New Zealand's adventure tourism rules are the strongest in the world following the plane crash on Fox Glacier in 2010, the CAA says.
Civil Aviation Authority manager John Lanham told the inquest into the deaths today that after the crash - which killed nine people, including four international tourists - the Authority implemented tougher regulations on sky-dive operators.
"New Zealand is the first and only country in the world to introduce a rule specifically dedicated to adventure aviation regulation," Lanham told coroner Richard McElrea.
However, he also admitted the action was not taken quickly enough.
"We have to accept the issue of Part 115 was belated," he said.
Pamela Bennett, whose son died in the crash, said it is little comfort to the grieving families.
"It was an accident, it may have been prevented if some of these things had been in place - they weren't," she said.
Today the coroner indicated he believed the Transport Accident Investigation Commission's findings, released in May, that the plane was over-loaded and unbalanced was an important factor in the crash.
"It is clear upon the evidence that the load shift forces that occurred when the aircraft was in operation were an essential element of the crash," McElrea said.
This evidence has been disputed by some witnesses during the course of the inquest.
As the coroner read out the names of the nine victims - Irishman Patrick Byrne, 26, Australian Glen Bourke, 18, German Annika Kirsten, 23, Britain Bradley Coker, 24, pilot Chaminda Senadhira, 33, Skydive New Zealand director Rod Miller, 55, Australian-born Motueka man Adam Bennett, 47, New Plymouth man Michael Suter, 32, and Christopher McDonald, 62, from Mapua - there were tears in the Greymouth court.
He concluded they died as a result from injuries sustained in the impact of the crash.
The families will now have to wait several months for the coroner to release his findings.
In the meantime they said they hoped he will recommend more regulation within the industry.
"Aussies come here all the time to do what Glenn was doing, I just hope that change can bring about their safety," said Glen Bourke's mother, Karen.