On 21 November some 40 people from throughout the region met in Hamilton for the first Waikato Outdoor Activity providers forum which was host by Sport Tasman, the Perry Outdoor Education Trust (POET) and NZRA.

Attendees included people from small businesses, outdoor centres, WINTEC, outdoor clubs, Scouts, Sport Waikato, Mountain Safety and Skills Active.
Discussion at the workshop covered a regional strategy for engagement in outdoor activities, workforce recruitment and retention, managing health and safety when working with volunteers and clarifying the significance of Adventure Activity certification to Schools.

Outputs from the meeting included:
• A group to work with Sport Waikato to build outdoor activity options into their ‘Moving Waikato Strategy 2025’
• A pdf document that explains to schools how to better utilise contractors who have adventure activity regulation certification (to be developed by NZRA in collaboration with EONZ)
• NZRA to work with Worksafe to clarify Health and Safety requirements for volunteer outdoor organisations
• Skills Active to investigate the possibility of developing a ‘collaborative apprenticeship model for people who work for multiple employers

Participants were keen to reconvene in 2018. As always a big part of the value of these workshops is the opportunity for operators to meet and network with others in their area.

If you are interested in similar meetings in your region please email outdoors@nzrecreation.org.nz.
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