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.

If you are already registered as an adventure activity operator, this process may be new to you. Up until 1 April 2024, applications were submitted to the Registrar of Adventure Activities (WorkSafe) by the Recognised Safety Auditor who issued your safety audit certificate. Amendments to the Health and Safety at Work (Adventure Activities) Regulations 2016(external link) now require applicants to apply directly to the Registrar (WorkSafe).

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 20 working days.

If your application is successful, you will be notified, and we will update the adventure activity operators register to record your registration.

If we are proposing to refuse your application, you will be notified of our proposal and will be invited 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. You will be given the opportunity to make a submission on any proposed conditions, and we will consider your submission before making a decision.

Apply to be registered as an adventure activity operator for the first time

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

Engaging a Recognised Safety Auditor

Applicants can 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 the applicant 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.

Applying to WorkSafe

Once an applicant passes their audit, the Recognised Safety Auditor will issue them with a safety audit certificate. This certificate and the associated audit report are critical requirements for applying to WorkSafe for registration as an adventure activity operator.

Applicants must then complete the application form (see link below) and submit this with all the required supporting documents and information as stated on the application form, to aao@worksafe.govt.nz. If you have any questions, you can send these to the same email address.

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

On receiving the application, including payment, WorkSafe as Registrar of Adventure Activities will assess and make a decision on whether the applicant can be registered as an adventure activity operator.

Please note that if your application for registration is unsuccessful your registration fee will be fully refunded.

Summary of key steps

1. Applicant prepares, implements and documents their safety management system.
2. Applicant engages a Recognised Safety Auditor to perform a safety audit.
3. Applicant undergoes safety audit and if successful is issued a safety audit certificate.
4. Applicant applies directly to WorkSafe for registration using the required form and providing all the required information and registration fee.
5. Registrar makes a decision based on the criteria in Regulation 7 of the Regulations.
6. Registrar registers successful applicants and updates the public register.
   OR
   Registrar proposes to refuse to register the applicant and gives the applicant an opportunity to make a submission before a decision is made.

Apply to renew your registration as an adventure activity

Adventure activity operators who wish to continue providing adventure activities must apply to renew their registration before their current registration expires. The renewal process is the same as when applying for a first-time registration. If you apply to WorkSafe to renew your registration before the registration expiry date, registration will continue in effect until WorkSafe has advised you of its decision.

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, and you will be notified of the decision following assessment of the application.

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, you can 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 (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, you can 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, e.g. to change the location they provide an activity, or to remove an activity from their registration.  

Some amendments will require an applicant to undertake further audit activity and be issued a new safety audit certificate, e.g. changing the location they provide an activity, before they 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, you can send these to the same email address.

Note: If you want to update other details on the adventure activities register which aren’t covered under these application forms, e.g. 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)