Health & Safety

SNM work in natural & sometimes 'wild' places making for truly unique atmospheres of opportunity.

But don’t worry, because we calculate risks and hazards with our simple equation:
Think safe
+ Work safe
= Home safe

Social Nature Movement has delivered quality outdoor adventure programmes in a safe and supportive manor for many years. Health and Safety is ingrained in our business and it’s something that we take very seriously in all our destinations. It’s the primary reason we’re still operating with a very clean track record!

Our activities are all facilitated by experienced and friendly outdoor instructors who provide safe, fun and educational sessions.

Covid safe tours nz
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Covid safe tours nz

Coronavirus COVID-19

SNM has been through multiple COVID Clean assessments; developed exclusively for licence holders like us at SNM. 

The assessments offer information and checklists to help ensure that COVID-19 guidelines, as set out by the New Zealand Government, are being adhered to through robust understanding of protocols and guidelines set by the Ministry of Health, so you can travel with more peace of mind. Visitors can also feel confident in engaging with us knowing that we have completed COVID Clean approved assessments – easily recognizable by the Qualmark and TECNZ awards and logos. Additionally, COVID Clean Approved is formally recognised by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

Health And Safety

FAQ's about WorkSafe & Adventure Activities in New Zealand

An Adventure Activity is an activity:

  • that is provided to a participant in return for payment; and
  • that is land-based or water-based; and
  • that involves the participant being guided, taught how, or assisted to participate in the activity; and
  • the main purpose of which is the recreational or educational experience of the participant; and
  • that is designed to deliberately expose a participant to a serious risk to his or her health and safety that must be managed by the provider of the activity; and
  • in which
      • failure of the provider’s management systems (such as failure of operational procedures or failure to provide reliable equipment) is likely to result in a serious risk to the participant’s health and safety; or
      • the participant is deliberately exposed to dangerous terrain or dangerous waters.

    For further information visit What is meant by and adventure activity.

Safety in the adventure activities sector is mainly regulated through the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and the Adventure Activities Regulations.

Under the Act, adventure activity operators and all other people conducting a business or undertaking are required to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, that their work does not put at risk the safety of their workers or other persons. This includes, for example, ensuring the right equipment is provided and that workers have the necessary training to manage the risks from their work.

The regulations require all adventure activity operators to be registered with the NZ Adventure Activities Certification Scheme (refer FAQ 1) and pass a safety audit at least once every three years. Audits are conducted by independent safety auditors against a safety audit standard for adventure activities published by WorkSafe.

In addition to these health and safety requirements, transport legislation establishes safety requirements for the land, air, and marine transport aspects of operations. Certain activities, such as adventure aviation and jet boating, are regulated under transport rules rather than the Adventure Activities Regulations.

The process includes preparing paperwork that details their safety management system and operating procedures, then working with a recognised safety auditor who checks that paperwork and follows it up with an onsite field-audit.

Once an operator passes this audit, the safety auditor will then provide a copy of the safety audit certificate to WorkSafe. The WorkSafe Registrar will then register the operator unless we decline to do so for reasons set out in the Adventure Activities Regulations.

Having passed an audit, it is the operator’s responsibility to continue to comply with this standard. They must ensure the approved safety management system is followed, and good practice is maintained. Additionally, they must review their safety management system in response to new information or as their business changes.

SNM Compliance

We have a comprehensive safety management system to ensure our clients have opportunities to experience the great New Zealand outdoors without being exposed to reasonably foreseeable risks and hazards.
It is important to us that you have all of the information you need to make an informed decision about participating.
We work closely with other leading organisations in this industry to help regulate it further and tighten up on processes to lift New Zealand outdoor safety standards.
Ensuring the health and safety of participants is paramount when engaging in outdoor activities to support adventure.
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SNM Activities provided & location of activities (AAO4317):

White Water Kayaking & Packrafting North Island grade 2 rivers

Rock Climbing & Bouldering New Zealand

Abseiling New Zealand

Coasteering (Boogie Boarding in & around sea caves) Bethells Beach region

Sea Kayaking North Island

Rafting Clutha River & Hawea River

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SNM covering legal requirements

We have a current AdventureMark Audit with annual surveillance and a complete renewal every three years. This is a national outdoor independent audit programme ensuring organisations are operating above the industry safety standard. We develop site and activity management plans for all our offerings. Our comprehensive health and safety policy covers all aspects of our internal and external operations.

Adult life jackets

SNM approach to Health & Safety

Our approach to identifying and managing risks and hazards “so far as is reasonably practicable” and foreseeable is in Planning-Doing-Checking-Acting. As a safety audit certified operator, we meet rigorous standards in safe travel, qualified adventure activities and provide acknowledged event and water safety

School campgrounds in Auckland

SNM's “Safety & EOTC” (Education Outside the Classroom)

In 2002 the Ministry of Education published a document clarifying schools’ responsibilities regarding EOTC and the expectation of schools to meet the emerging requirements. We recognise those guidelines reflected in our out-of-school needs checklist and when partnering with schools we have a comprehensive mutual agreement contract.

SNM's objective

Social Nature Movement is committed to the provision of a safe and healthy workplace for everyone. As a holder of ‘AdventureMark’ our Safety Systems and Operational Procedures are some of the best in the industry, and our safety record is a point in which we pride ourselves. Your safety is paramount to us. We are proud of our untarnished track record and operate under a comprehensive set of operational and compliance guidelines.
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SNM Notifiable Events to date
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How SNM manage risks & hazards

Fundamental Principles of Health and Safety at Work make up the over-arching tier of our managerial systems.

Expert staff are integral to health and safety by being AdventureSmart. We select only the best for the job. We look for people who have the right combination of skills, knowledge and experiences.

New instructors go through a rigorous training and induction programme and continue to be mentored.

Social Nature Movement uses modern, well maintained safety and emergency equipment.

We have routine inspections, pre-use checks and scheduled replacements and scheduled internal reviews of activities.

Personal locator beacon safety kit

Health & Safety Credentials

SNM is externally audited by:

AdventureMark is New Zealand’s largest adventure certification body. They work with over 200 operators here in New Zealand and in several countries worldwide providing our health and safety audit and adventure certification services across the globe.

SNM’s certification is approved by the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ):

This helps markets work better by providing internationally recognised services that create economic benefit.

SNM are approved operators through:

WorkSafe is New Zealand’s primary workplace health and safety regulator. Our audit is registered by WorkSafe New Zealand under the Adventure Activities Certification Scheme

SNM are NZOIA qualified guides and members.

Promoting excellence in outdoor instruction and guiding through qualifications for professionals since 1987. Our field workers maintain strict industry standards as members of the New Zealand Outdoor Instructors Association (NZOIA)

Advanced First Aid and Emergencies; our team are trained and fully qualified in first aid.

Preventing child abuse through Child Matters

River Rescue and Water Safety trained through Rescue3 NZ.

Staff are approved to work with young people by the New Zealand Police Vetting services.

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