The information on this page explains how to:

• apply for registration as an adventure activity operator under regulation 6A of the Health and Safety at Work (Adventure Activities) Regulations 2016 (the Regulations)
• apply to renew your current adventure activity operator registration, under Regulation 7L of the Regulations
• apply to provide additional activity types under your current registration, under Regulation 7H of the Regulations
• apply to amend your current registration e.g., by changing the location of an existing activity, under Regulation 7I of the Regulations.

Read the information below to find details for the application type you need. (Note applicant refers to all applicants regardless of whether they are currently registered as an adventure activity operator or not).

Once you have submitted a completed application form and all required information, we will begin our assessment. If we require additional information to assess your application and make a decision, we will contact you.

The timeframe for us to make a decision will vary depending on our assessment of your application. However, we can often advise an outcome in 30 working days.

If your application is successful, we will notify you, and record your registration in the adventure activity operators register.

If we are proposing to refuse your application, we will notify you of our proposal and will invite you to make a submission in response. We will consider your submission before making a decision.

We can impose conditions on your registration if we consider these are required in the interests of safety. We will give you the opportunity to make a submission on any proposed conditions and will consider your submission before making a decision.

How to become registered as an adventure activity operator

Summary of key steps for applicants: 

1. Prepare, implement, document and maintain your safety management system to meet the requirements of the Safety Audit Standard – Safety management system requirements for adventure activity operators
2. Engage a Recognised Safety Auditor (RSA) to perform a safety audit.
3. Undergo safety audit and if successful the RSA will issue a safety audit certificate.
4. Apply directly to us for registration using the required form and providing all the required information and registration fee. (WorkSafe is the Registrar of adventure activities.)
5. We will make a decision based on the criteria in Regulation 7 of the Regulations.
6. If your application is successful we will register you and update the public register.
   OR
   We may propose to register you with conditions, or propose to refuse to register you, and we will give you an opportunity to make a submission before we make a decision.  

Engaging a Recognised Safety Auditor

You will need to engage a safety auditor who has been recognised under the Regulations by WorkSafe. You will need to prepare and document your safety management system and operating procedures, which the Recognised Safety Auditor will then audit before carrying out an onsite field-audit.

Choose from the Recognised Safety Auditor organisations listed below.

Qualworx
Contact: Dave Watkinson
Phone: 021 194 8571
Email: info@qualworx.nz

AdventureMark
Contact: Mike Pennefather
Phone: 0800 394 436
Email: mike@adventuremark.co.nz

It can take at least eight weeks to go through all the stages of an audit. The Recognised Safety Auditor will work with you to determine the cost of the audit activity. As part of their auditing process the Recognised Safety Auditor will also explain any ongoing audit requirements needed to keep your safety audit certificate current.

Note – if the activity you are seeking registration for is currently not covered in the New Zealand Adventure Activities Certification Scheme, or if none of the Recognised Safety Auditors have the necessary accreditation to audit this activity, the timeframe for you to be audited may be considerably longer. This could add up to nine months to the registration process.

Once you pass your audit, the Recognised Safety Auditor will issue you with a safety audit certificate. This certificate and the associated audit report are critical requirements for registration as an adventure activity operator.

Apply for a new adventure activity operator registration, or to renew registration

Once you have been issued a safety audit certificate you can apply to register as an adventure activity operator, or to renew your existing registration. 

New registration – if you are seeking registration for the first time or if you have previously been registered but that registration has expired.

Renewal – if you have a current registration which has not expired.

If you apply to renew your registration after its expiry date, your registration will no longer be valid, and you will not be able to continue to provide adventure activities. Any subsequent application for registration will be treated as a new application.

Complete the application form and submit this with all the required supporting documents and information to WorkSafe. 

Supporting documents for applications include:

• evidence of identity (other than for registered companies)
• a copy of the safety audit certificate issued by the RSA  
• a copy of the audit report(s) provided by the RSA, relating to the safety audit you passed 
• a copy of the RSA’s activity Technical Expert evaluation report(s) for the activities provided (if available)
• a copy of the completed Stage one audit form (document review)

You must also include the registration fee. This is set under Regulation 17 (4) at $100.00 (excluding GST) per year or per part year of registration. Details on how to make your payment and calculate your fee are on the application form.

When we receive your application (including supporting documents and payment) WorkSafe (as Registrar of Adventure Activities) will assess and make a decision on whether you can be registered as an adventure activity operator.

If your application for registration is unsuccessful your registration fee will be fully refunded.

Online application form

To access the online application form you will need to:

• register for our WorkSafe online services
• log in using your RealMe login. If you do not have a RealMe login – the registration process will guide you through setting one up.

Apply online(external link)

You will also need to be someone in a position of authority to act on behalf of the entity applying for registration.

PDF application form, if you cannot apply online

We will still accept applications using the existing PDF form; however the online form is WorkSafe’s preferred option. 

If you’re applying using the PDF form email this together with all supporting documents to aao@worksafe.govt.nz. If you have any questions send these to the same email address.

Apply to provide additional activity types on your current adventure activity operator registration

Under regulation 7H of the Regulations a registered adventure activity operator may apply to provide additional activity types under their current registration.

To do so, you must first engage a Recognised Safety Auditor to carry out an audit of the additional activities you wish to provide. If you pass the audit, you will be issued an updated safety audit certificate. You can then apply to WorkSafe to provide the additional activities under your current registration.

Complete the application form below, which outlines the information you need to provide as part of your application, then email your complete application to aao@worksafe.govt.nz. If you have any questions, send these to the same email address.

Apply to amend your adventure activity operator registration

Under regulation 7I of the Regulations a registered adventure activity operator can apply to amend their registration, for example, to change the location they provide an activity, or to remove an activity from their registration.  

Some amendments will require you to undertake further audit activity and be issued a new safety audit certificate, for example, changing the location where you provide an activity, before you can apply to WorkSafe.

Complete the application form (see link below) which outlines the information you need to provide as part of your application. Then email your complete application to aao@worksafe.govt.nz. If you have any questions, send these to the same email address.

Other registration changes

If you want to update other details on the adventure activities register which aren’t covered under these application forms, for example, to reflect a company name change or a trading name change, or you wish to change any contact details we hold for the operator, please email your request to aao@worksafe.govt.nz.

Clearly state what details need updating. If you wish to change the legal name of the operator on the registration, you will need to attach a certificate of incorporation from the Companies Office recording the change of company name or, if operating as an individual, legal evidence supporting your name change. Please be aware that a change of ownership would require the new owner to apply for a new registration as registrations are not transferable. 

Reviews and appeals

If you are unhappy with a decision made by WorkSafe regarding your registration, you have the right to seek a review. A decision made by WorkSafe following a review may be appealed to the District Court.

Review and appeal of registration decisions | legislation.govt.nz(external link)