hot air balloon crash in the Wairarapa.
Pilot Lance Hopping, CEO of Ballooning New Zealand Ltd, and five couples from the Wellington region were killed when their balloon (a Cameron A 210 named “Mr Big” reg. number ZK-XXF) burst into flames and became caught up in powerlines near Carterton this morning, cutting power to the town for some hours.
This is New Zealand’s largest air disaster since the death of nine people, including tourists, in a light plane crash at Fox Glacier on 4 Sept 2010. That event went largely unnoticed outside of New Zealand because it happened on the same day as the first Christchurch earthquake. For more read Fox Glacier air crash.
Few people know that New Zealand’s first fatal air accident (1899) involved a balloon which landed in the sea, drowning the pilot.
Another similar tragedy happened in 1995, when a balloon belonging to a company called Balloon Adventures ditched in the sea off Waimairi Beach in Christchurch. Three tourists drowned
It is not known whether any foreign nationals were involved in today’s crash, nor have any names been released other than the pilot’s.
The company, Hastings based Early Morning Balloons ltd (Facebook page) is said to be involved and is cooperating with civil aviation investigators. It has issued a statement expressing their condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims.
A witness told Fairfax News
“he was waving to the passengers as the balloon passed overhead and appeared to hit a power cable.
“The people were enjoying a nice ride and by the looks of it they clipped a power wire,” he said.
“Then I heard the screams and looked out the window and heard it coming down. They sounded like screams of joy but they weren’t. It wasn’t coming from a great deal of height.
“I ran down the road to see if I could help but by that stage it was too late. It was just burned out. By the time the emergency services got there, there wasn’t much of a chance.”… more here
According to the company’s website it charges $350 per person for its Wairarapa flights which take off from behind the paua shop on Kent Street, Clareville, a street criss-crossed with overhead powerlines.
Fire extinguisher and safety equipment
A sequence of photographs taken by local photographer Geoff Walker just days ago shows the balloon seemingly very close to overhead power lines, and one news report stated he was on the ground taking photos as the balloon burst into flames and crashed.
Those photographs are likely to form an important part of the investigation into what went wrong with ZK-XXF.
Various reports say that a fire started in the passenger basket and spread up the ropes towards the canopy. One of the questions we would expect to be answered is did the pilot carry and use an operational 1 kg AB:E type fire extinguisher to fight the blaze? Some of Mr Walkers photographs seem to show a small red extinguisher stored in the same compartment as the propane cylinders.
Other safety equipment that should’ve been on-board includes a simple pair of flame resistant gloves for the pilot so that he could shut off a gas valve in the event of a leak. In addition, the pilot should’ve been wearing clothing made of natural fibres which will singe and not burn readily. source
We suspect that the basket hit a powerline as the balloon made its descent, the wires made contact causing a spark which ignited a propane gas leak, causing a fierce fire. However, it will be a good 6-12 months before the accident investigation is concluded.
Google street view of the street outside the launch site
Google street view of the crash site on nearby Somerset Street
Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased and with the witnesses to the crash who must’ve been traumatised by what they’ve seen.
In a police statement
“Wairarapa Area Commander Inspector Brent Register says Police began receiving reports from eye witnesses about 7:25am, where they reported a hot air balloon in distress.
“It appears the hot air balloon operated by Early Morning Balloons left Kent Street, Carterton (behind The Paua Factory), between 6:40am and 6:45am.”
He says after a 45-minute flight, the balloon was to land in a paddock in Somerset Road, Carterton. As the balloon was preparing to land, it hit wires on a power line, causing sparking in the basket.
“At this point, two of the 11 people onboard, believed to be a male and a female, appear to have jumped from the basket.”
Inspector Register says the balloon then made a sharp ascent, a fire ignited on board and the balloon plummeted into a paddock approx 200 metres away on Somerset Road.
All 11 people on board, including the pilot and five couples from the wider Wellington region, were killed in the crash.
“We are continuing to work with our partner agencies, which include the Coroner’s office, the Civil Aviation Authority, the Transport Accident and Investigation Commission, Dept of Labour, NZ Fire Service and Victim Support.”
Inspector Register says a thorough investigation is being conducted to ascertain the cause of the tragedy…”
Video of crash site
List of Victims
An official list will be released on Sunday but the deceased are believed to include:
The pilot Lance Hooping, Masterton retirees Desmond and Ann Dean who had vouchers for the flight as a Christmas present, Wellington couple Howard and Diana Cox, Wellington woman Alexis Still and her boyfriend Chrisjan Jordaan, who is believed to have originated from South Africa. Another couple have relatives in Victoria, Australia who are travelling to New Zealand.
Again, our deepest condolences go out to their families and friends.
Adventure tourism, deaths and regulation
New Zealand has a shocking safety record for some of its tourism activities, something we’ve often blogged about.
The CAA recently drafted new rules to force all aviation adventure tourism activities, including hot air balloons, microlights, warbirds, and tandem hang gliders and paragliders to hold air operator certificate.
The CAA safeguards civil aviation in New Zealand and has control over which operators can fly passengers and authority to make sure they meet safety standards.
Under Part 115 of the new civil aviation rules, all adventure aviation operators must hold an Operator Certificate.
“For those currently operating under Parts 101, 103, 104, 105, and 106, here are the transition timeframes for gaining a Part 115 Operator Certificate:
- Hot air balloon, hang glider, paraglider, tandem parachute, and parachute drop aircraft operators must be certificated by 1 May 2012.
- Microlight aircraft operations must be certificated by 1 Nov 2012.
- Glider operations must be certificated by 1 May 2013.
Those currently conducting an adventure aviation operation under a Part 119 AOC may continue to do so until the expiry of that certificate, or 10 November 2012, whichever comes first.”
Despite several high profile deaths and injuries, a number of prosecutions and the introduction of a auditing and registration system for all tourism operators, we’re saddened to learn that these tragedies are still occurring.
An all encompassing set of Adventure tourism regulations finally were enacted in October 2011, three and a half years after the drowning death of British tourist Emily Jordan sparked a review of the adventure tourism industry within NZ.
Incredibly there is a further delay of three years until all 1,500 adventure tourism businesses within New Zealand must be registered and in possession of a safety audit certificate.
We don’t know if Early Morning Balloons ltd was registered or had ever received a safety audit.
More more about adventure tourism safety in NZ read posts tagged accordingly, or our stats and facts page
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