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An aerial search for missing climbers in Taranaki - Source: ONE News
The disappearance of three people off the coast of New Plymouth yesterday has sparked questions about whether outdoor pursuits are too risky for students.
Searching will continue tomorrow for two 17-year-old students and an instructor who went missing after a school rock climbing trip off Paritutu Rock.
The incident follows a tragedy four years ago when six students and a teacher died during adventure training in the Mangatepopo Gorge in Tongariro National Park.
Matthew Cant from the New Zealand Outdoor Instructors Association (NZOIA) said the company developed canyoning qualifications as a result of what happened in 2008 but the new rules did not go far enough.
"At this point in time there's no formal requirements for the individuals working in the field to be qualified."
However, Cant said building and running a national qualification scheme is expensive, and running it for small numbers of people is hard.
"I think it's something that needs to be looked at."
A Coroner's report into the 2008 incident suggested the Government consider licensing outdoor adventure operations for people under 18, however a review has not yet been conducted and the outdoor industry is currently self-regulated.
Cant said when tragedies like this occur the situation has to be reviewed.
"I think when an incident like this occurs, there has to be a period of reflection and review, and to ask yourself the hard questions."
Leading outdoor adventurer Graham Dingle said adventure is part of the human condition and opportunities do come with a level of risk.
"If we stop being adventurous, we will simply cease to exist."
Garth Dawson from Outdoors NZ (ONZ) said the risk is what makes the pursuits exciting.
"The perceived risk is the exciting part of it and the actual risk is what the outdoor education provider is trying to minimise.
Earlier today, Prime Minister John Key called for a full review into how the climbing trip went wrong.
"If the worst case scenario plays out and these people have been lost, there will be a full and inquiry and review."
ONZ said it would be working closely with authorities to establish what happened and to make sure any lessons are learned and improvements made.