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Emily Jordan: Drowned woman's father angry as NZ watchdog shuts | Emily Jordan: Drowned woman's father angry as NZ watchdog shuts |
(3 days later) | |
The father of a UK student who died while river-boarding in New Zealand has branded the closure of the country's adventure sports watchdog "disgusting". | The father of a UK student who died while river-boarding in New Zealand has branded the closure of the country's adventure sports watchdog "disgusting". |
Outdoors New Zealand was supposed to audit extreme sports in the country after Emily Jordan, 21, from Trimpley, Worcestershire, drowned there in 2008. | Outdoors New Zealand was supposed to audit extreme sports in the country after Emily Jordan, 21, from Trimpley, Worcestershire, drowned there in 2008. |
But the company announced on Thursday it had suspended business, blaming a lack of government funding. | But the company announced on Thursday it had suspended business, blaming a lack of government funding. |
Miss Jordan's father, Chris, said poor regulation was "a risk to life". | Miss Jordan's father, Chris, said poor regulation was "a risk to life". |
'Insulting' | 'Insulting' |
Ms Jordan, who was on a gap year with her boyfriend, drowned after she became stuck under a rock in the Kawarau River, near Queenstown, in April 2008. | Ms Jordan, who was on a gap year with her boyfriend, drowned after she became stuck under a rock in the Kawarau River, near Queenstown, in April 2008. |
An inquest - which returned a verdict of death by misadventure - concluded her unsuitable lifejacket and the river boarding company's lack of equipment were contributing factors. | An inquest - which returned a verdict of death by misadventure - concluded her unsuitable lifejacket and the river boarding company's lack of equipment were contributing factors. |
A scheme introduced in 2011 - in the wake of Ms Jordan's death - required all such businesses to be certified as safe by November. | A scheme introduced in 2011 - in the wake of Ms Jordan's death - required all such businesses to be certified as safe by November. |
Mr Jordan, who claimed the type of lifejacket his daughter had been wearing is still used in New Zealand, said the lack of progress was "insulting" to victims' families. | Mr Jordan, who claimed the type of lifejacket his daughter had been wearing is still used in New Zealand, said the lack of progress was "insulting" to victims' families. |
"Just 39 out of the 500 or so adventure activity operators have been audited by Outdoors New Zealand," he said. | "Just 39 out of the 500 or so adventure activity operators have been audited by Outdoors New Zealand," he said. |
"It's appalling, the problem is [the New Zealand government] have said one thing and then they haven't done anything at all. | "It's appalling, the problem is [the New Zealand government] have said one thing and then they haven't done anything at all. |
"We wanted something positive to come from Emily's death but what's taking place is indescribable." | "We wanted something positive to come from Emily's death but what's taking place is indescribable." |
In a letter to its members, Outdoors New Zealand said it was "swamped with calls for audits" after it became the country's only government-approved auditor in October last year. | In a letter to its members, Outdoors New Zealand said it was "swamped with calls for audits" after it became the country's only government-approved auditor in October last year. |
It said Worksafe New Zealand, the country's health and safety department, promised to "provide resources to help us increase our capacity". | It said Worksafe New Zealand, the country's health and safety department, promised to "provide resources to help us increase our capacity". |
"A few weeks later WorkSafe reneged on this promise, leaving us in a disastrous cashflow position, and despite immense efforts to change their minds on this one we have been unsuccessful," it said. | "A few weeks later WorkSafe reneged on this promise, leaving us in a disastrous cashflow position, and despite immense efforts to change their minds on this one we have been unsuccessful," it said. |
WorkSafe New Zealand said it remained committed to the 1 November deadline to audit outdoor adventure firms. | |
On Monday, the watchdog announced it had appointed three dedicated advisers and said it was offering operators "considerable support". | |
It also added that it was in talks with a number of providers, other than Outdoors NZ, to help complete audits. |
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