Dive! Tutukaka, a popular dive operator in Northland, New Zealand, has committed $250,000 to a safety pledge following a near-drowning incident involving school children on one of their trips. The incident occurred during a kayaking and snorkeling excursion at the Poor Knights Islands in December 2020 when six students entered an out-of-bounds sea cave and two were thrown into the water after their kayak capsized.
A 13-year-old girl got her foot stuck in a crevice and was unable to free herself, repeatedly getting submerged whenever a wave entered the cave. Her 14-year-old friend, who was not wearing a life jacket or wetsuit, was washed onto a ledge at the back of the cave and unable to escape. Fortunately, a crew member from Dive! Tutukaka managed to rescue the girl within 15 minutes, but it took two more hours for the boy to be rescued by Coastguard Tutukaka and a Northland rescue helicopter.
An investigation by WorkSafe, New Zealand’s workplace health and safety regulator, resulted in health and safety charges being laid against Dive! Tutukaka and Tauraroa Area School’s Board of Trustees. The school admitted to putting the students’ safety at risk and failed to ensure there was a proper supervision plan in place. The school paid the victims an undisclosed amount but avoided a fine.
In response to the incident, Dive! Tutukaka has entered into an enforceable undertaking, a legally binding safety pledge, with WorkSafe. The company has committed $250,000 to safety initiatives, exceeding what the courts could have ordered in penalties. The pledge includes improvements to training, equipment, and safety management systems, as well as regular reviews and reporting to WorkSafe.
Dive! Tutukaka expressed deep regret for the incident and offered apologies to the two students for the trauma and emotional damage they suffered. The company hopes that by taking responsibility and implementing these safety measures, there will be continued support for water-based education outside the classroom. They believe in-water learning in a safe environment can greatly benefit children and communities.
WorkSafe will closely monitor the progress of Dive! Tutukaka’s safety initiatives and has the authority to resume prosecution if the commitments are not upheld. This enforceable undertaking is seen as a timely boost for outdoor education, especially after a recent fatality at Whangārei’s Abbey Caves involving a 15-year-old student from Whangārei Boys’ High School.
Catalijne Pille, WorkSafe’s acting head of specialist interventions, emphasized the importance of ensuring students can participate in activities safely while giving parents confidence in their children’s safety. The investigation into the incident at Whangārei’s Abbey Caves is still ongoing, as the authorities seek to understand the circumstances surrounding the tragic event.
The focus now is to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future by implementing stricter safety measures and providing adequate training and supervision. It is crucial that students can enjoy outdoor activities without compromising their safety. With the commitment made by Dive! Tutukaka, there is hope for improved safety standards within the outdoor education system, benefiting both students and the wider community.
